Morning...yawn!

Hi everyone:

Kathleen didn't enjoy an especially restful evening, in part because they kept coming in to check vitals, switch out I.V. bags and turn off the alarm on the I.V. pump--which, at 4 a.m., seems louder than a Metallica concert. What's more, because her platelets are so low, and a fall or other injury could quickly become serious, she now has a bed alarm; if she moves off the bed, or even shifts too much on the bed, the sound is deafening (this at any hour).

Her oncologist stopped in this morning. He has arranged a battery of tests for Kathleen today, including visits from an infectious disease specialist, a gastroenterologist and, most likely, a cardiologist. Of particular concern to the doctor was Kathleen's distended stomach, which she finds very uncomfortable; it actually looks at this moment like she's a few months pregnant. She'll be heading down shortly for a CT scan of her torso, and will later have an echocardiogram.

I discussed pain management issues with the doctor, because the nurses are sometimes hesitant to give Kathleen her pain meds on time because of her low blood pressure; they refuse even though Kathleen's BP almost always runs low. The doctor has said he will address this concern so that, hopefully, it won't be an issue tonight.

We're still waiting for her updated blood results. As we learn more through the day, I'll try to post additional updates. She's a trooper, to be sure, but I can tell she's frustrated by what seems like one thing after another.

Love,
Brian

P.S. As I was writing "one thing after another" (above), Kathleen started vomiting. Geez.