Yesterday's awful update

Technical explanation about Anthony as close to layman’s terms as possible. Sorry I have to talk to techy…it’s how I’m learning it all, and I never wanted to go into med school! Definitely am feeling like a momcologist today.



I was super worried about Anthony last night because he wasn’t responding to the antibiotics like I thought he should. He was fussy, didn’t want to eat, was uncomfortable (miserable, actually), and still kept having fevers.



During Rounds this morning, I explained this to the team. Someone had mentioned something about if there weren’t any fevers today, we might go home tomorrow. I said no way, not unless Anthony is acting back to normal or a LOT closer to it. The team completely agreed with me.



After discussion at Rounds, a few doctors come in and examine A to see how he looks and sounds. Today, they touched his belly and Anthony fought that. He normally does not arch his back, scream, and be that sensitive. They know him and knew that something was wrong. A CT scan was ordered to be done today, just to see if they could get an idea of what’s going on.



Anthony was moaning in discomfort most of the day, so he had a few doses of morphine. In the past, morphine didn’t work great for him. Today, each time he had a dose, he was a HAPPY boy within 5 minutes.



So, a CT scan was scheduled, but the team felt that we should do another, more specialized ultrasound of A’s neck to see if the possible clot was just a bad ultrasound angle or an actual clot.



The ultrasound was first, and then we went to the CT scan. Originally, Anthony was supposed to be sedated (anesthesia) for the CT, but the tech thought he would be fine without, and with me there. He did the CT without anesthesia!!! Score one for Anthony!



When we returned to the room, our resident doctor explained the preliminary ultrasound results. The spot in Anthony’s neck is indeed a CLOT. Clots collect infection bacteria, so Anthony will now need lovenox. Lovenox is a low-dose heparin that will help break up the clot. I will need to learn how to INJECT it for him twice a day. Me, who’s leery of needles in the first place.



A little later, I was feeling sorry for Anthony and was just about to go get him some fries. The nurse said not to because the orders were still for him to be NPO (can’t eat, usually to prep for surgery, anesthesia). She called the doc to see when that order could be lifted.

They were on the phone for a while, a long while. Then, she came in, said I couldn’t go to the cafeteria yet because the doctor was on her way, I needed to hear the CT results, and afterwards I could have a really long break to relax and refresh.



There were 3 major things found in the CT scan.



1 The clot in Anthony’s neck isn’t the only one. There are nodules called emboli in his LUNGS. My first thought is CANCER or TUMORS. She said no, they are most likely clots that traveled with the infection. This is very worrisome, and so now we’ll have to watch Anthony’s lungs very closely to make sure the infection does not GROW in his lungs. That would be bad, very bad. The nodules technically could be a fungus, but it is much more likely to be from the bacterial infection. Anthony is not showing signs of fungal infection. The lovenox we’ll be learning to inject for the neck clot should work on these nodules as well. He’ll need to be on this medication for a MINIMUM of 3 months.



2 There was inflammation (swelling) in the secum (part of the large intestine, I think she said) and inside A’s rectum. This is from bacteria infection being in Anthony’s gut. Food, liquids, or water will only inflame it further. So, ANTHONY WILL BE NPO (CAN’T EAT) FOR 5-7 DAYS, AT LEAST. He will receive nutrition through his IV. This type of nutrition, TPN, is not lightly given, but continues nutrition in severe medical instances. To get the infection in his gut cleared, Anthony will be on 2 IV antibiotics, Zosyn and Gentimycin. These will be for a minimum of 6 weeks. Another type of thing we can do at home.



3 Anthony’s left kidney is in his chest.

This is either very rare or has not been seen before…not sure which. This probably happened long ago, after Anthony’s open-heart surgery. It is possible that the kidney and part of his bowel herniated into his chest after the surgery. Sometimes the diaphragm (I think that’s the right one) can allow this to happen.

I’m not sure on the exact details of this yet. The surgeons are discussing this case TONIGHT after they are out of current surgeries. This might not be too big a thing to worry about, but it might be something that will need to be “fixed” soon.



Anthony plays with his Woody doll when I’m not looking. When he sees my eyes, he puts it down and pushes it away. Now that he can’t eat or drink, he’s hungry and thirsty! He’s been trying to eat his tubing from the IV all evening. Feisty little stinker.



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