August 13, 2024, Part 2
August 13 part 2:
It’s been a roller coaster of a day. Most of it was spent in the ER. We had an amazing Dr. that worked so hard to coordinate communication between Tate’s team. It was thought that since only one of two blood cultures grew, it was a contamination and Tate’s fevers and blood pressure issues were likely bone marrow related. So initially we were going home to do ivig Thursday/Friday and be seen by hematology next week. (She was supposed to have dental with anesthesia tomorrow but we’ve now canceled for the 3rd time…maybe 4th?)
However, as the day went on and BP dropped, it was then decided to admit and expedite everything. We got upstairs late afternoon and literally nothing happened. Barely even vitals. I almost put Tate in the car and drove home. We’ve been through admissions with no direction. It’s nobody’s fault, as Tate is complex, but it’s why I fight against admissions without a plan.
8:30 PM and blood cultures that were drawn in the ER this morning turned positive. This is fast. NOT a contamination after all. (SO thankful we didn’t go home or we’d have to go back through the ER all over again.) Now suddenly the low BP matters and tate is back on full CR monitors, has a peripheral IV, is getting IV fluids and back on IV antibiotics. I’m grateful for a potential solution for some of the symptoms. But it doesn’t explain the chronically low counts. Not what we expected at this point. Tate is pretty sad. We were thinking this was going to be a super short admission. The bacteria is a notoriously sticky one so we will be lucky to save this line. AND…not so fun fact….theres a shortage on blood culture bottles. Tate is feeling pretty hopeless with the cycle of low counts and lack of ability to fight infections and the need for this central line. We need to get to the bottom of the low counts.