Another interesting ride on this roller coaster... Pierce has a very serious blood infection called gram-negative rods. The specific strain has not yet been identified but will be as the cultures have more time to grow. He has been started on a new antibiotic - gentamicin - and has been taken off the vancomycin. Blood cultures will be taken every day until the infection is clear. Pierce will need to get a blood transfusion because his hemoglobin count is dropping. His GCSF dose will be increased because his white blood cell count is dropping as well. Fluids will be increased as well as his cyclosporine dosage. The doctor told me he saw signs of sepsis throughout the night: low blood pressure, high heart rate and puffy eyes. The blood infection causes capillaries to leak; volume inside the veins leaks out. Less blood in the veins causes lower blood pressure and his heart has to pump faster to move the blood. Timing to clear the infection is uncertain. Pierce is being treated broadly with powerful antibiotics. It will likely take a couple days to clear the infection and well need to see several negative cultures before hell be released. The first picture is from last night. You can see the puffiness around his eyes. Plus, he was so tired; he just couldnt stay awake. The second picture is from today. Hes feeling much better. After sleeping well last night (in between all of the visits throughout the night), he was up at 7:30 this morning and has been going strong. Pierce received his first dose of gentamicin and is receiving fluids again. Theyve taken blood for his type and screen to order for his blood transfusion. His temperature is back down to normal at 98.4.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 17:06:30 +0000
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