Day +6 -- more misery

Doug's blood counts are still falling: WBC is 0.1, HCT 29.0 platelets 65. This is not alarming to the medical team, and they keep reassuring us that this is to be expected. We are still hoping that Doug can get by without transfusions, but time will tell. They keep hydrating him every day at the clinic, and adding electrolytes as needed.

I am now running Cefepime antibiotic via the central line 3 times a day, because of the fever. I feel like I just graduated from the "see one, do one" school of nursing. Because of my medical background (Radiation Therapist, retired) I am familiar with much of the medical world, but hands-on nursing was never my specialty.
About half of the auto transplant patients end up running a fever, so for the first time Doug is in the lower percentile.

Doug now has a slight sore throat, increasing mouth sores, and today the bad diarrhea started. They are doing stool and blood cultures, but Doug's doctor told him to go ahead and take Immodium now for the diarrhea. Some docs make the patient wait until the cultures are back -- we are so glad that Dr. Matous is a practical guy!

This evening at 7:30, Doug's temp rose to 100.8 -- so another call to RMCC answering service. It took almost an hour for the doc on call to return our call. Meanwhile I called the answering service again, and then found a voicemail on my phone from the doc stating that his call had been blocked. We do not have call blocking so not sure what happened. So I called the answering service yet again and gave them our land line number at the hotel. During this time Doug's temp had risen to 101.0. Finally we connected with the doc and he said to go ahead and give Doug 1000 mg of Tylenol every 6 hours. If that does not control the fever then Doug will need a different type of antibiotic; they will check him in the morning at the clinic.

The home health service delivered another big box of supplies for our 'home IV'. We opened it up to make sure it was the right stuff - I'm not quite as trusting as I used to be. Good thing we checked, as we found that this time the antibiotic solution was pre-mixed and needed to be refrigerated (there was an ice pack in the box). Nothing was said to us, nothing on the outside of the box about needing refrigeration. Consumer beware -- even with the best of medical care, the patient needs an advocate to check on everything! I have no hesitation about asking questions of nurses and doctors -- what, why, how, etc.

The docs want Doug to get some calories in, and he is trying but it is hard. He is now on 11 different drugs, so that plus just feeling lousy makes it hard to eat. Today he has had ice chips, 1/3 cup applesauce, 1/2 can of Boost, and an ice pop. Oddly enough, his weight is holding at 171 so far. Must be all the fluids they pump into him.

Doug's attitude is still mostly positive. He is concerned about me; he made sure I would lay down for a nap this afternoon. Gotta love this guy.

We love you all -- and thanks for the prayers!