Traci was released from the hospital after her week long stay late last night. The fungal cultures from her broncioscopy returned negative, and the Pneumonia is being treated with 3 different antibiotics. She also has a daily blood thinner for the blood clot, which appears to have broken apart, and will most likely dissolve inside her body. That one requires a shot in her stomach to be administered daily for the next week.
She has a follow up appointment in January with another CT Scan to look again at the issues that were present upon her admission. But at this point, we're hoping that the stay was fruitful, in that they administered enough antibiotics to clear up the infections, and that the nodules that they discovered will disappear upon the next scan. Hopefully, they were signs of infection, and nothing more.
But for now, our family intends to gear up for Christmas, and enjoy the fact that Traci is back home with us again.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Fear - Day 4
Traci was admitted to Kaiser in Woodland Hills on Thursday, with the pain in her chest the primary concern of her bone marrow transplant doctors. She was scheduled for a chest x-ray and a CAT Scan as preliminary diagnosis based on the symptoms indicated a possible blood clot, and/or a possible infection.
The pain was coming from Traci's right side of her body, at around the middle of her chest, just off of her breast. The chest x-ray was inconclusive on that side of her body, but on the other side, it identified Pneumonia on her lung, as well as two spots that the radiologist identified as "Nodules." This was highly concerning given that Traci's cancer began as Lymphoma, with a tumor that appeared near her lungs, and the symptoms were relatively similar (shortness of breath, difficulty breathing). But she wasn't coughing this time around, and she should no evidence of infection either having no fever. Her blood counts were low however, and a blood transfusion was ordered.
The CAT scan later revealed that she did indeed have a blood clot on the side of her body that was causing pain, and she was admitted shortly after the discovery, and blood thinners were ordered. Unfortunately, this was a remedy that had to be administered as a shot, and into her stomach. A very painful injection that is required twice a day for the time being.
On Saturday, Traci underwent a successful broncioscopy to help determine more about her pneumonia, and help the doctors better determine which antibiotics will be best suited to fight her infection. Later in the day, she was scheduled for an ultrasound on her lower extremities, but because of the wounds on her legs, and the tightness of her skin, the technician was unable to actually perform the ultrasound. It was a tough day.
Today was actually a good day in that it was very uneventful. Traci was able to catch up on her lost sleep for the most part, and feels considerably better. We're hoping that the run of good health continues, and that the healing can begin. We're still not certain as to exactly when she'll be able to return home at this point, but we're hopeful that she will, and do so soon.
The pain was coming from Traci's right side of her body, at around the middle of her chest, just off of her breast. The chest x-ray was inconclusive on that side of her body, but on the other side, it identified Pneumonia on her lung, as well as two spots that the radiologist identified as "Nodules." This was highly concerning given that Traci's cancer began as Lymphoma, with a tumor that appeared near her lungs, and the symptoms were relatively similar (shortness of breath, difficulty breathing). But she wasn't coughing this time around, and she should no evidence of infection either having no fever. Her blood counts were low however, and a blood transfusion was ordered.
The CAT scan later revealed that she did indeed have a blood clot on the side of her body that was causing pain, and she was admitted shortly after the discovery, and blood thinners were ordered. Unfortunately, this was a remedy that had to be administered as a shot, and into her stomach. A very painful injection that is required twice a day for the time being.
On Saturday, Traci underwent a successful broncioscopy to help determine more about her pneumonia, and help the doctors better determine which antibiotics will be best suited to fight her infection. Later in the day, she was scheduled for an ultrasound on her lower extremities, but because of the wounds on her legs, and the tightness of her skin, the technician was unable to actually perform the ultrasound. It was a tough day.
Today was actually a good day in that it was very uneventful. Traci was able to catch up on her lost sleep for the most part, and feels considerably better. We're hoping that the run of good health continues, and that the healing can begin. We're still not certain as to exactly when she'll be able to return home at this point, but we're hopeful that she will, and do so soon.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Fear
Its been an interesting last couple of weeks medically for Traci, filled with emotional highs and physical highs and lows.
Firstly, it was a wonderful Thanksgiving, as I played "Chef Paul" and hosted for our family, including both sets of Traci's Grandparents and her Uncle and Aunt. We had a group 12, and I prepared the Turkey and Ham, and all the fixin's. It was a great time to sit down and simply be thankful for all that we've been blessed with, the gift of life, and the love that we share for one another.
Medically, things are continuing to progress on Traci's legs, as the healing continues, giving us hope for the first time in a while that the GVHD has slowed, and potentially burned out. Still, it will take time to tell completely. But the signs thus far have been extremely encouraging.
On the not so good news, is a recent pain that's developed in Traci's side, near her lungs. It's similar to the pain that she experienced when she was first diagnosed with a tumor more than 7 years ago, but not exuding exactly the same symptoms. She isn't having the same difficulty breathing, but deep breaths that she takes are halted because she is in pain, and she can't lay in certain positions without having difficulty breathing. It's more than just a little scary.
Today she was asked to go into Kaiser in Woodland Hills to have a chest x-ray and a CAT Scan, and we're anxiously awaiting the results. Our prayers are that it is something completely insignificant, such as a pulled muscle, or something of the like. But early diagnosis doesn't really give us much to hang our hat on. It could be a clot, given the amount of time that Traci is spending in bed, and it could be muscle tear. We just hope that it's not a recurrence of the cancer that once was.
Please keep Traci in your thoughts.
Firstly, it was a wonderful Thanksgiving, as I played "Chef Paul" and hosted for our family, including both sets of Traci's Grandparents and her Uncle and Aunt. We had a group 12, and I prepared the Turkey and Ham, and all the fixin's. It was a great time to sit down and simply be thankful for all that we've been blessed with, the gift of life, and the love that we share for one another.
Medically, things are continuing to progress on Traci's legs, as the healing continues, giving us hope for the first time in a while that the GVHD has slowed, and potentially burned out. Still, it will take time to tell completely. But the signs thus far have been extremely encouraging.
On the not so good news, is a recent pain that's developed in Traci's side, near her lungs. It's similar to the pain that she experienced when she was first diagnosed with a tumor more than 7 years ago, but not exuding exactly the same symptoms. She isn't having the same difficulty breathing, but deep breaths that she takes are halted because she is in pain, and she can't lay in certain positions without having difficulty breathing. It's more than just a little scary.
Today she was asked to go into Kaiser in Woodland Hills to have a chest x-ray and a CAT Scan, and we're anxiously awaiting the results. Our prayers are that it is something completely insignificant, such as a pulled muscle, or something of the like. But early diagnosis doesn't really give us much to hang our hat on. It could be a clot, given the amount of time that Traci is spending in bed, and it could be muscle tear. We just hope that it's not a recurrence of the cancer that once was.
Please keep Traci in your thoughts.
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