Sean took Charly to her clinic visit today. I was traveling to Kansas City for my last business trip for the year. Charly's sniffles have developed into a cold. One evening, we thought we might have to bring her into the ER, as her temperature hovered by the 100.3 level. If she stays at 100.3 for an hour, we are to call and bring her in. If she hits the 101 level, we are to call and bring her in right away. From my understanding, they test her blood to try and identify if she is suffering from an infection. If she is, they give her IV antibiotics. If her levels are good, they tell me she will be allowed to go home. If her levels are concerning to the oncologist on call, they will admit her to stay at the hospital.
As of her visit yesterday, the doctors say we are to continue watching her. They don't want to give her antibiotics unless it looks like it is an infection. Right now, it looks like a cold virus. They don't stop chemo for a cold. So yesterday, Charlotte received another lumbar puncture, this time using the alternate chemo in her spinal fluid. Sean was given prescriptions for two different steroids - one of these pills will apparently change her pee to red. I appreciated the warning, I don't want a repeat of the beet episode.
Charly will go 7 days on steroids, and 7 days off for the next month. She also received doses of the chemos "Vincristine" and "Doxorubicin" through her port. They are having us return Monday for another chemo called "PEG" for short. Apparently, Monday's chemo will require them to observe Charlotte for an hour after their dosage. After that, we only have weekly chemo visits scheduled for the rest of the month. I know from my last visit, they are predicting Charlotte's levels will drop at the end of the month. they will probably schedule a home health nurse to visit and check her blood during that time. I'm praying she kicks her cold before she gets to that point, so she doesn't develop a secondary infection. That's my Christmas wish.
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