Bruce and I drove down to Rochester last night and stayed at a hotel across the street from Mayo in preparation for an early morning MRI and consult with one of his Infectious Disease team doctors, following up on suspected infection. Backing up a bit, this week we've been back and forth to Rochester for labs and tube changeout procedures for both the neph and jp drain, along with a consult with his oncologist to go over results of a CT scan he had done last week. He also met with the Infectious disease doctor on Monday. We knew that he was dealing with infection again (he's not felt well and has been so exhausted and weak... no appetite and no energy, but for weeks he thought it was effects from his recent 4 rounds of chemo and immunotherapy treatments). They had done a 24 hour culture on the fluid from the abscess on Monday, hoping to be able to send him home on targeted antibiotics today when he saw the infectious disease doctor. The MRI today was to get a better look to see if the infection had gotten into his tailbone again.
But, when the doc took Bruce's vitals this morning after the MRI, he had a temp and his blood pressure was REALLY low. Also, Bruce told him that while he was waiting for the MRI this morning, he had the rigors (severe shivering). Bruce told him the last time he had the rigors was when he went into septic shock from a UTI and ended up in the ICU at Regions. He decided Bruce needed to be taken via ambulance to the Emergency Dept over at the St. Mary's campus across town for suspected sepsis. The Mayo/Methodist campus interestingly does not have an Emergency department. 🤷♀️
So... they think Bruce is septic again. They started him on 3 different broad spectrum antibiotics to get a jump on the infection until they know exactly what it is. They also are raising his blood pressure with medication. Once his blood pressure was stable in the ER, they found a room in the ICU at Methodist Hospital back at the Mayo building, so he was transported back via ambulance. We were told that the meds he needs for blood pressure can only be administered by ICU nurses.
Several doctors have been through since he was admitted to ICU, all doing their exams and collecting his history. All his teams are consulting together tonight to come up with a game plan. So far, we know that the fluid in the abscess is infected. According to test results, he also has a UTI. We are pretty sure that the osteomyelitis (bone infection) in his tailbone is rearing it's ugly head again. 😕
We will find out more tomorrow.
🙏🏻Please pray that they are able to keep Bruce's blood pressure at a decent number. And, pray that they can get these infections under control quickly.
Chemo treatments have been stopped until the infection is gone (again...). Pray that the cancer will stay stable during this time (or that God actually makes it all just disappear, which is my persistent and consistent prayer!). 🙏🏻
Thank you! ❤️
