kbienapfl's Cancer Blog

July 23, 2008

Road Blocks Views: 460

I am still in the hospital. When I was initially admitted on Sunday, it was due to pain and constipation. From there, it was upgraded to the three P’s. If only it were that simple.

Somewhere between Sunday and Tuesday, the three P’s became less of a priority. It appears my body is fighting something. The professional community is at a complete loss as to what has taken over my body. I have been running a steady temp. It has spiked up to over 101 degrees, which is high for me, as my average temp is in the 97’s. Add to that the fact that my blood pressure is lower than my average of 100/70. It’s been as low as 70/50. (A person feels pretty lousy when it gets that low.)

Due to the concern about fever and blood pressure, I am being pumped with antibiotics, copious amounts of fluid and two units of blood. I’ve had more blood draws than you can imagine and a echocardiogram. I’m sure I’m missing a few things in there…but you get the idea.

The plan was to leave tomorrow for Illinois to begin my next round of vitamin C treatments. Until I have my pain under control and the specialists in infectious diseases have figured out what is causing havoc in my body, that plan may be shelved. We have decided we want to complete my radiation treatments and continue with the infusions at CTCA. The difficulty is getting my doctors here in Minneapolis to agree to my travel without answers to their current concerns.

In a word, this week has been frustrating. Okay…two words. Frustrating and scary.

Updates will follow. I am very aware there is a high level concern and wanting to know ‘what’s up’. I wish I had more to tell you.

I know that there are many wonderful prayers and positive intentions being sent my direction. Please know that I appreciate the time that you take to think of me and the energy that you provide.

Posted on July 23, 2008 at 3:47:34 PM by Kathy Bienapfl ( Link to this post.

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4 comments)

Kathy,
I am surprised that our symptoms parallel each other so closely as of late. Last week, the week following my first treatment with taxotere, I ran a fever of 101.1, my neutrophils were down to almost nothing. The pain in my back was intense. The skin hurt, the muscles and my kidneys were very tender. My liver has the cancer now so that hurt too. I have an old mets, from last year, of my 10th rib and that hurt so much. I was weak and ran a low grade fever for days. I was so constipated as I had increased my fentanyl patch from 75 mcg to 100. I was taking dilaudid every 3 hours around the clock. I finally took so much Senakot that I got diarrhea. The pain kept up as did the low grade fever. My blood pressure was below 100 and so I had postural hypotension, I swooned and swayed whenever I sat up. My Doc of course was on vacation. The doc I saw wanted to put me in the hospital on IV antibiotics. But I had an important wedding and asked to be treated at home. I was put on Levaquin as an antibiotic and got 5 injections for my white count. I had a huge back spasm just as I started my toast to the bride and groom. It was so intense I thought we would have to call 911. But it passed. My final point is, it all passed. Today I just returned from checking my white count, and it was fine. The xrays and blood and urine cultures came up with no source for the infection. But it did go away, and today I feel great. It took a week. So hang in there. Hopefully you will come out the other side too any day now. I dread my next treatment in a week. I don’t want to go through this again.

You are in my prayers. You are not alone. So many of us are traveling a similar road, and we are all there for each other. I admire you for your tenacity. I am looking into CTCA because of you. Keep us posted. I know how much that rib pain can hurt, but the second it is treated the pain subsides. Much love to you. Gaile

Posted on July 23, 2008 at 4:38:07 PM by gaile

Yikes! scary stuff indeed. Rest up as much as you can. let your body fight it’s fight. You and your family are in my thoughts.

Posted on July 24, 2008 at 9:08:01 AM by jill

My dear friend I will keep you and the family close to my heart.

Love Ya all

Posted on July 24, 2008 at 9:57:48 AM by karlak

Wow, you have been through so much. I really understand how incredibly horrible you can feel with such low BP, a fever and getting transfusions. I hope that the Docs will soon release you to travel soon to Illinois. What area will you be going to? I am just across from St. Louis. My thoughts & prayers are with you. Feel better, Patty