To post pictures you can email me and I'll put them at the following address: http://laddiememories.blogspot.com/
Saturday, October 10, 2009
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Jackie! When I looked at Harold's lab values on friday I saw that his hemoglobin was low, at about 7.8 I was not surprised to hear that he'd had a transfusion to bring his hemoglobin up. It may have been lower on saturday. When he is on chemotherapy, this may happen periodically, and he may need transfusions off and on. Rosemary
I stopped by mid-day Sunday, in time to see Phil depart. Harold was not doing well. Sierra was there and spoke with the doctor by phone.
The drug that provides some relief is a steroid which can only be administered for 4 days, after which he must endure 4 days without. It also appears that Harold is ineligible for chemotherapy at Highland because it is only available for outpatients!?!? They're considering transferring him to another facility, from which he would need to be brought back to Highland for chemo and dialysis. It sounds insane to me.
I was told by a friend who is a hospital administrator that UCSF has a department that is all about multiple myeloma. They do stem cell transplants, chemo, radiation etc and that if Harold is not getting the care he needs at Highland it might help to switch him to a hospital where there are oncologists on site and ones that specialize in blood and bone marrow cancers.
This same friend told me that Harold could check himself into the emergency room at the hospital of his choice ( seems like UCSF is the best place for tx of Leukemia and Multiple Myeloma) and that they have to treat him medical insurance or not.
Harold would have to be asked to be released from Highland. He should ask for copies of all his medical records. He will probably be asked to sign an AMA (meaning he is leaving against all medical advice). He would then be detached from all his IVs etc. He may have to be able to walk or be able to be in a wheelchair to leave...otherwise I think he can be 5150d...not sure if I understood that correctly.
From looking at UCSFs website it looks like they can offer him a lot. The big part I know is the diyalysis and I havnt been able to figure that out on UCSFs website.
I do have a friend whose twin brother had adult onset leukemia and was told he had 3 months to live. He was transferred to UCSF and then City of Hope in LA. He is still alive today after a bone marrow transplant from his sister etc...I believe he spent nine months in the hospital. I understand Harolds case is different, he is older, and he has renal failure, and no insurance...but he could at least have all or most of his care in one place..Alta Bates is another possibility and would be closer to home. However I believe if we are looking for the best care it might be UCSF...
I may be completely off the wall in all of this and I apologize if I am being intrusive and really dont have a big enough picture of what is happening and for that I apologize.
Thank you for all your kind thoughts. This blog will stay open at least until Harold's memorial, which is tentatively scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend. If you'd like to post photos you can send me an email and I'll put them on a special picture page, or I can make you an author and then you can post at will. Peace and all good, jg
Are there any people Harold would like to have visit him? Clients? Friends? Associates? Neighbors? etc.?
ReplyDeleteAnyone and everyone. He's been liking to have people all day long... He tends to just let you know if he has to rest or sleep.
ReplyDeleteJackie!
ReplyDeleteWhen I looked at Harold's lab values on friday I saw that his hemoglobin was low, at about 7.8
I was not surprised to hear that he'd had a transfusion to bring his hemoglobin up. It may have been lower on saturday. When he is on chemotherapy, this may happen periodically, and he may need transfusions off and on.
Rosemary
Thank you, Rosemary!
ReplyDeleteI stopped by mid-day Sunday, in time to see Phil depart. Harold was not doing well. Sierra was there and spoke with the doctor by phone.
ReplyDeleteThe drug that provides some relief is a steroid which can only be administered for 4 days, after which he must endure 4 days without. It also appears that Harold is ineligible for chemotherapy at Highland because it is only available for outpatients!?!? They're considering transferring him to another facility, from which he would need to be brought back to Highland for chemo and dialysis. It sounds insane to me.
I was told by a friend who is a hospital administrator that UCSF has a department that is all about multiple myeloma. They do stem cell transplants, chemo, radiation etc and that if Harold is not getting the care he needs at Highland it might help to switch him to a hospital where there are oncologists on site and ones that specialize in blood and bone marrow cancers.
ReplyDeleteThis same friend told me that Harold could check himself into the emergency room at the hospital of his choice ( seems like UCSF is the best place for tx of Leukemia and Multiple Myeloma) and that they have to treat him medical insurance or not.
Harold would have to be asked to be released from Highland. He should ask for copies of all his medical records. He will probably be asked to sign an AMA (meaning he is leaving against all medical advice). He would then be detached from all his IVs etc. He may have to be able to walk or be able to be in a wheelchair to leave...otherwise I think he can be 5150d...not sure if I understood that correctly.
From looking at UCSFs website it looks like they can offer him a lot. The big part I know is the diyalysis and I havnt been able to figure that out on UCSFs website.
I do have a friend whose twin brother had adult onset leukemia and was told he had 3 months to live. He was transferred to UCSF and then City of Hope in LA. He is still alive today after a bone marrow transplant from his sister etc...I believe he spent nine months in the hospital. I understand Harolds case is different, he is older, and he has renal failure, and no insurance...but he could at least have all or most of his care in one place..Alta Bates is another possibility and would be closer to home. However I believe if we are looking for the best care it might be UCSF...
I may be completely off the wall in all of this and I apologize if I am being intrusive and really dont have a big enough picture of what is happening and for that I apologize.
Lara