My wonderful boss went ahead and started an IV (which is next to impossible on me since I'm a hard stick) and gave me fluids so I wouldn't get dehydrated. I was disappointed that I was missing the event but was able to answer phones in the back office. That night, the pain subsided and I started passing gas (meaning the kink was opening back up). The next day, we went to the cancer center for more fluids and to check my labs. They said my labs looked great mainly because Dr. Leigh gave me fluids the day before. My immunity level was in the tank, so it was a good thing I wasn't around a lot of people at the event. I was able to slowly advance my diet from clear liquids to full liquid then finally back to a regular diet over that weekend.
The following Tuesday (10/18), I started getting belly cramping again. This pain came in suddenly and with great intensity while I was finishing my shift at work. Then the burping started and then for the first time in all my obstructions, I was having massive vomiting. We knew it was time to go to the ER and called on-call oncology to confirm. They gave the Clemmons ER a heads up that I was on my way. Wil's parents went ahead and packed bags and came to spend the night at our house since our kids were already in bed and asleep.
Clemmons ER was amazing again, keeping me separate from others to keep me safe from catching any infections. As soon as I was triaged, my blood pressure was sky high from the pain and vomiting, they brought me straight back to an exam room. I was given IV anti-nausea meds and pain meds then taken back for a CT, which confirmed a high grade bowel obstruction. I was given another NG tube (the tube that goes down my nose and into my stomach that goes to suction to drain my stomach contents).
We had a great CNA, Sonia B, who got Wil a reclining chair so he could actually lay back and get sleep since we spent the whole night in the ER. Then my new MD switched out for the morning, my Friend- Ann Batista! We were just waiting on transport to the big hospital- Forsyth Medical Center.
Dr. Skinner stopped by on her way to clinic to check in on me and give the game plan. We discussed having the permanent drain placed in my stomach (G tube) and taking the time to decompress my bowels and let them unkink.
Critical care transport took me over to the big hospital and Wil followed behind and met me there.
We were admitted to the 9th West Oncology floor and had amazing nurses (Ryan, Ashlyn, Alexis, Lexie, TJ, and more!), CNAs , and secretaries. We knew we were in for a long admission due to the severity of the inflammation of my bowels. The soonest I could be scheduled to have my Gtube placed by Interventional Radiology would be the following Tuesday, 10/25. So the NG tube would have to stay in until then since it is needed for the procedure.
My parents came to visit and go to Wilson's Quickball game, and I convinced Wil to go as well on Thursday while my mommy stayed with me.
Then the biggest surprise, Wil and his sister- Holly- ran their 1/2 marathon in Greensboro on Saturday. They had this planned for months and my best friend Mae came to keep me company and help out while he was gone.
I was allowed to start having popsicles and Italian ice which was such a relief for my throat. Just having the tube in the back of your throat, it is irritated and sore. My NG tube was still to suction so whatever I swallowed just got sucked right back out. Mae was kind enough to add more popsicles and Italian ice to her grocery pick up that afternoon to drop it off for me.
We had a much better room this go around with more space and a gorgeous view.
All day Monday, we were able to keep my NG tube clamped and I was still able to have my popsicles. I tolerated it well with no nausea. Then that night, my nurse injected contrast right into my NG tube. This would be for the procedure the next day to be able to visualize by guts for the G tube (stands for gastric tube). Originally it was scheduled for 1 pm but was changed without us knowing to 8 am. So we were a bit surprised and scrambling to get ready.
I was wheeled down to Interventional Radiology and was nervous and a bit emotional. This was unknown territory for me and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I knew I would be put to sleep for the procedure but leading up to that part is always hard. I had my same CRNA, Allison, who has helped with all my surgeries in the past.
My nurse Hayley was holding my hand as I cried. Then my X-ray tech introduced himself as Chris. I could only see his eyes but he looked so familiar and sounded familiar too. Then I realized he goes to my church and plays in the worship band too! That was such a comfort to have a believer with me. Then I asked if I could pray out loud before I was put to sleep. It is a blessing to be able to pray for those helping with my procedure and for God to guide their hands and help to heal me. Then I took a few deep breaths and was out like a light.
I woke up in recovery, having some abdominal pain where the tube was placed. But a wonderful surprise was that the tube was out of my nose!
