Day 154, Year 11: From WooHoo to BooHoo
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2016
Weather: Overcast, Sprinkles, and Much Cooler, High 42 F
Location: At Home in Evergreen Preserve, Lowell, MA
A call from Dr. Kwak this morning took us from our ‘WooHoo’ elation to a low mood of ‘BooHoo’. The results of Mark’s blood tests yesterday afternoon came back illuminating an unexpected problem. The blood levels, according to Dr. Kwak, could keep Mark from gaining acceptance into the trial. We had to go to the hospital this afternoon so that Mark could be hydrated with an IV solution for two hours before another round of blood samples were taken to verify yesterday’s results. We checked online tonight and saw that today’s samples indicate the blood levels even worse than yesterday. We have not heard from the doctor, so the only information we have we have has been gained from looking things up on the internet. I could be way off base, but as I read the information, the levels indicate that Mark might have a pancreatic issue. My best educated guess would be that the source of his stomach pain for the last four months has been the result of pancreatitis and not the cancer. Pancreatitis can result from long-term overuse of alcohol, but that is not Mark’s problem. A less common cause is that it can be the result of an injury to the pancreas due to abdominal radiation. Since the pain began about six weeks after Mark’s abdominal radiation treatments in the fall, I think that could have been the cause. But regardless of the cause, we have to figure out what to do now. He feels worse tonight than ever and doesn’t feel like eating anything. And if the problem is pancreatitis, not eating is the best thing for him. We’ll wait until morning, call Dr. Kwak, and see what needs to happen next. So stick with us as we negotiate this most recent hurtle.
