Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
124<br />
There has been a lot of difficulty <strong>with</strong> IV lines. After the port was removed, he needed to<br />
get PPN (the weaker version of TPN, IV nutrition) in a regular IV line. This irritated his<br />
veins. Same thing <strong>with</strong> some of the antibiotics. He needed three IV lines at one point, but<br />
then one went bad. He was suspecting it would go bad, and one night after starting the<br />
PPN in that IV line, he experienced a profound hot flush, lasting for about 5 minutes.<br />
They pulled that IV. Another IV went bad later that day. They put in a new line. The new<br />
line and the third "old" line went bad today. He currently has only a single line. There is<br />
an open question about whether or when they will put in a central line, such as a "PIC"<br />
line.<br />
The pain from the stent has been continuous. He had the stent removed at 3:00 p.m.<br />
today, March 2. The removal went very well. His esophagus was fully open. The doctor<br />
reported seeing material that had the appearance of necrotic tumor. He took a biopsy,<br />
and results of the biopsy should be available either Saturday or Monday. The esophagus<br />
remaining fully open and the observation of potentially necrotic tumor are both positive<br />
signs. The stent removal was just a few hours ago, so we don't yet know whether the<br />
esophagus will remain fully open.<br />
I leave it to my dad to discuss his feelings about all of this, and I hope he will resume<br />
blogging soon. I can say that he has experienced some days when he is very positive,<br />
and some days when he is very negative, and those feelings do not always correlate to<br />
how well he is doing physically. There is a lot of uncertainty -- will his esophagus remain<br />
open? Will his esophageal neuro-muscular function be good? Will he be able to eat<br />
enough to get off of IV nutrition? When will he get a PET scan? What will it show? What<br />
will the biopsy show? What will it be like to go home? How much care will he want? If the<br />
tumor did shrink, what would another round of chemo be like? Of course, there are also<br />
the important big picture questions.<br />
Dad is still groggy from the anesthetic, but he reports a reduction in pain after removal of<br />
the stent.<br />
Tonight my mom is staying at St. Agnes <strong>with</strong> dad. <strong>My</strong> middle brother, Brian, goes in for<br />
surgery tomorrow afternoon (Saturday). It is surgery for something causing esophageal<br />
issues. <strong>My</strong> youngest brother, Michael, arrives tomorrow evening. I expect to spend<br />
tomorrow night <strong>with</strong> my dad, and my mom expects to spend tomorrow night <strong>with</strong> Brian.<br />
That is a whole lot of activity in a short period of time. Thankfully, my wife has been<br />
amazing about watching the kids so I am free to be there for my dad.<br />
Dad isn't yet feeling up to having visitors or taking calls. He greatly appreciates all of the<br />
friendship and support.<br />
Posted by Gary Shuster at 02:10PM (-08:00)<br />
There's No Place Like Home<br />
Monday, March 05, 2012<br />
Last night dad said he was hoping to go home on Tuesday or Wednesday. I told him that<br />
it lined up pretty well <strong>with</strong> my guess that he would be going home by around Thursday.<br />
As it turns out, we were both wrong: Dr. Flam just signed the discharge papers.<br />
Doc Dave is going home today.<br />
<strong>My</strong> <strong>Battle</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Merkel</strong> <strong>Cell</strong> <strong>Cancer</strong>
Change language