Jeanne's weekend in Pullman July 1-3 2011

Just a quick update from this past weekend. Randy checked himself in to Emergency on Thursday night, 6/30, because of extreme dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea (had to look that one up)... His weight was down to 152. He hadn't been eating for 5-6 days and hadn't showered because he was so weak. I arrived Friday evening. He was still having diarrhea, but the nausea was pretty much under control. Talked to Janette, nurse, and asked if Immodium could be added to the Limodal for diarrhea (like what he had been taking at home). She called the hospitalist and got permission to do so. Randy was on IV fluids. He had developed a severe case of thrush, which coated his mouth and throat, making it painful to swallow. He was using a mouth wash for thrush. Came back in the AM Saturday and spent most of the day with him, taking a few trips out to run errands. RJ was started on TPN IV that has nutrition. Lipids would be added on Sunday. Good to get out of bed as much as possible to keep pneumonia from developing. RJ said he might want to get a second opinion about chemotherapy strategies. While I was out Alisa Schwann from Family Home Care Pullman stopped by with info about home health care. Left brochure and card. Dr. Gehab (hospitalist) stopped by and said home health care was a good idea and that the physician's orders for this would be written when RJ left the hospital. She added something stronger to the oral meds for thrush to increase the pain relief. RJ ate breakfast Sunday (Cream of Wheat, scrambled eggs, strawberry) and kept it down. Talked to RJ Monday - not much change. Tuesday, he said the diarrhea was more under control for the first time in a long time and that it was quite a relief.