As of yesterday evening, Greg has an ANC count! We haven't had one for about 4 days, so this is very exciting. This means his white blood cells are coming back. The ANC measures the infection fighting white cells. Its supposed to be 1500. His is 54. But, its a start! Going in the right direction!
Unfortunately, last night was the most "interesting" night yet, from a medication perspective. Because of his lab counts being so low, Greg needed 2 antibiotics, an anti-fungal (see I TOLD you fungus was bad!), 3 different types of electrolytes & 2 transfusions. All b/c he had a fever (and the complications associated with that--mainly dehydration). But they couldn't give him any of that until he got his fever down with Tylenol, which took forever. So, at 10 p.m. his fever is down to 100.3 (the cutoff) & they finally started hanging stuff off his IV pole. As with all meds they have to give them in or with large bags of saline solution to "keep him hydrated" (its an obsession around here). By 4 a.m. the overloaded IV pump alarm went off for the 12th time -- don't worry though, it only rings for about 15 minutes before the nurse shows up to turn it off. (At one point they had an emergency in another room & it took an hour & 15 minutes before someone was able to come turn it off). At the crack of dawn, the nursing tech came in to check his fever. Lo & behold he has one again! No only that, but he looks & feels like the Sta-Puft Marshmallow man due to all the fluids. He needs to get "pissed off" -- & he is. The doctor comes in, just after breakfast & says, "Do you realize you have a fever? You need MORE anti-biotics." I think Greg's head started to spin. So, while the Lassix is emptying him out, the antibiotics & saline are filling him up faster than the Lassix can work. His entire body is bloated & he's up about 10 pounds. (George: I think he's going to win the contest again! I wish you were here to share the moment with me!).
As uncomfortable as all this is, he's not in any danger medically & is slowly getting better. All the cultures have come back negative. And, he's getting a little grumpy, so I know he must be feeling better than he did earlier this week.
Thanks for the comments. Debbie, I was thinking about mojitos last night. I'm jealous. I'm not sure, but I think I saw some mint leaves floating around in one of Greg's IV bags last night. I think he's getting some on the sly. Em -- glad you enjoyed the brats & thanks for thinking of us! George: Go Cards! (If I didn't write that, they would kick Greg out of here -- these people are Cardinal crazy around here!)
Judy & Mark are here with the girls. We plan to go to Grant's Farm today & I'm taking them to Cunetto's for pasta tonight, then to Ted Drew's for dessert. The boys are on their way to the Altoonians for the week, and Tom & Sadie are headed home, but plan a stop here on their way through town.
Thanks to all!
Love,
Ann & Greg
3 comments:
Pissed off and grumpy?! Wow, Greg must be feeling better!
Ann, have you thought about teaching? You are wonderful in explaining all those confusing medical terms and procedures in such a simple and understandable manner. For a moment, I thought ANC is Ain’t No Chinese or African National Congress. Wish Professor Greg has such a talent! Keep those ANC up!
Cindy and Francis
All I can say is that "urine" my thoughts; especially after the brats and my kidneys marinating in Sam Adams. Go Greg! and Go Cubs! Still the best record in the National League and on an impressive one-game winning streak against that other "team who shall not be named."
Well we sort of miss you guys but are home safely (I'm writing this sunday night).
Now back to the salt mines tomorrow! :-(
Greg, please those counts going onward and upward so you can take the girls to the top of the Arch next time we're in town. Driving by, I sorta forgot how high it actually was.... we KNOW Mark isn't going up there.
Couple things I learned about St. Louis: there really is no 'Hill' on the 'Hill', Ann and Greg have lied to us about good Italian food as we didn't get any, DON'T go to Grant's Farm on a holiday weekend, but they DO have good custard at Andy Drew's and BP gas stations across the nation are the highest priced of anybody, aparently they are there just to rip us off more than the others! And Ann also put those pics of the duplex in but those are really the servant's quarters and they really have a MUCH larger house out back.
Miss you guys and Greg, you really do a lot for the 'layered look'~and can you get us one of those automatic hand sanitizer dispensers?
Hugs!
Us
Post a Comment