Chemo-Embolization #1 | yosoyrosa's Blog

The nurse practitioner led me back to the recovery area with a warning and instructions.  My husband had a large hematoma in his groin area where there had been internal bleeding.  The doctors had stabilized the condition, but he was to remain completely flat and not move, especially not moving the right leg or lifting his head until he was cleared to do so. 

Unlike one gentlemen I saw, my guy didn't look like a grinning guy returning from a trip to the happy juice factory.  He was knocked out, confused and started to stress when we told him not to move.  The room was very busy with several beds lined up, so to be with him I had to stand between stations, with my hand touching his face, his hair or his chest, talking to him while I watched all the activity.

The attending Interventional Radiologist came to get me, and I was informed that sedation had not worked well in this case.   My hubby is a pretty big guy, and he started becoming combative or thrashing during the procedure.  The doctor advised me that he was speaking to me as I would need to remember when scheduling his next procedure to make sure they knew to schedule general anesthesiology.  At one time, he said, they had to consider abandoning the procedure if there was any further threat to patient safety, and they were pleased to have recovered well enough to continue this time.  I admitted that normally he asks to be completely knocked out, but the last 2 biopsy and colonoscopy had been concious sedation without incident. 

Bottom line, there had been difficulty with the catheter, exacerbated by the patient's resistance, and the resulting hematoma would be a large bruised and tender area that would need another sonogram in the morning.  However, they were very successful in locating and embolizing the largest tumor in the right lobe.  The nurses were checking for pulse in the right foot and monitoring vitals, and signs of a hardened lump in the area every 15 minutes.

The trip to the recovery room lasted several hours, so I took occasional breaks while my hubby slept.  There was a trip to the radiology records to get the procedure films on CD, trips outside to make phone calls.  I spent more time in the Family waiting area, yet was in no mood to talk so I read or caught up on email since I had my laptop with me.  I had seen some of the other women in the recovery area, but as seasoned vetrans of the Radiology group, they appeared far more relaxed while they waited to be told to collect their husbands and bring them home.

It was nearly 6:00pm before we were told that my husband was stable enough to move downstairs to the short-stay unit.  He had been nauseous a few times, and received pain medicine several times.  When we got to the short-stay, he was give a more comfortable bed, and the nurse set him up with some water and jello to try.  I was given instructions on the LazyBoy recliner and assured that if I stay the night they would provide me with pillow, sheets and blanket.  Although they gave him a dinner tray, I headed off to the caf to make a plain sandwich to share, get the overnight bag I'd packed and make a couple calls.

The night was a restless one, with me assisting  occasionally on keeping him comfortable and when he had to urinate.  His blood pressure was elevated, and he complained of pain several times.  We weren't sure if the pain was hartburn from eating lying down, or if it was due to the procedure, and despite burping or passing gas, only additional IV drugs could get the pain to abate.  The staff was wonderful, and tried not to disturb me when I'd fallen asleep and my husband wanted to try and use the bathroom.  He was able to get up and move around more freely because the hematoma had not hardened or swoolen up further. 

In the morning the day staff took over, and I headed out for coffee and a sweet roll for my sweetie.  Between hours of sitting together in our little area surrounded by a privacy curtain, I made it back to the records office to get blood workup results and dictation from all of the doctors.  This time, laptop in hand, I was able to show my husband the ball of tumor visible with the contrast, and what looked like a wire heading up the artery feeding it.  I read him the final results, and then went through the dictation from  our previous office visit.  We reconfirmed that successful chemo was needed to 'destage' us to a level to be considered eligable for transplant.

Ready for discharge we wait.  Although the ultrasound confirmed the hematoma had no change from the previous day (no problems), the nurses have asked that he be seen by an attending physician before they agree to release.  Currently, the blood pressure is still elevated, and without the oxygen feed his saturation rate drops to 90, setting off the alarm above my head.  He's bored, and snoozing, asking for the nurse.  Time for me to sign off.