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Can cancer meds cause encephalitis?

Posted by denise96 @denise96, Dec 16 10:18am

My husband was taken by ambulance to the ER due to non response and confusion. He as in his recliner and was not moving but he was moaning. I tried calling his name and doing a sternum rub but to no avail. It was scary. The ambulance came and they could not get a response out of him either. Even used narcan, but nothing, This morning I talked to the icu nurse and she said he has some encephalitis due to his medications. I read online that chemo can do this. It is calle imflammatory encephalitis. Right now I am waiting for a call from the nurse and then I will be on my way to the hospital. Just wondering if anyone else had an experience with this.

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Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Dec 16 3:29pm

Hi Denise, @denise96, What a scary night you had last night. You certainly made the right decision in getting help. How is your husband doing today? Has his oncologist or a onco-pharmacist weighed in on the possibility of this being caused by the treatments and medications?
I hope you're able to get some rest.

REPLY
1 reply
denise96 | @denise96 | Dec 16 7:47pm
In reply to @lls8000 "Hi Denise, @denise96, What a scary night you had last night. You certainly made the right..." + (show)
@lls8000

Hi Denise, @denise96, What a scary night you had last night. You certainly made the right decision in getting help. How is your husband doing today? Has his oncologist or a onco-pharmacist weighed in on the possibility of this being caused by the treatments and medications?
I hope you're able to get some rest.

Jump to this post

Thanks for your concern. Yes, it was a scary night. He is still in ICU as of last night when the ambulance took him to the hospital. They think he may have encephalophacy. I was mistaken . I thought the nurse said encephalitis but that is not what it was. I guess the encephlophy was caused by all the different meds he has ingested into his body. I believe they gave him too much for all the more he weighs. Today when I went to visit him, the nurse said the palliative doctor would be in tomorrow to talk to him about possibly changing his meds. Joe told the nurse that no on was going to mess with his pain meds. He is addicted to his oxycodone and has been for 16 years. He does not want them to take them off of him. When I left this morning, I told him I would come back in the afternoon and bring him his glasses and phone. He told me to bring him one of his oxycodones. Well, I did not bring him one. When I went back the second time he asked why I did not bring it. First of all, I told him that when I was there earlier he told me he did not have any pain. Second of all, I was not going to get in trouble by giving him a pill that the hospital did not have knowledge. Although, he is very sick, he still is a true blue addict. I don't think things are going to go well for him.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Dec 17 1:36pm
In reply to @denise96 "Thanks for your concern. Yes, it was a scary night. He is still in ICU as..." + (show)
@denise96

Thanks for your concern. Yes, it was a scary night. He is still in ICU as of last night when the ambulance took him to the hospital. They think he may have encephalophacy. I was mistaken . I thought the nurse said encephalitis but that is not what it was. I guess the encephlophy was caused by all the different meds he has ingested into his body. I believe they gave him too much for all the more he weighs. Today when I went to visit him, the nurse said the palliative doctor would be in tomorrow to talk to him about possibly changing his meds. Joe told the nurse that no on was going to mess with his pain meds. He is addicted to his oxycodone and has been for 16 years. He does not want them to take them off of him. When I left this morning, I told him I would come back in the afternoon and bring him his glasses and phone. He told me to bring him one of his oxycodones. Well, I did not bring him one. When I went back the second time he asked why I did not bring it. First of all, I told him that when I was there earlier he told me he did not have any pain. Second of all, I was not going to get in trouble by giving him a pill that the hospital did not have knowledge. Although, he is very sick, he still is a true blue addict. I don't think things are going to go well for him.

Jump to this post

@denise96 , I saw your update on the other post. This may be a long haul, try to take things one day at a time, and try to take care of yourself too. Whatever that may look like; just getting out for a short walk or sinking yourself into a good book or movie as a temporary distraction. I'm hoping that the meeting with palliative care goes well. Don't be afraid to ask for their help with the hurdles that you're facing.

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