Back in the Clink
I am sorry to say Harvey is back in the hospital. Out of the blue, last evening he suddenly spiked a fever of - 101.5F, well past the 100.5F trigger point for calling the transplant ward. Within one hour of our phone call Harvey was back on the ward, settled down and hooked up to three wide spectrum antibiotics. (Ceftazidime, Vancomycin, Tobramycin). The transition from civilian life to hospital life was much easier this time around, since we already knew the drill.
Today they are doing a whole bunch of tests and cultures using blood, urine, stool, nose and mouth swabs. The good news is that the chest X-ray showed nothing out of the ordinary and Harvey’s lungs and heart continue to be in good shape. Two days ago they tested for presence of CMV virus, a standard precaution. Harvey tested negative. He has a bit of nausea, but no actual throwing up and no diarrhea. Basically your average “Shake and Bake”, with fever and shivering chills with nothing else added on.
We won’t know the cause of the fever for a couple of days until the cultures have a chance to grow. We may never know what caused it. Frankly, I would be just as happy if the antibiotics kill the unknown culprit without us ever being able to put a name to this infection.
I would be kidding you if I said all of this is just another little blip and I am getting along merrily. Fevers in the transplant setting are always worrisome, always to be taken seriously. But the experts tell me this too is pretty common, most of their patients go through one or more of these episodes and do just fine after a couple more days in the hospital hooked up to intravenous medications. I hope this is the case with Harvey as well.
Be well,
Chaya
20 comments on "Two Steps Forward, One Step Back"
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThinking about both of you & hope that this is just a small bump in the road to recovery! Give him some chicken soup! They say that helps.
Prudence is best and U of MN seems to be on top of things. I suspect that Harvey will improve and that you’ll likely never know the culprit…at least I hope so. Make sure that you get some rest yourself.
Even though one expects and even knows that the shoe will fall, when it actually does, it’s hard, and I get that. My sense is that your style is to know the facts, Chaya. So, I’m hoping you get the information you may want, but most importantly, that the treatment leads to a successfull resolve and a speedy discharge. Do you abd CP have the results of the bone marrow biopsy?
My heart is with you, and my prayers are for CURE.
Chaya,
your devotion, to Harvey is a model for all of us.
Thank you so much for all the infomation and for all your generous spirit.
ondrea
I am sorry to hear about “Harvey” being back in the hospital.
I just logged in and was expecting everything to be going smoothly. I guess that is just not real life.
Thank you for being so open with us and I pray that the support you feel going back to you will bring healing and comfort to both of you.
With much care,
Liz
St. Paul, MN
P.S. You two are amazing as well as your “fictional” counterparts.
So sorry for this setback, but we hope all will be well very shortly. Take care you two!
Beth and Mark
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Blessings,
Rita
Hang in there, Chaya. Take care of yourself and get some rest. Many people are praying for you and PC. We are so grateful to you for sharing all this with us. B Clark, NC
It is good to know that this kind of episode is not uncommon and people pull through.
Our thoughts are with you!
Wayne & Fay
Been there, done that! It is likely nothing to worry about. It would be highly unusual to NOT have at least one return trip to the hospital. Without digging through the old blog, I think my wife was back in the “clink” three or four times. Each time for a FOU. Each time a flurry of IV drugs. Each time…nothing. Just part of the process. IMHO “Harvey” seems to be sailing through the process!
I am glad to hear that Harvey is being watched so closely. This is a good thing and will lead to the best possible outcome. My love to all.
Chaya thank you again with your selfless sharing of knowledge and experiences for the CLL community!
Chaya in one of your post you explained about using the Heparin to flush Harvey’s catheter. I’ve heard there have been some problems with Heparin from China being made for Baxtar and has been showing up in the US medical system. Are you and the hospital been aware this issue? http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/569325
Please tell Harvey he and you are in our prayers!
Love
Norm and Irene
Thank you so much for CLL Topics
We are facing an allogenic transplant as soon as my husband’s CLL/Lymphoma is under control. He has been through FCR, R-Chop and now R-ESHAP, it has been discouraging but we are encouraged through other’s success stories.
God bless you all and thank you
Chaya, The road to true love, and renewed health, is never smooth. Harvey already has the first and with a little more luck, he will soon have the second. Fingers crossed. Lisa
Chaya,
I’m sure you know that there is an enormous flow of positive energy waves coming from all directions which is surrounding both you and “Harvey”. May they help sustain and strengthen you both and guide him back to good health. Thank you so very much for sharing your experience and knowledge with all of us.
Namaste, Kathryn
Chaya: I am very sorry to hear about “Harvey”. I was away for the weekend so I have not had a chance to check in on “Harvey”. My best wishes and thoughts are with you and “Harvey”
I hope that no news is good news here—-we were out of town; just read this post yesterday and thought I’d see a new one by now. When we don’t get a new update for several days, I get worried about Harvey! Hopefully this means you’re busy getting back to the apartment. Anyway, my best to you both.
You continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. Our entire family is so anxious to hear how PC is doing. We look forward to an update. In the meantime, good thooughts are being sent your way.
Chaya:
I am holding my virtual breath until this fever siege is over. I can remember lying in the hospital with 200 neutrophils and a headache from fever. The doctor said “well, 2 days on IV antibiotic and some increase in neutrophils, you should be OK”. But there was a small voice in my head saying “Now what if the neutrophils do not increase?” Obviously things did work out for me but it is very threatening, common as it may be.
Hugs,
Diane
My wife and I are wishing Harvey and you the best outcome. We check the daily. No news is good news, we pray.
Ramez and Marcia