Consolidation #2 Update

Carla has been progressing about as we expected. She had the black bag with the two IV pumps Saturday through Wednesday. At the new Cancer Institute infusion center they basically have not had us stay for the results of the lab tests but will phone us to come back later that day if there are problems that need to be addressed that day. Carla has the normal constipation and other digestive side effects but she has not had the mouth sores or loss of appetite yet.

She has been very careful to not get germs from the other patients. She puts on a glove and uses a disinfectant wipe to clean off the arm rests in the waiting room. She does the same thing when she gets in the infusion center. The chairs in the infusion center are supposed to be disinfected between patients but Carla isn't taking any chances.

Carla got the black bag off Wednesday and  Thursday they started the growth factor shots. Today they stopped giving her the Lovenox blood clot preventer as her platelet count was dropping and the risk of blood clots was decreasing. Generally the white blood count bottoms out about day 10 with days 7 - 10 being the worst. Well today is day 8 and Carla's energy level has decreased.  Due to the growth factor shots her white cell count rose to 13 yesterday.  It will plunge soon.

I mentioned last time that Carla is being treated in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institue that opened August 1.  This is a seven-story tower that houses most of the outpatient services for cancer patients.

Cancer Institue Main Entrance

This is the main entrace to the building with its valet service.  We park in the parking garage instead.

Parking Garage and MIRT Building

The above picture was taken looking outward from the Cancer Institute.  It shows the parking garage.  The tall building down the street from the parking garage is the Spine Institue.  This is the building that houses the Myeloma Institue Clinic (MIRT).  This is where we go when we see the doctors.

Biomedical Research Center

I rotated on around and took this picture of the Biomedical Research Center.  This is where most of the research concerning Multiple Myeloma is conducted.  We have not been in this building.

Entrance From Parking Garage

This is Carla in front of the patient entrance from the parking garage.  The parking attendants in the first picture were just to the left of this photo.

Carla In The Waiting Room 

The Infusion Center for myeloma patients is on the fourth floor.  I hear there is another Infusion Center on the first floor but we have not been there.  When we get there, Carla has to sign-in at the desk at the back of this picture.  The patients usually take the chairs with the tall backs and the caregivers sit beside them.  Carla is in the center of this picture with her mask on.

Part Of Infusion Center Waiting Room

I took these pics on a Friday and it was a slow day.  The waiting room is generally about 90% full.

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Eating Area and TV Area of the Waiting Room

The actual Infusion Center first has an area where patients are weighed and temperature is taken as they enter the Infusion Center.  Patients are assigned to one of three areas depending upon their condition, the results of prior tests and what they need today.  When Carla got her black bag and had it serviced she was it what are pods.  Each nurse is responsible for a specific number of pods.

Pods With a View

Each of the pods had a TV monitor, a comfortable chair and a blood pressure/temperature instrument.  The assistant that calls the patient in the waiting room takes all measurements before the nurse comes to collect the blood samples and administer any IV's that may be necessary.  If there are problems, an APN nurse is summoned.  Each patient is assigned to a specific APN nurse.

Other Pods Showing Patients, Caregivers and Nurses

In walking to a pod we discovered that one side has private rooms for patients who can't sit in chairs and need to be in bed.

Private Rooms for Critically Ill Outpatients

Since Carla got the black bag off, we discovered there were a limited number of areas referred to as "Rapid Injection" areas.  These do not have as comfortable chairs and most patients are there for drawing blood samples.  I imagine that when Carla's WBC drops below 2, she will again go to a pod in case she needs IV's of sodium or potassium or she needs blood or platelets.

Carla Having Blood Drawn in "Rapid Injection" Area

Hopefully this give you an view of the new Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

We learned this week that a church has purchased the Senior Apartments where we are staying this trip.  They plan to turn it into a transition facility for criminals.  The none UAMS patient residents now have to find a new place to live.  Myeloma patients starting their treatment had planned to stay here during all of their treatment.  Those of you following Carla's treatment know this usually lasts for 10 to 12 months.

I also saw the auto body guy from Hope, Arkansas who wife got the upper lung infection and was in ICU.  She is now out of her coma, out of the ICU but still in the hospital.  He said today that things were looking up.  Her hospitalization is approaching a month.