Cefepime
Cefepime is a broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic and has been used to treat bacteria responsible for causing pneumonia and infections of the skin and urinary tract.Day +5 -- We are on a downward spiral, which means we are on track and soon to be upward. Doesn't that sound "backward" because right now it doesn't see forward to us?
It's been another topsy-turvy couple of days, but the APN tells us we are on track. I'm assuming some of the signs of 'on track' are feeling gloomy, spitting at each other, not talking, feeling sorry for ourselves.. But, I digress... ONWARD!
WBC was at .10 yesterday and today .03. So tomorrow he may be 0.0... BUT, remember we are on track! Platelets were 19 yesterday and today are 24. Don't get excited about the creeping up because he had a bag of platelets yesterday. That brings platelets up. Crap was 54.2 on Sunday, 68.9 on Monday and sitting at 83 today. Oh Crap!!! Here comes the Cefepime! But, don't forget -- we are on track!
He got Invanz again today and then cefepime afterward. They wanted him to come back to clinic tonight for another infuser of cefepime, BUT, Pepper to the rescue! I told them we already had an infuser from Sunday as we were awaiting a fever spike. So, I hooked him up at 7:15 tonight and he should be done in about 30 min.
When APN checked his breathing today she noticed his left lung was not getting the same amount of air as the right. So tomorrow they are doing a CT scan to see if that may be where his infection lies. They also did a stick up his nose today to make certain there's nothing going on there. AND, even though he got blood cultures pulled out of his veins yesterday, they did another on his port tubes today. They wanna make certain he doesn't have some kind of infection in his port area.
I have to be honest, this infection crap worries me. I know I shouldn't worry, but that's why he was in the hospital in July. And, the checking the port area for infection scares me, too. I keep remembering the staph infection someone we knew had in their port and he passed away. These things have been eating me up.
We had the massive diahrera deal on Sunday and Monday. I've been spot cleaning carpet. I was irritated about it. Not that these accidents are happening, but that if he drank more liquids it would assist on pushing the antibiotics out of his system and the diarrhea would not be as excessive. Had to make a run to WM yesterday and get bed pads for the carpet, Immodium for the runs and more trash bags.
I don't believe he had 20 oz of liquid on Sunday. He is suppose to have two liters a day. I took him in yesterday and dropped him off. When I picked him up I dropped a bug in the nurse's ear about that. Sooooo, fluids today. I'm thinking -- "Is it cheaper to drink liquids at home or pay for a bag at the clinic?" That's why I'm irritated. Oh well.... I'm sure he's irritated with me, too. ONWARD!
He had a bit of oatmeal this morning and I made him a bologna sandwich with onions (his fav) when we finally got home today. He didn't eat it. He did have one small container of pudding. He says everything stinks. Part of the process. Hoping he will feel like eating in a couple of days. I have a meatloaf planned.
I know that he feels bad because he isn't even smoking those little cigars. Hasn't even been to the garage to see if he has any.
Not too much more to share. I feel like I am boing you with all my complaining. After all, it's not about me... LOL His APN says she knows we are in the 'feeling down' mode, and it's common, but "We are on Track". I have cried the last couple of days. I slept on the couch in the living room last night with the kids because I didn't want them around him and so I could cry in private. I haven't cried in front of him, but today in clinic he did see a few tears roll down my cheeks. He didn't ask, because when the APN asked how he felt, I believe I saw his eyes get misty, too. We have 3-4 more days of neutropenia.
Good Night and Love -- Pepper
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