Back in the hospital :UPDATE 1/8/11 plus a bit more after an interruption

This time we had the fire dept at the house, and an ambulance here, all at the insistence of the home health nurse.

Not sure what is wrong, just hope they figure it out...

More details when I am feeling better.

Blake

UPDATE 1/5/11:

Symptoms included low grade fever, SEVERE night sweats, severe edema in left leg and groin accompanied by dehydration and mild constipation

ER docs suspect cellulitis, and start me on a cocktail of IV drip antibiotics. I also get a CT of the pelvic area and ultrasound of the legs, along with innumerable blood draws.

CT shows a blockage between left kidney/bladder, with subsequent swelling of the kidney and raised creatinine levels. Tomorrow they will put in an external stent to drain the kidney, then replace that next week with a stent feeding directly into my bladder.

The sweats are greatly reduced, and last night I used a blanket for the first time in weeks, so the antibiotics are having some effect. My bowels moved today, another good sign. It is possible I will be released this weekend.

The left lower extremities remain grossly distended, and amputation with a urostomy sometimes seems a good alternative (this is an attempt at humor, these are not even options). I figure this is where John is sticking his needles.

UPDATE 1/8/11

The stent went in on Friday, and my creatinine level popped right down to normal. For the short term I have two bladders, one making lemonade and the other making blood orange juice.

Still in the hospital. I realized yesterday that I face some serious logistical issues. For one, I do not think I could ride in a car, then there is the issue of getting me from the driveway to the bed. My wife fears she is not up to the task of caring for me (she may be right).

I have figured out how to get to San Diego; it involves a cargo van, an air mattress, lots of pillows and hiring an EMT.

And more:

Sorry, doctor came in and I did not want to lose anything. They are holding me in here till Tuesday morning, and may install the permanent kidney stent tomorrow.

Except for the APR last January I have been ambulatory. Even then I could get out of bed and shuffle around like an old man. Yesterday I got out of bed twice, once so they could change the sheets, and once to try out the wheelchair. Both times took tremendous effort, and both sent the pain scale soaring. I am going to need homecare, along with home healthcare, as I cannot get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Needless to say this puts a big dent in my QOL.

So everyone understands, what I am going through is all about the cancer and is not side effects from treatment. Treatment kept me from this in June, and a good trial may pull me back again in 2012.

Love you all,

Blake