I'm Alvin's wife posting under Alvin to give you an update on the roller coaster that Alvin has been through since his surgery on May 7th. I wrote this up for him as he does not remember much of what has happened to him while in ICU (6 weeks).
Went in on Thursday, May 7th for surgery to his C5,6,7 to remove a tumor pressing on his nerves and open up the space between his vertebrae on his upper spine. Surgery went well, however, they had a hard time getting him off the ventilator. Surgery itself was approximately 3 hours.
Sunday his blood pressure dropped and oxygen concentration was low, heart rate skyrocketed. Diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. Started on Heparin drip.
Couple days later, his blood levels dropped to critical. Thinking that his cancer med, Lynparza, was the true cause of his blood level problem, it was stopped on May 13th. He was given several plasma infusions. When that didn’t solve it, he was given two blood transfusions. First transfusion was Sunday, May 17th. Within 40 minutes of it, got very cold, couldn’t breathe, heart rate skyrocketed and his temp went way up. All the doctors came in and gave him Benadryl in his IV, several other drugs and stopped the transfusion. Bone marrow biopsy was done on Monday, May 18th. Additional transfusion was given on May 28th, but prior they gave him Benadryl and other drugs to prevent another reaction. Couple more plasma infusions happened for a couple days.
Swallowing has become a problem (either has become or always was since the operation, but not identified). Found an article saying that Dysplasia has a possibility of happening even with posterior cervical surgery. Could have been from them having a hard time taking the ventilator out of his throat after surgery. No one knows for sure. NG tube placed.
Major infection has been found in his right lung. Did a CT scan and then CT scan with contrast that showed a lung abscess as well as pneumonia. Thursday, May 27th the chest tube was placed. Infection in both the sack around his lungs and his lungs itself. Hooked up to a pump that draws the infection out and it was draining some thick nasty puss.
Monday, June 1, CT scan shows that the chest tube is not draining all the infection because it was too thick and not breaking up. Tuesday, June 2nd started putting some med directly into his chest tube to help break up the infection and allow it to drain. Did that on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning. By Thursday morning, it looked like more blood was coming out of the tube than infection. Docs closed his chest tube on Sunday, June 7th and took it out on Monday, June 8th.
Swallowing test on Monday, June 8th was failed. PEG tube was planned on being put in … however, his colon is located over his stomach so this group won’t do it. Next group won’t either due to his hernia. General surgery group is the one that has to do it because they have to move his colon probably to put it in. PEG tube was placed on Tuesday, June 16th. On June 17th they took out the PICC line. I questioned this as I thought he was to be on IV antibiotics for awhile still. On the morning of Thursday, June 18th … they replaced the PICC line.
Transferred to Inpatient rehab on Thursday, June 18th. On Saturday night/Sunday morning, June 20-21, got a call from rehab saying he fell while trying to get out of the bed and they found him on the floor. Started complaining that his arm tingled and it was hard to lift it up shortly after getting to rehab … Dr. said she thought it was because he was in bed for 6 weeks and it was weak. Unable to move his arm at all by the second week at rehab. Swallow test passed on Wednesday, July 1 and was given permission to eat anything, just no straws. Thursday, July 2nd he was released from rehab with home health. He is on IV antibiotics until July 29th. Pneumonia still present and coughing up brown phlegm.
Appointment with PCa Dr on Tuesday, July 7th. PSA 11; he referred him to a Neurologist Oncologist that he works with because of the problems with his arm and right side. Appointment with him on Friday, July 9th.
Neurologist Oncologist did an amazing amount of time examining him. Right side very weak. Said it was an immediate need to do an MRI. Since he is unable to lay his head/neck flat due to excruciating pain, having to do the MRI under anesthesia. Ended up having to be admitted to the hospital to get the “emergency mri”. And … the monitoring machine they needed to put on him while in the tube wasn’t working and unable to find another one that did. Could not do the MRI – will be doing it week of 7/13 as soon as the machine is fixed or they can find another location to do it.
As of right now, Alvin has balance problems, no ability to lift his right arm, right leg is very weak and has to use a walker and have me holding onto him to steady him. Left arm works, but unable to lift it past shoulder level. His skin is very thin and has bruises everywhere. Any slight prick makes him bleed and hurts more than it should. Hopefully we will get answers next week after the MRI .... but Doctors don't seem very optimistic at this point. 
Update on my father
Fathers update 
Update from my husbands SP Aug 2
Update on my daddy- 8 years stage four 
