Hospital Days
hello all,
Briana reporting in for blogging duty. It has been a long 9 days in our world. Derek checked in to the UW hospital last thursday for regularly scheduled dose of cyterabine (the "marrow-crusher") that Derek has previously described. All went as planned in that stay and Derek was released on Saturday. Battling some nausea, we managed to make it out to the wedding of Jeff and Kaitlan, two very good family friends of the Buchner Huhman family. However starting in the middle of Saturday night, D started having extreme stomach pain. Eventually it became clear that we would need to go the hospital as meds on hand weren't helping. So we checked in to the ER, and long story short have been here ever since (well, I have come and gone quite a bit, but Derek has not). It seems like one thing always leads to another with this type of treatment - the chemo drugs cause a whole host of side effects, which all have their own potential rippling effects. So my understanding is that the chain of events is something like:
Cancer --> chemo drugs --> pancreatitis --> dehydration --> lots of hydration at the hospital --> overhydration to the net effect of a physically tough few days with the pancreatitis and meds and then that D is now carrying 20 additional pounds of water weight. He actually had pancreatitis in treatment round one and it is not fun. I did have to laugh when I saw him today as I've never seen him with a belly and big huge legs... but now I have! Along the way were various tests, precautions, and so on. The good news is that after several days of major fatigue, d is returning back personality-wise and physically seems to be doing better too. I never thought I'd say I'm hoping for him to drop a few pounds, but at this point that seems like what's between us being able to get out of here! Major thanks to David who has been logging long days here and to our Seattle support network with folks willing to visit, bring food, etc and also willing to go with the flow when it's not a good time. Much appreciate all you readers and the comments too.
Here we are reading a bird book:
Briana reporting in for blogging duty. It has been a long 9 days in our world. Derek checked in to the UW hospital last thursday for regularly scheduled dose of cyterabine (the "marrow-crusher") that Derek has previously described. All went as planned in that stay and Derek was released on Saturday. Battling some nausea, we managed to make it out to the wedding of Jeff and Kaitlan, two very good family friends of the Buchner Huhman family. However starting in the middle of Saturday night, D started having extreme stomach pain. Eventually it became clear that we would need to go the hospital as meds on hand weren't helping. So we checked in to the ER, and long story short have been here ever since (well, I have come and gone quite a bit, but Derek has not). It seems like one thing always leads to another with this type of treatment - the chemo drugs cause a whole host of side effects, which all have their own potential rippling effects. So my understanding is that the chain of events is something like:
Cancer --> chemo drugs --> pancreatitis --> dehydration --> lots of hydration at the hospital --> overhydration to the net effect of a physically tough few days with the pancreatitis and meds and then that D is now carrying 20 additional pounds of water weight. He actually had pancreatitis in treatment round one and it is not fun. I did have to laugh when I saw him today as I've never seen him with a belly and big huge legs... but now I have! Along the way were various tests, precautions, and so on. The good news is that after several days of major fatigue, d is returning back personality-wise and physically seems to be doing better too. I never thought I'd say I'm hoping for him to drop a few pounds, but at this point that seems like what's between us being able to get out of here! Major thanks to David who has been logging long days here and to our Seattle support network with folks willing to visit, bring food, etc and also willing to go with the flow when it's not a good time. Much appreciate all you readers and the comments too.
Here we are reading a bird book:
Calendar Crew Halloween trip to Packwood before the hospital
Thanks for the update, Bri. Glad this week is in the rear view mirror!
ReplyDeleteHi Again, We thought we'd posted a comment... hmm, user error no doubt. We thank you very much for the update and are so sorry that Derek and you, Bree, are going through this. Glad to hear that Derek's personality and humor are returning. You are both in our thoughts. M and M
ReplyDeleteReally glad you're back on the outside!
ReplyDeleteHope you've turned the corner Derek, thinking about you. Also looks like a great book, maybe I can borrow it sometime!
ReplyDeleteAnytime DP!
DeleteGlad to hear that D is recovering. Sounds like a really tough 10+ days. Thanks for the post Bree... Love you guys and miss you!
ReplyDeleteThe Atlanta contingent is rooting for you....tough week, but hopefully you're on the upswing now. Enjoy Thanksgiving! The Wertheims
ReplyDeleteTwas a good Turkey day, thanks!
DeleteHi D--hope you are out of the hospital and feeling better in time for the upcoming holidays. All your fellow MEHs all miss you and are rooting for a good recovery! -Kat
ReplyDelete