Next bump on the road
Wow, what an awful past couple of weeks. I was admitted into hospital with a bad case of diverticulitis resulting from the chemo infusions. (EC). Placed in isolation as my neutrophils were 0.4. In hospital for five days on massive doses of antibiotics, initially nil by mouth, then placed on a liquid diet and finally on a soft food diet. Discharged.
Follow up appointment made where received results of ct and bone scan. My onc seemed very positive with the results as there was only one new site in my femur. I also complained about my sore arm again a result from previous chemo infusions. Onc seemed a little hesitant, as I only had 3 more infusions to go but agreed to do a picc line insertion. Insertion arranged for following Wednesday in ICU, which went well and a follow up appointment made for chemo the following Tuesday. Turned up for appointment a little early (making allowances for pacific hwy road works). Seen my onc and then toddled off for what I thought was going to be the normal chemo infusion which would take about 2-3 Hours, then back home. Nine hours all up I spent in the hospital.
Nurse had trouble administering the epibrucin, it wasn't flowing in quickly enough potentially causing damage to my vein. They stopped procedure and arranged for a doppler ultrasound to be done. Ultrasound appeared normal. Drs had a look and decided to use heparin to clear the line if there was any obstruction within the line itself etc etc. They checked the discharge rate or flow of the saline solution for both lumens which indicated that the rate was too slow for the epiburcin infusion therefore the Picc line was removed. Left hospital at 5.30 and arrived home at 7pm. A very long, emotional and tiring day. Now I have appointment made for portacath insertion next Tuesday with my normal chemo infusion the following day. God I hope it works and everything goes according to plan. I don't know what else can be done apart from going onto oral chemo again. Until my next post........Regards Sue:-)
