I have wanted to do an update so badly but I couldn't get on the internet while in the hospital!!
Ava was admitted on Wed as planned, we arrived around 11:00am and were put in the same exact room as last time!! Room #850...the room we had spent 30 days in just happened to be the one available again! We weren't sure what to make of this, good luck? Not? Either way, it was meaningful. After we were all settled, we thought her treatment plan would start, but that was not the case. They actually don't order the meds and stuff until you are there, then they have to be made up and go through lots of security checks...the drug she got was treated as a chemotherapy. We spent the day in that little room just waiting to start the stupid toxins. She was set to receive a "test" dose first, then the real dose immediately following if she tolerated it. They didn't start until 5:30! They pre-medicated her with Zofran, Benedryl, and Tylenol, and then she was hooked up to the test dose of Campath. Within 30 minutes she was vomiting, alot. Just as we would change her and get her all cleaned up, she would do it again. This reaction can be expected and is not a reason to stop. After her test dose, she was started on her actual first 2 hr dose. She had reactions soon after it was started, she broke out in hives all over and had a fever, along with the dry heaving. The nurses were wonderful as always and were right there to take care of these side effects. They did end up stopping the meds for an hour or so and then started up again. For most of the following day (Thursday) she had a fever and was sleepy.
The hives and nausea went away as soon as the Campath ended. I was so worried about the 2nd dose of Campath that was to be given Thursday night. They pre medicated again, this time with a steroid and also set the dose to go over a longer period of time...4 hrs instead of 2. It was such a difference! She slept through the whole thing and had not one side effect!! I kept checking to make sure it wasn't dripping out on the bed or something, she was perfect. We are so relieved to have made it through the dreaded Campath.
This morning she woke up hungry and in good spirits...she is such a trooper. The day went so well, we were discharged around 2:30. We were sent home with 2 new medications to add to her daily schedule, just keeping up with her meds is a job in itself! Now we are happily back in our apartment awaiting our "big move" this coming Tuesday...all the way next door :) The next 3 weeks we will keep Ava as safe and germ free as possible until the infusion.
Ava was admitted on Wed as planned, we arrived around 11:00am and were put in the same exact room as last time!! Room #850...the room we had spent 30 days in just happened to be the one available again! We weren't sure what to make of this, good luck? Not? Either way, it was meaningful. After we were all settled, we thought her treatment plan would start, but that was not the case. They actually don't order the meds and stuff until you are there, then they have to be made up and go through lots of security checks...the drug she got was treated as a chemotherapy. We spent the day in that little room just waiting to start the stupid toxins. She was set to receive a "test" dose first, then the real dose immediately following if she tolerated it. They didn't start until 5:30! They pre-medicated her with Zofran, Benedryl, and Tylenol, and then she was hooked up to the test dose of Campath. Within 30 minutes she was vomiting, alot. Just as we would change her and get her all cleaned up, she would do it again. This reaction can be expected and is not a reason to stop. After her test dose, she was started on her actual first 2 hr dose. She had reactions soon after it was started, she broke out in hives all over and had a fever, along with the dry heaving. The nurses were wonderful as always and were right there to take care of these side effects. They did end up stopping the meds for an hour or so and then started up again. For most of the following day (Thursday) she had a fever and was sleepy.
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