It seems that Dave's journey has taken a detour for now. It's been a rough few weeks as you read in the last post. Dave has been hospitalized for fluid in the pleura sac around his right lung which was drained but has since returned. Last week was spent going to all the doctors involved with his case. He also had another trip to the ER, where finally a young doc. looked at his COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and started him on breathing treatments, and another chest x-ray, at which time we were also told the fluid was returning.
We also went to our PCP for aftercare and another chest x-ray (from hosp. stay) to take to the thoracic surgeon Dr. Lee this past Thursday, he scheduled Dave for a Thoradesis, not sure of correct spelling there (info. from hosp. says pleurodesis). This procedure will be done, Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at Akron City Hosp. This is a procedure where they will insert a chest tube to drain the fluid, then they will rough up or glue, so to speak the pleura to the outside wall of his rt. lung to prevent any more fluid to build up there. Dr. Lee believes that the fluid is coming from the area of cancer by his trachea. He will also be taking a biopsy of the pleura sac to check for any cancer. He will also be in the hosp. for 3-4 days after this is done.
At this time Dave is doing OK, his spirits are not the greatest as you suspect. Unfortunately any chemo. treatments that are scheduled have been put on hold until this procedure is done and he is healed from it. So, there has been a slight detour from his cancer care. Please pray that he will heal quickly from this so he can continue to fight the cancer. We love you and God Bless.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Where is this journey going?
What a week last week was, so very glad it's over! Dave and I went to see the PCP and he called for a chest x-ray as I mentioned in my last post, Dr. Koenig also got the results and ordered a Thoracentisis for Monday, March 28. So let this journey be told.
On March 28th Dave woke me at 3:00 am to take him to the ER because he was having extreme difficulty breathing. They ended up doing the thoracentisis early instead of the scheduled time that afternoon. They drained about a liter of fluid at that time. He started doing a bit better. By Wednesday March 30, he was not doing so good again. I took him back to the ER and they kept him this time. The amount of fluid that was drained on Monday had come back and was actually causing his lung to feel partially collapsed. The doctors were They were going to insert a chest tube on Thursday, but miscommunication between depts. didn't let the nurses or Dave know he was not to eat for 6 hours before procedure. He was not a happy camper at that time. The chest tube was inserted early Friday morning. By Saturday eve. he had drained almost 2 liters of fluid. The fluid drainage slowed down and by the time he was released it was almost 3 liters. His lung also reinflated on it's own and did not need to be reinflated by micro surgery. They did find out that the fluid was of a thick nature and indicated some kind of infection. If it had been thin, that would have indicated a kidney or heart problem. He was given IV antibioitics to fight the infection. Dave started feeling better and doing the best one can do in the hospital. He had a couple of annoying roommates who were loud as well as there visitors, lol. This part of the hosp. still does not have private or single rooms as most hosp. systems do now. Dave spent the week there, and was released on Friday, April 8. Dave was so glad to get home and everyone else was very happy!
The doctors have given Dave a choice as to what he wants to do for his future round of chemotherapy. It is between a new medication at the cancer ctr. in Akron or what is called a Phase 1 trial up at University Hosp. Siederman Cancer Ctr. This is actually all on hold till Dave is recovered from this last health problem. We will be seeing the Thoracic Droctor, Dr. Lee and Dr. Koenig as well as our PCP in two weeks. We will then know more as to where this journey is going.
Thank you to everyone for your well wishes, texts, and visits during my hospital stay. We love you and God Bless.
On March 28th Dave woke me at 3:00 am to take him to the ER because he was having extreme difficulty breathing. They ended up doing the thoracentisis early instead of the scheduled time that afternoon. They drained about a liter of fluid at that time. He started doing a bit better. By Wednesday March 30, he was not doing so good again. I took him back to the ER and they kept him this time. The amount of fluid that was drained on Monday had come back and was actually causing his lung to feel partially collapsed. The doctors were They were going to insert a chest tube on Thursday, but miscommunication between depts. didn't let the nurses or Dave know he was not to eat for 6 hours before procedure. He was not a happy camper at that time. The chest tube was inserted early Friday morning. By Saturday eve. he had drained almost 2 liters of fluid. The fluid drainage slowed down and by the time he was released it was almost 3 liters. His lung also reinflated on it's own and did not need to be reinflated by micro surgery. They did find out that the fluid was of a thick nature and indicated some kind of infection. If it had been thin, that would have indicated a kidney or heart problem. He was given IV antibioitics to fight the infection. Dave started feeling better and doing the best one can do in the hospital. He had a couple of annoying roommates who were loud as well as there visitors, lol. This part of the hosp. still does not have private or single rooms as most hosp. systems do now. Dave spent the week there, and was released on Friday, April 8. Dave was so glad to get home and everyone else was very happy!
The doctors have given Dave a choice as to what he wants to do for his future round of chemotherapy. It is between a new medication at the cancer ctr. in Akron or what is called a Phase 1 trial up at University Hosp. Siederman Cancer Ctr. This is actually all on hold till Dave is recovered from this last health problem. We will be seeing the Thoracic Droctor, Dr. Lee and Dr. Koenig as well as our PCP in two weeks. We will then know more as to where this journey is going.
Thank you to everyone for your well wishes, texts, and visits during my hospital stay. We love you and God Bless.
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