Update on my mom.

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So from my last post til now there has been little change.  Mom is still in ICU on the ventilator, they give her daily breathing tests to see if the ventilator can be removed but she continues to fail them since her blood pressure, c02 levels and blood acidity increase.  There are shadows on her chest x-rays that the pulmenologists think is spread of the cancer from her plueral cavity to her lungs; however on a brighter note, her oncologist looked at the scans and does not believe them to be cancer.  Her Oncologist thinks the shadows represent an infection, whether it's viral, bacterial or fungal we still don't know.  She did not rule out cancer since anything is possible, but did say that if it was it would be a very atypical representation.  According to the nurse Mom's Pulmenologist and Oncologist have spoken to eachother about this and agreed to disagree.  The anti-biotics have done little good, though her fever did go away the doctor said that was more likely due to the rhinovirus, they did detect, starting the clear from her system.  A couple of days ago they did a broncioscope and used a flush to pull samples straight from the source.  They did not see any cancer but the scope does not allow them to see clear down to the bottom of the lungs.  There were no cancer cells in the flush they pulled out; and nothing has grown yet from the cultures they took; but apparently that is not uncommon this early.  They have also said that since she is on antibiotics it is possible that she has an infectiion that will not test possitive because it is already being treated.  However, since she is not getting any better they are assuming it is something else.  Today they increased her sedation due to her agitation over the tube in her throat and plan on getting a chest CT scan if her stats stablize enough to allow for transport.  They also started her on anti-inflammetories because that is the recommended course of treatment for the two conditions they think is most likely she has but cannot test for.  Right now we are in sort of a time will tell loop as they rule various different conditions out.  Hopefully, when we go in tomorrow they will have some good news for us in regards to the scan and the affect of the anti-inflammetories.  If she cannot be removed from the vent by the end of the week they will have to directly insert the tube into her throat, rather than thru her mouth which carries it's own risks but will allow her to be comfortable; which she presently is not.  We are praying that this is a infection that can be cleared by medication; my aunt suffered from a similiar thing though not nearly as bad when her yearly chest x-ray showed spots in her lungs a pulmenologist thought to be cancer.  He wanted to do major surgery and remove part of her lung; a second opinion  stated that he did not believe it to be cancer but rather a fungal infection an advised repeating the scan to look for calcification, which they found.  Turns out it was the fungus, which is only seen here in American in the mid-west due to our wet weather, hay bales and grain silos; and is not seen in the coastal region.  So that, combined with her oncolgogists opinion gives us hope that this will pass and she will be able to come home.  Thank you for reading and I will update again when we have more news.

lovesanimals

Thank you for the update on your mom

I can only imagine the amount of stress you and your mom and the rest of your family are going through.  Please know that I'm sending lots of prayers and positive energy her way that what she has is an infection that medicine with take care of.

Hugs,

Kelly

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lovesanimals said:

Thank you for the update on your mom

I can only imagine the amount of stress you and your mom and the rest of your family are going through.  Please know that I'm sending lots of prayers and positive energy her way that what she has is an infection that medicine with take care of.

Hugs,

Kelly

Thank You

Thank You for thinking of us.  We're hoping and praying for the best.