Cancer at the junction

Cancer at the junction

General circumstances:Weight: kgNausea/vomiting:Bowel movements:Energy level[/10]:Exercise:Pain[/10]:

Peter in hospital

Peter and I were delighted to have sister Rebecca arrive from Sydney to stay with us for this long weekend in Canberra on Saturday 12 June. Peter enjoyed at afternoon seista and woke to vomit, and again a few hours later. A terrible night followed with Peter sick again 4 times, and now just red brown fluids with the food component disposed of earlier. As he has been for days he was severely dehydrated, with glasses of water scattered around and emptied regularly.

We packed a small bag of belongings and Sunday morning presented at the Emergency Dept at Canberra Hospital, where Peter was very promptly moved to a bed and examined. During the day a blood sample was taken, and he was put on a drip to restore some hydration, which stayed on. An xray was taken of his chest area. Peter was able to ease the dryness of his mouth with ice blocks, and the need for these dropped as the drip restored hydration. Peter is on nil by mouth for now, and off the trial drug while the staff work out just what is happening. Peter's colour is good, and initial blood level was 99, (which is a reasonable level). It appears that a mixture of some blood and a great deal of body fluid has been coming back.

During the afternoon Peter was moved out of the busy comings and goings of the acute care area and into a four bed ward, and a 2nd blood test was taken at 4.00pm , to compare with the first one. (Results will be back today). The gastro specialist and oncologist on duty will see Peter tomorrow (holiday Monday). The staff hope to keep him comfy and to stabilise him. As his gastro cancer is advanced, with a stent in place, they would like his own specialists, Dr Desmond Yipp (Oncology) and Dr Thomson (Gastro) to see him on Tuesday to decide the appropriate pathway. This will probably involve a scope to see what is happening in the stomach area. The xray showed fluid there. Peter had no feeling of build up and discomfort in the stomach area yesterday, and no need to vomit to relieve bloating. (Of course, he was nil by mouth, and had previously been sick 6 times, so that must have done a thorough emptying of his system). Peter has had three bad nights...the nights are long and difficult for him and had no sleep during the day yesterday.

I left him settled in the ward, and came home to a chicken curry and rice dinner with Rebecca. We will both visit Peter this morning, and then Rebecca will head back to Sydney and I will stay for the day. Just 3 more weeks and Becca will be off with her round the world ticket for 3 months long service leave from her busy and demanding teaching job. We have enjoyed having her company through a difficult weekend.