T-PLL update
It was nice to be home and sleep in our beds for the first time in over two weeks. Monday was a busy day for us. We had to set up an appointment with Dr. Castro before we could receive any treatment. During the visit blood was taken to determine levels. The neutrophils were at 1,200 which is welcomed news considering Bill was at 200 when we left Hershey. Then it was off to the infusion center to receive Bills 5th Campath treatment, 30mg. They gave him Tylenol and Benadryl. Starting with the next treatment they will be giving zyrtec instead of Benadryl. The Benadryl makes Bill very sleepy. In-between visits we picked up Bill's new iPad.

Last night I picked up Tweedy and brought him home. He was very happy to see me. As I was pulling into our community Bill called me with the news that he had a fever, his eyes were hurting and his head felt like it was going to explode. I got home and confirmed the temperature and noticed that Bill had a rash on his face, arms, legs, back and stomach. The rash looked like blotching. I called Dr. Castro and we were off to the Emergency Room in the hospital that I work at, which is in town. Dr. Castro had them put Bill in an isolation room to protect him from others who are sick. Several sticks for blood and an IV, each time asking Bill if he had a port. Just yesterday Bill called Dr. Castro and requested he put an order in for an infuse-a-port. This will eliminate some of the sticks in his veins for blood and all of the sticks for IV. The Neutrophil count last night was 5000, which is a big improvement.

The ER doctor started Bill on an IV of 0.90% sodium chloride and 25mg of Benadryl via IV. Blood cultures were done and a chest X-ray taken. It seems the procedures will be the same when admitted with neutropenic fever regardless of the hospital. Bill was admitted around midnight and put in a private room. The Dr. ordered the IV be changed to 0.45% sodium chloride and added the antibiotic Zosyn 3.375 grams IV Q6 (every six hours)

The first week went really well. The second week is when the treatment hit Bill and has now shown us the true impact of chemo.

We saw Dr. Castro this morning and he is going to keep Bill through tomorrow morning. He wants to give Bill his next Campath treatment, which is due for today, while he is in the hospital. This will allow him to have Bill's response monitored. There is a chance that the fever is his immune system response to the treatment. This will be a learning experience for us. Hopefully the fever is not related to infection and is just a response that will subside.