Update from Bobbi re: Chris via CaringBridge - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2009 02:54 PM, CDT

[Guest guest]

They came and got about an hour ago to put in the drain. I HOPE it helps relieve some of his pain. He cannot get comfortable no matter what he tries and the pain meds aren't really helping much. Hopefully once they get this fluid off of him it will relieve the pressure and his pain will subside.

The doctors came in this morning and sort of talked to each other rather than to us so we asked to see the nurse practitioner who was doing rounds with them. He came back in and explained things in simple, real people terms. Basically they're not sure why the fluid is being dumped into his abdomen. That's why they want to do a liver biopsy. The will not do one though until his INR is better. He's had I believe 8-10 units of plasma since yesterday. It is getting better slowly so hopefully by tomorrow they'll be able to do the biopsy. They really can't be sure what's causing the problem until then and until they know what the problem is, they can't fix it.

They are concerned right now with his creatinine (kidney function). It has continued to go up. So they have halted his Prograf (antirejection med) for today. It can be really hard on the kidneys. thinks the reason his creatinine is going up is because all of the fluid is sitting in his abdomen rather than being processed through his kidneys. I just hope they can do they biopsy soon and figure out what's going on with his liver.

I asked Tony, the NP how concerned we should be. He said it's not a common problem but it's not unheard of either. Basically once they know for sure what's going on, they can fix it. They just can't do a biopsy to figure out the source of the problem until his INR is better.

I pray that the drain relieves the pressure and gives him some peace and comfort. It is very difficult to sit and watch your husband writhe in pain and know there's absolutely nothing you can do to make it better.

Thank you all for your prayers. I'm hanging in there....tired but otherwise ok. I told that once he's well, I want a day where he takes Skylar & Mattie if she's here by then and leaves the house for the entire day so I can sleep in MY bed with MY pillows and MY kitties. I truly feel like I could sleep for a month straight!

Luckily Ann & Ed have been great about helping out with Skylar so I can go home at night and just sleep so I can get up the next day and come back to the hospital and sit with Chris. I know she's ready to come home though. Hopefully they'll be able to do the biopsy tomorrow, fix whatever's going on and send him home.

Keep checking back here regularly. There's a computer in the waiting room, which is where I am now. I've also been trying to log on in the evenings when I get home. And keep leaving messages. It does my heart good to hear from all of you and I know it means the world the as well.

Thank you all SO much and keep the prayers coming!

Bobbi, Skylar & Mattie 

To send a message to  Bobbi and family goto;

 http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chriscantrell

 password: christopher