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Last chemo treatment put me in hospital
Had a very positive oncology consult which was to review the PET scan done 2 days earlier. While he couldn’t access it yet, my bloodwork revealed extremely good numbers including near normal cancer markers. So good, he said he fully expected a good PET scan report. Off I go to treatment upped to 80% oxaliplatin from 50%. Fine. Woke that evening extremely ill and out of it with asthma symptoms also. Wound up at the ER next day but never left. My BP was so low they considered putting me in the ICU and had potent meds to bring mean arterial pressure up. Now it’s day 4 - broad band IV antibiotics due to fever, in isolation-telemetry room , x-rays, cat scans, cultures, nebulizer treatments. All the time feeling sicker than any time of my life. Began coughing sputum with blood flecks which could be from severe irritation of windpipe.
Bottom line hypothesis is an acute chemo reaction with infection somewhere that is now under control. Stearoid and breathing treatments are starting to help the asthma like symptoms and I’ve had first bite of food in 4 days plus on the enteric pump.
I believe I’ve turned a corner and will go home tomorrow or Monday.
I guess they might have to modify my chemo formula to avoid such a terrible reaction in future rounds.
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Gary,
I’ve never used zoom but will try and figure it out. I’m speaking fine if I’m not exerting myself in any way.
Thanks, Bob
Phenomenal PETscan report today, revealing near complete resolution of all cancer sources.
I found it hard to believe what my oncologist was saying, but he assured me that it is true. While I’m only mid-treatment, I feel confident I’m hanging around this side of the topsoil for some time to come!!!
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2 ReactionsCongratulations!!
Yes, it’s always better to look down at the sod, than up.
Love it... come tell us about it on Sunday's Zoom call. Wow! Amazing!
Gary
Gonna try and figure the doom out - I don’t use computer, just phone or iPad mini my son bought.
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1 ReactionI am delighted to hear of your excellent clinical response. Have they discussed further treatments regimens with you? If so, what did they suggest?
Dave
Hi David, My oncologist was at somewhat of a loss as to the cause of the pneumonia. I’ve personally begun to suspect enteral aspiration pneumonia from a mild aspiration episode one evening about 3-5 days before the chemo and onset of symptoms. I’ve been aspirating minor amounts of feed for the past few days from intractable hiccups -a side effect of chemo. I’m regaining lung function by the hour and expect to be off oxygen in few days. I just had a chest X-ray to confirm the pneumonia is gone. If so my oncologist will resume treatment Tuesday introducing individual components I think every few days in order to flush out the most likely chemical to be the trigger, if any. I will trust his judgement. I began a medication to control the hiccups and prevent aspiration from happening.
I’ll let you know what he does and how he will implement treatment next week. For now I’m just glad my lungs weren’t permanently damaged.
I glad to hear that your pneumonia is resolving.
Aspiration pneumonia is a often a complication of EC. It would appear that the broad spectrum antibiotic treatments have largely cleared your pneumonia. It may take a bit longer to fully resolve but your report of improved breathing and oxygen saturation suggest marked clinical improvement. X-rays will likely show resolution as well along with some residual areas of bronchiectasis and minor atelectasis. These should improve/resolve with time and continued therapy. I assume that your care team has suggested that you should consider a PPI to reduce acid reflux and sleeping in an elevated position to minimize risk of aspiration.
David. Not long after returning home from getting the chest xray my oncologist ordered, he phoned me directly and said he was prescribing a diuretic rx because there was a high volume of water within the thoracic region. He asked about my hospital stay and I told him they pushed a great amount of fluids in me presumably because of the hypotension. He told me to reduce fluids and take the diuretic. He also wants me to get an echocardiogram right away out of concern for the Keytruda heart muscle warnings. After the call, I called him back to remind him that I’ve been aspirating mostly tube fed formula because of intractable hiccups. In fact I told him a recent aspiration event may possibly have been the source of the post chemo pneumonia infection. So now he also wants me to see my gastroenterologist ASAP about the spastic diaphragm and aspirating problem which must be corrected. I’ve also been quarreling with my wife with her insisting on heavy enteric feeding at night and me telling her it’s causing aspiration which she thought I was doing on purpose. Anyway I hope to see it all work out quickly. Taking a weekend trip with my wife to western Pennsylvania to meet my first grandchild ( grandson) who was born on the 4th of July, and to spend the weekend at a hotel half way from our homes.
Here's a one-touch Zoom link... just touch it and you're in... type your name in. Your mic should already be on, but you will have to touch the little camera icon to enable it (remove the red line thru it to indicate that it is currently off). If there's background noise where you are (pets, others talking, etc), then touch your mic icon to mute it... and then unmute it when you are ready to talk.
Ok... maybe see you tomorrow at 9am Eastern (6am for me in California). Be well...
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4550284795?pwd=UjBHQ0J2V1pOc21SOExTR2N1UXNpQT09