Hi Everybody,

I was discharged from a week's stay in the hospital last evening.  I was
admitted through the Cancer Center since my temps had risen again and my
pain level and back and abdominal spasms had increased to a level where
they were coming every 45 minutes to an hour.   I was in absolute
misery.  Along with this is a persistent dry mouth and swollen ankles
and lower legs.

Primary question  was what was the primary cause of all the pain. The
stents in my uretur, kidney stones, my RA, spinal stenosis, a drug
interaction or the scoliosis.    Lots of questions to answer and many
blood tests to try and pin it down.  Cancer Doc feels part of it can be
caused by my Nuelasta shot and Urology Doc says definitely part of it is
due to the stents..

Blood test results indicated a very virulent bacteria, endococus,
rampant in my body.  The immediately started with cefepine antibiotic
followed by more blood tests. Tests show that something stronger is
need, so they switch to Vancomycin.  Decision was made to admit me since
I need to be monitored frequently and Vancomycin is administered by IV
through my port..

It was determined that the bacteria had not reached my blood system
which was a major relief.  The initial blood test showed that my
hemoglobin was very low and my white blood cell counts was only 3.3  As
the days passed my white cell count finally reached  7.8.
To get my system back toward normal I also received two units of blood..

I literally wore myself out coping with the spasms.  It would begin with
a low back back pain which expanded to a spasm which felt as though you
had to have a BM and sent you to the porcelain throne.  Every one in a
while I would have a BM but most of the episodes meant I would have some
light urination and then I would develop abdominal spasms which
culminated in a greater urine flow.  On the way back to bed I would have
the final waves of the abdominal spasm..  Wait for the next episode.
They could not find much that was helping, finally whey hit upon an
antispasmodic that is helping considerably.

Today  I went to our local County Medical Center to do the vancomycin
infusion from now till 10/24.  On 10/25 I will return to Outpatient
Surgery for my Urologist to remove the stents and try to zap as many
kidney stones as he is able.  He will once again use the computer guided
laser.

My Cancer DR has ruled out anymore chemo will we have conquered some or
all of the kidney problems and the bacterial infection has been
conquered to his satisfaction.  On frightening thing about all of this
is the fact that the bacteria may have attached itself to the kidney stones.

I hope i have not rambled too much but  I am getting worn down again and
must stop.

Don Whitely

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