I’ve been waiting to write an update when we get out of the hospital (to be able to say that we are out), but it’s been extended at least until tomorrow now though and who knows if that will happen.

We went to an appointment Wednesday at the oncologist to have a pre treatment checkup as we were set to get treatment Thursday. Once they saw the amount of pain that Rebecca was in though and heard about the shortness of breath and saw the fluid retention they were concerned for her. We talked about pain management and how that was going to need to change, they wanted a chest xray to see if there was fluid on the left side (we’ve been draining the right side at home), and they were again worried about the possibility of a blood clot. So they said that we should go to the ER as we could get these things under control and figured out faster in the hospital then trying to make a ton of appointments and it taking a week plus.

So we went to the ER and spent about 6 hours there before they we got into an actual room, but in that time they did a chest xray, ct scan, and ultrasound. So by the time we were in a room they knew that there was fluid on her left side (has never been drained), and around her heart (along with torso and legs) and that she didn’t have a blood clot.

Late Wednesday we drained the right side like normal, and Thursday they drained 1L from her right side (a bit over 4 cups worth). They started lasix (a diuretic – helps remove fluid from all over the body and allows you to pee it out). They are also managing pain better and it has helped Rebecca feel much better and (in her words) “human” again.

So currently things are going well, but they are slow going because both diuretics and pain medication can effect (or is it affect, why is english so hard) blood pressure (by lowering it) they aren’t able to do it at the rate they’d like to as her blood pressure keeps dipping a bit low.

… so still in hospital for now, but not emergency things, only trying to get some silly things under control.

We both hope that she’s released tomorrow. This may mean a change in day to day things as we don’t quite know what ongoing pain management will look like. Trying to just take things day by day, bite size chunks is good.

I hope the minutia is ok, I’m a detailed guy, I ask lots of questions and like details as it gives a good understanding of the situation and helps me to know how to think about or pray for the situation, and to visualize what’s going on and such. Hopefully it’s not too much in the details for you all.

Also as hair falling out and being everywhere was becoming annoying to Rebecca we (me and the girls) took turn shaving her head on Monday.

Also we got approval for Keytruda, and re-scheduled chemo that should have happened yesterday for next Friday (6th)

That seems like everything, so now you all know what I know.

Love you all.