Day +16

 Day +16

WBC: .9 (up!)

ANC: 20 (up!)

Hemoglobin: 9.3 (up)

Platelets: 17 (up!!)

The platelet transfusion using non volume reduced platelets definitely helped, but as he is still below the desired threshold of 30, he earned himself his 7th day in a row of platelet transfusions.  

They did confirm today that they feel he definitely has VOD, so they are treating it aggressively.  It comes with a 21 day regimen (though may be able to stop after 14 days if there are no signs any longer and they feel it is resolved) of extesive meds.  There is a pill he has been taking twice a day to prevent it which is now 3 times a day, another pill for helping to get rid of the fluids, an oral liquid med that he started yesterday at 20 ml twice a day and today it was double to 40 ml twice a day, one IV that is an anti coagulant to prevent blood clots in his liver, and another IV medication which has to be administered for 2 hours every 6 hours around the clock.  He only has two lines going into his Hickman, so it's been interesting watching them juggle medicine as he has other things that have to go through his port as well, but they are making it all work.  

It's not the news we were hoping for, but given how early they caught it, they are hopeful it will not become painful for him and  will be resolved smoothly.  His mouth and throat were not quite as painful today, but a temporary side effect of the chemo is that nothing tastes like anything any longer...so he tried several things today but nothing tasted good so he really did not eat at all today. I'm hopeful he will have a little yogurt again tomorrow as he has eaten a tiny bit of yogurt over the last few days.

No pictures as it was a pretty mellow day with lots of sleeping.