Sunday, October 30, 2011

At Swedish Hospital

Meagan is in quite a bit of pain (headache) due to the excess fluid on the brain. It can be controlled by medication, but it took quite a while to get it figured out. It's a narcotic, which makes her nauseous so they add anti-nausea drugs first. Around 10:30 last night they got both in her which knocked her out until 3:30. She woke up then due to pain, got sick, then they got her another dose. I got the nurse to have the doc get her on a regular schedule and a pump so she can control it. That should help and at a minimum get her stabilized from a pain perspective. But it has been a very rough 24 hours for her. Her nurse Lizzie is very nice and competent. I like her doc too, he's Dr Kaplan's partner standing in while Kaplan's away. Although we will try to hold off major decisions until Dr Kaplan is back.

Today the neurosurgeon and neurology and oncology team will huddle and figure out what to do. They need to find a way to relieve the pressure, figure out what's causing it, and come up with a solution. But it's a grim turn of events. It likely means there is significant involvement of the cancer in the spinal fluid with cells blocking the normal flow. Or maybe one of her new tumors is gumming up the works.

I really dislike being here for lots of reasons. It's the right place for her to get the care she needs. Personally, it's impossible to sleep with all the constant beeping.

Another chapter.

1 comment:

  1. Nick,

    Please know that we are here for you. And please give Annie our love.

    ReplyDelete