Almost immediately, a Bone Marrow Biopsy was done to determine the Stage of Bob's cancer, and his prognosis. The Bone Marrow Biopsy is the worst thing I've ever witnessed - and I didn't see all of it (there is just so much that a wife can stand). He was given a local anesthetic, which only deadened the entry point......the "burrowing" into the bone, with something that looked like you might use to dig a small hole in your yard, was unable to be anesthesized. At one point, he asked for the procedure to be stopped.
On top of the Multiple Myeloma diagnosis, he had an abscess in his left groin that had suddenly appeared, and seemed to take on a life of its own. On Friday, 10/8/2010, he was taken to surgery to lance the abscess, which turned out to be an ingrown hair. With his compromised immune system, the infection has wreaked havoc on him.
He was given bags and bags of fluids, in his IV, along with a heavy duty antibiotic, in the IV, to try and bring his calcium level down. Finally, by the day he was discharged, it was 9.8, just within the allowable range.
He was given 4 units of blood, in two different transfusions, to combat the anemia. And, antibiotics (Clendamyacin and Maxipime) to deal with the infection in the abscess.
He was given steroids, which caused his blood sugar to rise. And, against his wishes, he was given insulin to bring it down.
Blood was drawn, and drawn, and drawn until it seemed that he would have none left - and no veins from which to draw the blood. Finally, a Pic line was inserted to make the blood draws easier.
He had good days, and he had bad days - I knew this was how it would be in the future.
On Monday, 10/11/2010, even though he still felt extremely bad, Dr. Hrom decided that he needed to release him from the hospital so that Chemo could be started, the next day. He later commented that he felt so bad, he thought he might die.
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