Dad has sepsis, I'm terrified
Hi. My dad was recently diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma with metastasis to liver and peritoneum. He received his first dose of folfirinox almost two weeks ago. We found out Thursday that his white blood cell count had dropped dangerously low. The doctor gave him IV fluids for dehydration and a medication called zarxio to increase his WBC count. She scheduled him for paracentesis to drain out a collection of peritoneal fluid. All that was to lay the groundwork for two questions: does anyone have experience with zarxio? The doctor only gave him a single dose, and no more, but online the prescribing information says he is supposed to get a dose daily until the neutrophil count reaches 10,000/mm3. I'm wondering why he got no further doses after the first one? Is this normal? Should I try to get the hospital doctor to give another dose? I'm also looking for information on how to treat sepsis. I want specifics about antibiotic regimens but I can't find any on the internet. Lastly, he has a huge collection of fluid in his abdomen, but the hospitalist here did a sonogram in the ED and said that the fluid is to thick with cancer cells to remove via paracentesis. I don't understand how this is possible. There is alot of fluid inside him that I know just gathered there within the past two days because I pretty much watched his abdomen swell. I cannot believe it is somehow too thick to remove.
Can anyone help, please? I am more desperate than I have ever been in my life.
Thank you
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I am hoping your dad is doing better.