Update on my brother
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His counts have basically “held” since yesterday (platelets are at 10,000 and hemoglobin are at 7) so they want to give him two units of red cells and 1 of platelets tomorrow. (He’s finally getting a PICC line in today…YAY!) Kris, he hasn’t been taking any meds, except now he is taking steroids for the immune thrombocytopenia. The oncologist wants to do a bone marrow biopsy later this week to see if they can figure out why he isn’t making red cells. It seems odd that this is happening now. He hasn’t had chemo since last fall, and finished up his radiation treatments in February. Is it common to have suppression of the bone marrow months after chemo/radiation?
Kris, you know the old saying, yesterday has passed, tomorrow is not here and today is the present, a gift. Don’t get ahead of today and let yesterday go so that you can unwrap a great tomorrow! I know, I know, easier said then done!
Peggy –
I wish as much as you do that you and your whole family could get off this blasted roller coaster. It is not one bit of fun. And too many of us have been on it.One thing too look at is all of his medications and make sure that he’s not any that might affect platelets and other numbers. When my husband got so bad a few months ago I took a look at everything and limited him to just the essentials. It would certainly be something to look at. Another thing would be to make sure he’s on a good multi-vitamin if he’s not already. We use PreNatal. It cracks my husband up when I remind him what he is taking but they are one of the best vitamins.
Good luck with everything and keep us posted.
KrisV
And Lainy and Julie – I too have felt a little off the last couple of days. I blame it on the weather (too hot here for me) and then too much thinking about what happened a year ago. I have to stop it.
Wow, Peggy, you really are on a roller coaster and I hope it comes to a screeching halt and soon!
As always wishing your brother the very best. Thank you for keeping us updated.OK, we’re back on the roller coaster!
My brother went back to the hospital today (48 hours after his platelets had gone up to 19,000) and they had dropped back to 9,000. The doctor upped his steroids and he goes back to the hospital tomorrow. If they drop any lower, they will have to give him platelets. His hemoglobin has also dropped a bit, but they aren’t too concerned (7.5, down from 8.9) The biggest concern is the platelets as they can cause bleeding, which will in turn lower his hemoglobin.Great news Peggy, thanks for that! My fingers are crossed that this can indeed be managed with steroids and I wish your brother all the best with this and his upcoming CT as well. Please let us know how things go and hoping that this is time for the rollercoaster to start going up again!
Hugs,
Gavin
Oh, Julie, give me a smile. Hope you are feeling OK other than the tears. We should be together today as I don’t feel so good, had my Remicade infusion 2 days ago and they increased me from 4 to 7 vials. I always get a reaction in the beginning BUT woke up to clouds today, yea! Something different. Try to have a good 4th, 5th, 6th and onward. Sending you a huge cyber hug. { }
Such good news to hear today. I’ve been kind of weepy today….not feeling great myself and then with some of the sad news on the boards the last 24 hours….so this turn around is wonderful news. More prayers your way.
Julie T
Iowa GirlPeggy, YIPPEE! Great news and I wish for the great news to continue. Thanks for the update and all the best to your brother and family!
Great news! His blood counts have stabilized and so the doctor said that it confirms that the problem with the platelets was caused by an autoimmune response to the platelets (his body is attacking the platelets). But, the good news is that the doctor thinks that they can manage it with steroids. So, he is no longer bleeding, his platelets are up to 19,000 (still low but WAY better than 2,000!) and the doctor discharged him today! He has to return to the hospital for a blood check on Sunday and then he returns to the oncologist on the 16th for another CT scan and blood work. But the director of the hospice program said that my brother isn’t ready for hospice yet and that he believes that he has some more “tread left in his tires”. As many of you have mentioned before…it’s a real roller coaster ride, isn’t it? He came so close to not making it this week, and now things are looking good again!
Thanks for all your good wishes and prayers!
PeggyPeggy, I’m real sorry to hear this latest news about your brother. I so hope that you get some good news at the meeting with everyone today and please be sure to let us know how this goes. We are all here for you and my thoughts are with you right now.
Hugs,
Gavin
Thank you all. Lainy, I received the list. Thanks! I’m off to the family meeting with the doctors and my brother’s family this morning.
Oh, Peggy, this is so hard to believe, wow, what your poor brother has been through. I am sending you the list now. I went to bed but couldn’t sleep so came back on line, glad I did. Hospice is great but make sure they are not stingy with pain meds as comfort is the bottom line. Please feel free to email me at any time and please try to be very strong.
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