Ok, no blood and not too many tears.
But lots of sweat, as the fever has broken! This means Brian is on a lot less medication, so he is awake and alert. His white count has dropped from 42,000 on Monday night...to 32,000 on Tuesday morning...and now down to around 24,000 today. Still some to go, but definitely on the right track.
Test results are back from cultures done yesterday on the pancreatic drain, and the doctors can better decide on the right course of antibiotics since they now know which bacteria are present. The monitoring of the spleen and abdominal drains showed only a continued decrease, so those drains were both removed this morning. Brian was relieved, to say the least.
The plan is to continue resting the pancreas by having no food or drink, and change to a more specific type of antibiotics to target this specific infection. He will have a CT in the morning to evaluate the fluid build-up near the pancreas; if it is less, he'll continue as he is and keep the drain until it virtually is done draining; if it has increased, they will take this type of drain out, and put in a different type that will hopefully do the trick. The surgeon figures it is probably decreased, simply from the fact of how much better Brian looks today and how his white count has been cut in half. We pray this is the case. If there is a decrease in the pocket, they will start him back on food and drink; if not he'll start taking nutrients through his port. Either way, we likely will be coming home on Friday, and he'll take antibiotics through his port...never done that before, but we're up for the challenge and will just be glad to be home.
The Leukine treatment is on hold, but may resume on Monday, or possibly later in the week.
Thank you for your continued prayers. They have worked over the past few days, as Brian is clearly on the mend.
But lots of sweat, as the fever has broken! This means Brian is on a lot less medication, so he is awake and alert. His white count has dropped from 42,000 on Monday night...to 32,000 on Tuesday morning...and now down to around 24,000 today. Still some to go, but definitely on the right track.
Test results are back from cultures done yesterday on the pancreatic drain, and the doctors can better decide on the right course of antibiotics since they now know which bacteria are present. The monitoring of the spleen and abdominal drains showed only a continued decrease, so those drains were both removed this morning. Brian was relieved, to say the least.
The plan is to continue resting the pancreas by having no food or drink, and change to a more specific type of antibiotics to target this specific infection. He will have a CT in the morning to evaluate the fluid build-up near the pancreas; if it is less, he'll continue as he is and keep the drain until it virtually is done draining; if it has increased, they will take this type of drain out, and put in a different type that will hopefully do the trick. The surgeon figures it is probably decreased, simply from the fact of how much better Brian looks today and how his white count has been cut in half. We pray this is the case. If there is a decrease in the pocket, they will start him back on food and drink; if not he'll start taking nutrients through his port. Either way, we likely will be coming home on Friday, and he'll take antibiotics through his port...never done that before, but we're up for the challenge and will just be glad to be home.
The Leukine treatment is on hold, but may resume on Monday, or possibly later in the week.
Thank you for your continued prayers. They have worked over the past few days, as Brian is clearly on the mend.
Brian with three amazing kids!
2 comments:
So glad to hear that the WBC is going lower for Brian. I know the amazing relief when you begin to see the fevers break. I pray that he will continue to get stronger and stronger today. I will keep on praying for all of you. Hope to see you tomorrow.
Anita
Halleys...
Your 'faith under fire' continues to be such an inspiration to us. Yesterday we found out that a good friend's son has just been diagnosed with melasuckanoma, and it started on the calf of the leg. Ugh. Thanks for your brave fight so that others may look to you as inspiration. You are never, ever far from our hearts.
Much love,
Matt and Jill
Post a Comment