Ascites and antibiotics

I wanted to provide an update on my husband’s condition in the event anyone researching ascites reads this thread in the future. Although it was my understanding that the doctor put my husband on antibiotics because his scan revealed ascites, I later learned that the scan also revealed signs of infection, possibly pancreatitis, and this was the reason for the antibiotics. Apparently the infection caused his albumin level to drop far below normal and this caused a host of problems. After 17 days of antibiotics, he is greatly improved. He has no fever and his blood pressure has returned to normal. His bilirubin had risen to 3.4, causing some jaundice, but it has dropped to 1.5 and the jaundice is all gone. Almost all of his digestive problems are gone and his appetite has returned to normal. I won’t know whether there has been any change in the ascites in his abdomen until the next scan but the fluid around his ankles is now gone. The albumin level has been rising slowly and is now only slightly below normal. All of the tests he had in the ER were negative for infection so it is fortunate it showed up on the scan. I plan to take any future fevers very seriously.

A little good news today. After three days on antibiotics, my husband had no fever for the first time in two weeks. His energy level was a little better too. Hoping to get some more information at his doctor’s appointment tomorrow.

Thanks Marion. I know there can be progression even if it doesn’t show up on the scan but I am still hoping that some of these problems are related to infection instead of progression. When he had blood tests on Friday the 14th, his bilirubin was in the normal range and AST and ALT were not too high (64 and 75). Two days later, when we went to the ER because of his fever and low blood pressure, the bilirubin was 2.4, the AST was 201 and the ALT was 173. His neutrophils also increased substantially over the 2-day period. The doctor started him on Levofloxacin a couple of days ago so we will see whether it has any effect. He has an appointment on Friday and will have more blood tests then. Unfortunately, his oncologist is on vacation so we will be seeing someone else. He had a fever yesterday afternoon but his blood pressure is normal now. If the disease has progressed, however, then we will try something else. We’re a long way from giving up.