Back in ICU... Quick Update

Well...

This morning I woke up at 630am to 3 missed calls from Bone Marrow Nurses Desk

I called back right away and Sophie had been calling to let me know they were moving him down to ICU

Apparently his blood pressure was a little low overnight and although she had him stable, and his fever had broken, I guess the ICU docs felt it was best to move him

Sophie was saying she hoped the oncologists (Strair or Aisner)would come in before they moved him.. but i called Dr Strair and left a message explaining what was going on...

They told me they packed up his stuff and were holding his cell and computer til i got there.. that was nice.. i usually have to pack him up and move it all and then wait an hour while they get him settled in ICU

Anyways, my dad followed me to the hospital and took his stuff home... I went to ICU and saw Chris... His nurse Sara was wonderful.. very compassionate and explained a lot to me.. very friendly.. Chris slept most of the time..

The infectious disease doctors are on board, as are the intensivists (pulmonary), surgeons again in case, and others...
Basically, they want to closely monitor him

apparently, yesterday, they only took blood from his picc line.. not from a vein.. they always take from both
No one told me yesterday that they couldnt get a vein...
So, they havent officially ruled out the possibility that his picc line is infected.. but because his bellyrubin is high (indicates gall bladder, or liver area) and because he has increased belly cramps and tenderness... the doctors are thinking his infection came from the gall bladder
As we know, the GI Tract is a common place that gets attacked with all his treatments... and he has the GVHD there... but also they said sludge could accumulate there and cause some blockage or inflammation..
They are doing an ultrasound ... as of 7pm tonight they had not yet.. so probably in the morning (monday morning feb 2nd). They will see if the gall bladder looks very inflammed or not
They are also attempting to get blood from a vein (i told Sara to try the hands because thats where they usually get it)
They have taken more blood from the picc...
His fever all day today was 96 to 98 so that is good... antibiotics might be working
Chris had no poop all day.. so when i left tonight at 7-ish, it had been almost 24 hours
Not sure if i should get excited because i dont know if a gall bladder infection would stop poop... i think since the stomach is connected to the intestines and whatnot that he would still poop if he has inflammation in the bowels.. but i am not a doctor, obviously... just trying to see some bright side...

anyways, his blood pressure was good all day.. they have him on dopamine.. but its still good that they had him stablized ...

So, there went our little bone marrow unit, 4th floor, JennChris party for the superbowl... postponed! :(
I am happy he was not on ativan.. but he slept... but if all that is going on in his belly, his body needs to rest...

I decided to leave .. actually i think i left at 630... i watched Faith hill and jennifer Hudson and left shortly after. they kick you out of ICU at 7pm for an hour (shift change) and figured since he was sleeping, and i wanted to get rest and watch the game, that i would just go home.. I will stop there in the morning before work

I asked Dr Hart (Infectious Disease doctor who i have known since june whenever chris had infections) about what they would do and he doesnt think surgery would be an option now... and the xray shows no punctures or holes... so they could put a tube to gallbladder to drain the crap out that is infected..
But who knows yet... it could be just meds.. or something else
Chris would open his eyes and smile when i talked and answer when i asked him stuff.. but he wants to sleep.. he is pretty miserable but smiled and agreed when i told him to hang in there...
He said something about still fighting "for us" - poor guy has been through hell.. and back... and back to hell...
Its amazing how fast this happened... He asked me on friday night to bring his laptop on saturday and when i got there satutrday he already had a 102.3 fever

Dr Hart talked to me about what i already figured, but i wanted clarification... he provides the antibiotics orders and management and he hopes to be given as best an immune system as possible.. but with his kind of GVHD, the oncologists do not want to stop the immunosuppresents so we just hope that the meds work with his suppresed immune system
He got platelets and red blood today. His white cell count was a little higher than yesterday.. it was 2.9... 4-10 is normal. Under 2 is neutropenic..

Dr Aisner is on for February.. I asked him that today... so atleast there will be someone there i like for a while.. i was worried about who february might be
When i got to ICU today, i ran into a resident i know from november or october and she is in ICU now... she is so sweet and chats whenever i see her.. i think she liked me and chris... makes me feel more comfy when i can talk to doctors i have gotten to know

i am not happy that the steelers won.. but i am more sad that chris missed yet another "holiday" - it was a good game though

Well, its Feb 1st.. 2 full months since he was admitted for transplant...
He has been in the hospital for about 95 of the last 104 days or so
I never imagined he would still be in the hospital or going back to ICU this far into transplant... But I trust God will get us thru this additional ICU trip & infection...
Please keep him in your prayers

i will update more tomorrow
xoxox Jenn