Strong - Day 7 - can't catch a break

Last night they took Joe to get his CT scans that were scheduled for the 9th but since he is an inpatient and they're concerned about his bladder issues, the doctors thought that they might as well get the CT scans done early and see if they can assess his success/failure/progress with the chemotherapy as well as the bladder issues now. They had to insert an IV line as his PICC line cannot tolerate the contrast dye. All went well. Joe drank a little of the contrast dye before he left but took the bottle with him. Gina, Tom & I went to Tom's school soccer banquet. Joe said he had a busy day and was planning on eating dinner and sleeping after the scan.

We called at 9 pm and was told by his nurse that he was still in radiology - there was a backup and he had not drank enough of the contrast dye - so they were trying to keep him awake and get him to drink more. At 10 pm she called - during the CT scan the radiologist had to stop as there appeared to be no contrast dye in him! He pulled him from the machine to find that Joe's left arm/hand were swollen beyond recognition and the dye had seeped into the arm instead of the vein. Apparently the technician had pushed the dye into his IV line too quickly/strong and collapsed the vein.

They moved him back into his room, removed the IV line, packed his arm with an ace bandage and elevated it. They then gave him some meds to sleep and watched him through the night.

Angry, I got to the hospital very early this morning and stood by the door waiting for the technician/radiologist/doctor - anyone to kill. The radiologist did a little bit of a tap dance but I did finally get out of him that the tech screwed up. Repetitive tapping of my foot and a death glare probably got the necessary information - also I was guarding the door with my body and NO ONE was leaving until I got the truth. Bottom line - it is RARE - VERY RARE - for anyone to have this happen. If I had a dollar for every time they said that - we would be rich.

Joe is fine. It took a little for us to get his wedding band off his very swollen hand and the swelling appears to be dissipating. The nursing staff is on high alert with him as the dye can be damaging to the tissue in his arm and hand. I left him in Jody's capable hands for the day.

Joe can't catch a break. They still have to do the CT scans and they have not solved the bladder issues yet. He had a good day yesterday visiting with Dana and Bill, and my dad came up and took Joe outside for a little while in the nice weather and sunshine. He enjoyed his visits and the day. What a way to end the day though.....

Who knows what will happen today...........

Love,
Vicki, Gina & Tom