Another Bump in the Road

When I set out on my journey to beat my Mantle Cell Lymphoma I knew the road would not be an easy one. Well, the last week and a half has been pretty tough for me. I will tell you that as I write this I am mostly past the rough spot and feeling well. Here is what I went through:

10/09/08 – I am feeling well, even took a short shopping trip with my daughter. As I walked through the house later that night I had the feeling of a shin split in my left leg.

10/10/08 – I woke up feeling weak. My left leg was now very painful and started to swell. My wife checked my temperature and it was 101.5. Whenever my temperature exceeds 100.5 we are suppose to call into the Cancer Clinic. We called and were advised to come in right away.

During the hour ride to the clinic I felt weaker. When we arrived I had to get a wheel chair to transport me to the clinic. My temperature was now 103.5. It was found that I had an infection (E. coli). I was immediately started on intravenous antibiotics. In the meantime the clinic had me admitted me into the hospital in my typical Oncology ward.

Once I was in my hospital room things started to get crazy. I went Sepsis. My blood pressure was very low and I was packed in ice to bring down my fever. It was at this point where it was decided to move me into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). ICU was able to control my blood pressure, temp and continue me on antibiotics.

What a day this has been! I put one heck of a scare in my wife.
Here I sit in ICU with medicine to control my blood pressure, antibiotics for my infection and a swollen painful leg that was diagnosed as Cellulitis.

An interesting thing to note: I had the same infection (E. coli) and Cellulitis with my first chemo cycle. Once I am better we will have to find out why this keeps happening.

10/11 – 10/12/08 – I continued to be treated in ICU. My fever and infection are now under control. My leg is still swollen but becoming less painful.

10/13/08 – Being I am no longer at risk I am moved back to the Oncology ward.

10/14/08 – I am discharged. I will have to get in-home intravenous antibiotics for the next ten days. It is GREAT to be home.

10/15 – 10/16/08 – I am starting in run low grade fevers again. It seems that I get higher fevers as the day go on.

10/17/08 – My fever goes above 100.5. We called the Cancer Center and are told to go to the hospital. I am again admitted.

10/18/08 – I am given a CT Scan to see if there is anything causing my fever and infection. I came back clear. I was also given a Doppler Test on my legs which checks for blood clots. This came back clear also.

10/19/08 – An infection called C Def was found in me. This is the culprit causing my fevers. I am put on a second antibiotic that I will be on for 10 days.

10/20/08 – I am given a test called a TEE. This checks behind the heart for infection, leaks etc… This came back clear.

Being I am on the appropriate antibiotics I can now be discharged. Again, it is great to be home.

This has been a tough run but we are getting through it. I constantly remind myself that the chemo therapy is making excellent progress. I still have about a week before I am done with the antibiotics. This has caused a delay in my chemo treatments. My next cycle is 4(2B) but it is unclear as to when this will begin. I have an appointment on Friday, October 24th. I should know more then.

Sure I am a little discouraged by the past week and a half but I remain focused on getting well and resuming my treatments

“As believers we have no business talking doubt, failure or fear! We should talk faith!”
More to come…


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