Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement.
For the last several weeks, Paul's health has been declining. Over the last 6-8 weeks he had been diagnosed with Rhino virus and another respiratory infection. On October 17th, he had a bronchoscopy that revealed a lesion on his lung the size of a lime. Over the course of the weekend he experienced a loss of appetite and exhaustion. His weakness continued and on October 21st, after making an appearance at the City Council Meeting, he asked Kathy to call an ambulance, as he was not able to get out of bed and had acute belly pain.
During the first 24 hours of his stay at Bryan, the cultures from the bronchoscopy were benign for cancer, but revealed Actinomyces, a VERY RARE infection, even rarer in the lungs. He was also diagnosed with Haemophilis Influenzae (a form of pneumonia) and Aspergillus (a fungus for a fun guy). The Actinomyces must be treated with IV penicillin for 6 weeks, followed by oral penicillin for a year. The penicillin should also help with the H Influenzae, but he’s getting an antifungal for the Aspergillus.
In addition to the lung infection, his blood counts were all over the place. His platelets and hemoglobin were low, whites were high, and blood sugars were all over the place. He had high potassium and low sodium and needed fluids and steroids. During the first 48 hours in the hospital, he developed diabetes, spiking sugars over 500. He’s been getting insulin regularly to try to keep his sugars balanced but hasn’t eaten in several days…which brings me to the most acute problem right now.
He hasn’t been able to produce a BM since the day of the bronchoscopy. Despite numerous suppositories, oral laxatives and softeners, nothing is happening. An x-ray and CT scan revealed an Ileus, an aggravated section of bowel that has been acting like a blockage. The only course of action for an ileus is bowel rest, which he has been doing (by not eating) for several days now. The GI doc ordered a medication called Relastor yesterday, which should help stimulate movement. He’s had two doses, so fingers crossed it kicks in soon. They also placed an NG (naso gatstro) tube on Saturday night. He hates it. Its uncomfortable and he’s unable to talk much because of it. We’re hoping they will remove it today.
In addition to everything I’ve already listed, he still has the CLL (chronic leukemia). This may be what is responsible for his blood counts being off. They did a bone marrow biopsy on October 24th but haven’t heard any results yet.
The challenge he’ll face once he starts pooping is that the penicillin and chemo medications don’t play well together. The penicillin makes the chemo less effective and vice versa. He cannot live without the chemo…and he won’t be able to get past the lung infections without the penicillin.
As you can see, he’s a complicated situation. He’s not taking many visitors as he’s unable to talk and very weak, but feel free to call me (Tami) if you would like to come hold his hand or tell him you love him. I encourage you to leave thoughts, prayers, stories and virtual visits here, on this page. I will read them to him daily. Please know he has a whole team of “ists” taking care of him (Cardilogist, Pulminologist, Hosptialist, Oncologist, and infectious disease doc), and he's surrounded by all the love that he's put out into the world!!
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