Day +5

Monday, Oct. 14: Need a little more blood and platelets today. Fever has subsided, but the abdominal pain has gotten worse and abdomen is distended. Additional labs were done and they have decided to hold off on the Tacrolimus which is the immunosuppressant that helps prevent GVHD. Each day they test the levels of Tacrolimus and if it is within normal range; good, if not, which it was high today, they hold off on the dosage for the day. Gut not feeling so well and is “angry”. Needed a liver/abdominal ultrasound to figure out what is going on and to make sure liver is good as the bilirubin came back high the last 2 blood draws. Normal is <1 and it came in at 1.6 and later 2.4. After the ultrasound results, was transported to X-ray, first time leaving 14K since October 1. Not sure if it was mentioned, but 14K is the floor where the Stem Cell Transplant & Heme patients are, so there is no coming and going for patients. Results of the X-ray came back: diagnosis is ileus. What this means for now is that no food or drink by mouth until the gut gets better. Been connected to IV fluid throughout the remainder of day and into the night. Was given a mild pain medication at bed time to ease the pain in the abdomen. Big win today was a visit from Dr. Brian Druker, CEO of the OSHU Knight Cancer Institute & Leukemia Specialist. What a wonderful, knowledgable man. Very grateful for all of the support he has provided with assembling the Team of Doctors responsible for the treatments and care. Also, he is another set of eyes and ears reviewing the charts; how blessed and fortunate to have his expertise. Forever grateful!!