Saturday, January 06, 2007
Decisions, decisions
Here is the latest on my status, - a number of people have been asking and this seemes a good place to provide more detail than I can on each phone call before my voice runs out! I had a lovely email from Aunt Marge and Uncle Tom, encouraging me, among other things, to take advantage of any comfort measures offered me that don't have a high potential for side effects, even if only short-lived. I heard similar thoughts from others. The procedure is very similar to that for abdominal tap, but if the fluid is removed too quickly, the lungs begin to spasm and shortness of breath becomes a problem. They conteract it to a certain extent by removing fluid slowly, but some will happen anyway as the lung re-expands. I decided to go ahead and have an evaluation to determine where the most fluid was present (abdomen or lungs), which would have the least effect on my serum sodium, (has been pretty low), and whether it would be worth considering removing the fluid from the 2 areas separately. Dr. Luchowski recommended removing the pleural - lung- fluid first, and then doing the abdominal fluid next week. In order to kep my sodium from going any lower, the hospice found me some 1 gm salt tablets to tke 3-6 times a day, and I was put on fliud restriction of 1500ml a day liquids. My sodium level will be checked again Monday, and if all is well, the paracentesis will be done. The salt tablets, being so concentrated, are difficult to tolerate, so timing is important! The thoracentesis helped a lot, and I can breathe easier, although there is still enough fluid to make me short-winded after about 5 minutes of talking. I'll be having my labs drawn again tomorrow to make sure my sodium is high ebough to havr more fluid drawn off (which brings sodium with it), and to check my clotting status. I was offered the option to consider having a semipermananent drain in both area that would prevent my having to go to the hospital so often since it can be done at home - I'll be weighing that option, depending how long it will be needed, and how rapidly the fluid reaccumulates. Wish I had a crystal ball! So...that's the latest. David is a model caretaker, and the boys are chipping in as they are able... Thank you all for your input and insight, as well as prayers and calls. Love to you all, Kathy I now ...."understand from the depth of of my emotionsa being that it is in the acceptance of pain and suffering that we can transcend it, leave it behind, cease to want to defend ourselves by standing truth on its head in blaming and raging, that we can move onward, accepting and finding accepance in peace. There is no way to make the process as easy as the words, nor can you direct it. If you keep the top of your head open, your feet find the path." -by Lucy Rees, "The Maze" _________________________________________________________________ |
