Dr. Taylor and Dr. Curti emphasized at the end of the last week of infusions that round 2 would likely be more intense. Mark's first infusion was yesterday at 3 pm. For the first couple of hours, we thought this one wasn't going to be too bad, BUT then it HIT!! The incessant itching was everywhere from head to toe, and nausea didn't allow his head to leave the pillow or even take a sip of water for hours. He was miserable! IV Zofran, Compazine, and Reglan did nothing to help. Finally, around 11 pm, IV Ativan and more Benedryl eased nausea and itching and knocked him out. Then, his blood pressure dropped to 82/46, so nurses were in and out all night giving extra fluids and checking his vitals. Early this morning, it dropped into the '70s, so at 6 am, Phenylephrine was started by IV. It's still going at 3 pm, and his blood pressure is moving in the right direction. Mark is sleeping most of the time. He will not have the 3 pm dose, and we don't know when the next one will be. While the side effects are tough, we actually want his immune system to react to recognize and get rid of any tumors and cancerous cells. It's an odd thing to want this!
Dr. Walter Urba dropped by around noon today to see how Mark is faring! It was wonderful to see him again. He is an amazing man!! We hear it from nurses here and others who have either worked with or know him, and we have experienced it. He is always so kind and caring! He no longer works with patients, and we are in good hands with Dr. Taylor and Dr. Curti, but while he was here, he mentioned that he hadn't been on the hospital floor since Covid started. We felt honored that he would come to visit us!
We can't thank you enough for the love, support, and prayers that are sustaining us!!!
Love you both to the moon & beyond xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteHolding you close in our prayers....