Tom is finally home from the hospital where he's been since last Friday. Following is a day-by day scenario ( or as much as I can type right now and will add more later)
Tuesday Tom received a new chemo medicine called Taxotere along with the gemsar he had received the week before. On Wednesday his left arm where the previous tumor had been removed started to swell and turn red in color. He was also shaking with the chills and feeling very sick. He also got neulasta on Wednesday because his platelets were at 17,000 (normal 140,000). By Thursday morning his arm was still swelling and he was retaining fluid. He was taking vicodin to deal with the pain and chills. By Friday morning he was in so much pain that I took him to the oncologist. After talking to a nurse practioner she decided to see the doc. After reading his chart and seeing his arm he put him in the hospital right away for IV antibiotics and a saline solution. On Saturday Fr. Tony from St Charles stopped by to administer the prayer for the sick. By Saturday afternoon Tom's whole body was covered with a rash. It kept getting worse but they gave him Zanyx or however you spell it so he didn't really care. Sunday the Colts lost and that was as much he could deal with. On Monday they brought in a contagious disease specialist who deduced he was allergic to the antibiotic and put him on a different one . At last he began to get better and he was released Wednesday but has to go to the ER every day for a week to have antibiotics infused. Takes about an hour.
Tom wanted everyone to know at least what had happened and I'm sure when he's feeling better he will fill you all in with a day by day, blow by blow experience. He did try to keep all of his nurses and support people laughing and he was well-liked by all of them. He appreciates your prayers and support and I'm sure he'll be blogging by tomorrow. Right now it's all he can manage not to scratch his entire body! In the meantime, further chemo has been postponed until platelet counts are up and rash is gone.
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