Wil had to stay up in the room but I kept my phone so I was able to send him updates via text and talked to him on the phone once as well. Once my pain was under control, we just had to wait for transport to take me back up to my room. That part took 1.5 hours to get someone to take me up.
We met with a dietitian to go over my new restrictions having the Gtube. The point of the tube is to avoid having to get a tube down my nose with any more obstructions. Then possibly be able to hook it up to drain at home to decrease the need to go to the hospital. I would need to be on a mechanical soft diet. This means no peanut butter (too sticky), no gummies, no raw veggies or fruits, no steak/pork, and all other meats cut into very small pieces. It has definitely been an adjustment but getting use to it now. Eating smaller and more frequent meals to lower the work load at a time for my digestive tract.
The Gtube is about 6 inches long and I keep it clamped except for one time when we first got home. It will take about 4-6 weeks for the scar tissue to heal around it for it to fully heal. I keep gauze around it for any oozing that happens and an abdominal binder to keep the pain down and keep the tube safe from being tugged on.
I have to use Saran wrap and tape to protect it while I shower but after a month or so, I won't have to do that since the scar tissue will protect any water from getting around the tube.
The other change will be my chemotherapy plan. I will stay on the one drug, Carboplatin, but Dr. Skinner thought it would be necessary to add another one just with this being my 6th obstruction since April. So we added Doxil which is a new med I havent had before. It still works on the bone marrow and since I was already having issues with my platelets dropping with Carbo, I was changed to a four week cycle to help give my bone marrow time to recover between treatments.
We saw Dr. Skinner this Monday (10/31) for an exam and labs. Thankfully, I felt up to participating in Halloween with our family and friends from church. The Hudson's and Jungle's neighborhood was much more conducive for little kids to trick or treat. Parker was a true princess and was carried around by her daddy most of the night.
Wil and I were back at the cancer center Tuesday (11/1) for my first infusion of Doxil. It couldn't be done the same day as my Carbo since that infusion takes 7:00 am until about 5:30 pm. Doxil is typically tolerated really well but can have a rare side effect of the skin on your hands and feet peeling off and mouth sores. During the infusion, I have cold packs on my hands and feet to decrease the amount of chemo to those areas. This medicine is also called "The Red Devil" as it is the color of Koolaid. I tolerated the infusion well and keeping my hands and feet well moisturized.
I was still premedicating Monday and Tuesday for my Carbo infusion on Wednesday. This is round the clock (8 am, 2 pm, 4 pm, 8 pm, 12 am, 2 am... Then repeat).
We had our wonderful nurse, Rebecca, again for our all day Carbo treatment. I did just fine with the first bag but during bag #2 of 4, the dietitian came in to see how we were doing with the new changes to my eating. Wil noticed that I started scratching my ears, and then my face and neck started getting flushed. So he hollars for Rebecca who runs in, stops the infusion while Wil pulls the "SEND HELP" call bell. In comes the PA and pharmacist and more nurses. Thankfully the reaction never moved to my chest or lungs. I was given IV Solumedrol (another steroid) and the itching died down. I was able to complete the infusion with no issue after that.
Well, until I was taking my abdominal binder off to show my nurse navigator my Gtube and I accidentally pulled my needle out of my port. First time I have done that in over 10 years! I quickly clamped the line so the chemo wouldn't get all over me. I even managed to scratch my skin!
Rebecca came in and was able to reaccess me and taped the snot out of it so I wouldn't do that again! The rest of the infusion went just fine. I still get more premeds before my last bag of chemo, and was able to get a good Benadryl nap. I don't get a lot of sleep the two days prior since I'm on high dose steroids all around the clock.
Now I'm still recovering from my Gtube and my stomach is sore. I'm hoping to start back at work at the end of next week and slowly add my hours back in. It will be nice to have a 4 week chemo cycle and get more recovery time in.
Prayer requests:
1. Pray for minimal side effects from my new chemo and for this combination therapy to help shrink my tumors faster to help decrease my bowel obstructions.
2. Pray for my platelets to have time to recover and be ready to go before my next treatment.
3. Praise for all my wonderful nursing staff inpatient and outpatient. For my amazing oncologist who takes amazing care of us.
4. For my amazing work family that is helping me in so many ways and being so understanding of all I'm battling.
