I am going to attempt to bring everyone up to speed however I'm not sure if I even understand what everything means.
Last week Patrick seemed to stop, he made a dead stop in his recovery. Several issues became concerns, and for most of the week treatments were added, and some taken, with the return of the cardiologist, and the urologist as well. This surgery has been difficult for several reason's, 1. Accordingly to the surgical Dept. this procedure is the most severe, or a close second to any procedure performed at M.D. Anderson. 2. Because Patrick's previous surgery was so extensive and he is still dealing with the pelvic area concerns, issues are crossing over each other making this recovery harder. Patrick's also not dealing well with the pain medication he's on. Patrick has always had a high tolerance for pain and a low tolerance to pain medications, he HATES the one he's on called Dilaudid. He seems to be having a loy of the listed side effects.This is were the circle begins to be confusing. The pain medice he's on is not good for patients who have any kidney problems, or specifically urthrea striation (narrowing in the urethra) which Patrick has. However the cardiologist does not want him of the medication because he could have a heart attack, which is why he is also on blood pressure medicine for anything over 110/60. So Ativan was added to his meds to help with anxiety, and restlessness with hopes to calm him down enough to heal. He started passing gas which was a big step however, no bowel movement, and he began vomiting (nothing but bile and foam) so his food was cut back. He's still on the feeding tube and is only taking a minimal amount of water or ice chips. A another antibiotic was added directly into the feeding tube to see if that would help him pass a movement. His daily blood counts are showing his creatine level to be to high, his platelets are high, his white blood cells are within normal range at 9.1, but the red blood cells are 2.4 which is 2.0 below the norm of 4.0-6.0. His hematocrit is also low which is the count that shows new baby red blood cells. There is no bleeding anywhere inside or out, he's just not making new. The Cisplatin (chemo drug) might be causing this, so if his counts don't go up he'll need a blood transfusion. After already having roughly 24 transfusions Patrick is wanting one because it gives him energy.
After the previous Friday drama around the catheter removal and then having it reinserted after 12 hours of no urinating Patrick was very worried this past Sat. when it was removed again to see if he could do it on his own. YEAH! I am happy to report that he has resumed full ability to pee! The bladder pooling is however still a concern and the urologist has scheduled additional test to figure out what to do. You can't have uric acid pooling in your bladder. No surgery is being discussed at this time, so Patrick is past that scare. He's suppose to be walking daily, sitting up as much as possible, and washing daily. Each of these steps are very difficult when you have this huge circle of drugs and situations holding you down.
To our Truman angels you'll understand when I say he's hit that wall of his. The biggest obstacle Patrick has is himself. He's isolating, and laying in bed while pretending to sleep in order to ignore people. Fear is a hard thing to get pass so he can concentrate on healing.
Tonight I am picking up Erin from the airport and I'm praying (his Drs. too) that this will be the change he needs to get over his wall. Erin will be here until next Tues. morning. I am hopeful that my next update brings a better, more informational report.
Hey to my sister Jody and brother in law Bryan for taking GREAT care of our family, while we concentrate on this one. I love you both.
PRAY FOR HIM. PATRICK MICHAEL BEASLEY! God knows who he is.
New pics are posted.
God bless you all,
The Beasley's
