tjradshannon
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Just a quick update. We are home after spending the last 5 days in the hospital. Tim was experiencing some unusually bad vomiting and so I called our oncologist and they directly admitted him. Long story short, after some scary hours, he had ruptured bleeding varices and had lost over a liter of blood. The GI docs were quick to react and performed an endoscopic variceal ligation. We are happy to have made it home today and are grateful for the excellent care we received and the amazing support of family and friends. Follow-up includes additional meds to control the pressure due to the portal hypertension and additional upper endoscopies every couple of weeks with possible additional EVCs until the varices scar tissue is built up enough to prevent further bleeding.
Dear Marion,
Just wanted to let you know that I heard back from the doctor that you suggested I consult. He asked if Tim was eligible for a liver transplant. Tim is not eligible since the lymph node had tested positive for the cancer. He also asked if he could possible receive a portal vein stent. When Tim was in the hospital, the doctors had considered it, but ruled it out since he was at such high risk to have additional procedures since he is on Lovenox due to his deep vein thrombosis and they also are quite concerned about infection risk. They have him on a daily prophylactic antibiotic. He already has an IVC filter installed which I had neglected to mention in my original post to try and prevent any further pulmonary embolisms. I feel like we have maybe exhausted any options for further treatment.
– Jenifer
Thank-you for your responses and suggestions. To my knowledge, the tumor has not been molecularly profiled. We did see a second set of doctors at Univ. of Penn. These doctors were the ones who recommended the proton beam radiation as a second line. I guess it would be a good idea to touch base with them again since we only met with them at the beginning of his diagnosis and they are not aware of his latest developing complications. However, I know my husband would not be receptive to driving back to that hospital for another doctor’s visit. We are now only doing telehealth visits with his current doctors. Driving to the city for doctors visits usually takes 4-5 hours and really wipes him out. I have a hard enough time talking him into a quick shower, a shave, or even just brushing his teeth.
