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2-22-05/Tuesday
Our apologies go out to all of Dan's supporters for not being able to do an update before now. So much has been happening
and everyone (especially Dan) is very tired. The days seem to all run together, it's hard to keep what happens one day separate
from the next.
The doctors have started Dan on a new form of cancer treatment which includes Interferon and AZT Therapy. This combination has proven to work very well on others with the same type of T-cell Lymphoma. There seems to have been
improvements in his tumors but we also seem to keep hitting road blocks as well on the way.
All of the medications they have been giving him, whether it be the chemo meds he was getting before, the new treatment he's
on now, or the antibiotics to prevent/ fight infections, they all inevitably have different side effects. One of the major
ones that a few of the meds have contributed to is an elevation in his liver enzymes. It seems to have become somewhat of
a balancing act between what they need to give him and what they are able to give him so that they don't cause the liver to
stop filtering everything through that it needs to. Another side effect he has been having to deal with is water retention.
Almost all of the meds they give him are given with a saline solution which helps push the medication through his system.
Unfortunately the amount of liquid that goes in does not always match the amount that comes out regardless of what you do.
It has added over 10lbs to his weight but that 10lbs started collecting in his feet, ankles, and legs. Normally they can give
a patient medication for this but because of his elevated liver enzymes they can't give it to him. Which leads to the next
obstacle. The doctors have been keeping a close eye on his lungs (along with everything else), in hopes that the liquid does
not start collecting there.
Sunday afternoon Dan began running a bit of temperature. They gave him the usual, Tylenol & Demerol and he was actually feeling
pretty good. Extremely tired but overall pretty good. On Monday though his fevers started to spike, his breathing was getting
a little labored and his blood pressure dropped to 80/40. Normally pumping the body full of liquids helps bring your blood
pressure back up (which they did last time) but because he has been retaining so much water and his liver enzymes are elevated
that wasn't a possibility They placed an oxygen mask on him to help with his breathing. Healthy lung capacity is somewhere
between 90-100% but his was dropping into the low 80's which could possibly result in respitory failure. The doctor’s
felt that the ICU would be more equipped to treat him considering the amount of different things they were dealing with.
He was brought down to the ICU yesterday afternoon. They have given him medication to stabilize his blood pressure which is
a relief and seems to be working well. Dr. Joyce stopped by his room last night to update us on what the plan was going to
be next. It seems that the chest X-ray that was done prior to his coming to the ICU showed something abnormal in his lungs.
They feel it could be a few different things. One that it could be the fluid building up. Two, that it could be a pneumonia
of some sort (although he has already been given a preventative treatment for that, they are not always effective). Or three
that it could be something called Bleeding Lung Syndrome (sounds worse than it actually is although none of this is very good
to begin with). We were told by Dr. Joyce that Bleeding Lung Syndrome is kind of like getting a black and blue on the inside
of your lungs and does not let your lungs work to their full capacity. She also told us that in order to treat this correctly
they will need to do a Bronchoscomy. This is when they send a probe with a camera and a suction device into his lungs so that
they can tell for sure what they are dealing with and exactly how to treat it. Dan will be put under heavy sedation during
the procedure and for a few days following they will leave the probe in as a precautionary measure so that they do not have
to reinsert it should the need come. They have told us that he will be kept comfortable and resting the whole time and most
likely not remember a thing when it's all over (Thank goodness for small favors!). But he may need to keep the breathing tube
in longer depending on what they find and what happens. We can only take this day by day and unfortunately no one has any
definite answers. Unfortunately because they are going to do this procedure, Dan is also going to have some catheters put
into his arterial veins. He will have one on his wrist that will give the doctors a constant blood pressure and they will
be able to draw blood off of. Another will be put into an arterial vein in his chest. This will be used to administer any
medications they need to give him directly into his system.
All of these procedures are supposed to be done today at some point. The catheters first and then the Bronchoscomy . I have
been sitting with Dan most of the morning. Although he has been sleeping most of the time, when he has woken up he is understandably
scared out his mind and I almost think he prefers to stay asleep.
We would like to thank everyone for keeping us in their prayers. It really means so much. For all who have offered their support
and are hoping there is something they can do, the one thing I can promise makes the biggest difference in Dan's day is when
he can read all of the wonderful, encouraging posts on his website so please keep them coming. Please also know that even
though he doesn't get the chance or feel up to doing an update he always looks forward to checking the sign in page and hearing
from you all. Sometimes it is the best part of the day.
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