Methotrexate Complete

Kaitlyn has finished her lethal dose of Methotrexate. However, we were faced with multiple challenges in the last hour of the administration.

The most trying was that the nurse drew blood at 6:30pm and then one of Kaitlyn's two ports stopped working. They thought that it might have a blood clot and they ordered some "TPA", a drug that sits in the central line to dissolve any blood clots that could be stopping the flow. So, Kaitlyn could not receive all the fluids that she was supposed to be receiving along with the Methotrexate, nor could she receive her antibiotic on time. She did finish the Methotrexate administration at 8pm and then her other port stopped working too. This was extremely concerning to Mike & I because until they got her line working again Kaitlyn would not be able to receive the fluids needed to flush the Methotrexate out of her system, nor could she get the antibiotics that were already an hour late. We had been waiting 2 hours for someone to come and administer the TPA into her line when the nurse that came on at 7pm asked us if anyone had removed her dressing to see if the line was kinked up under the dressing. When we said, "no", she suggested to try that before administering the TPA. After changing the dressing over her port, BOTH lines began to work fine and she was able to get her fluids and antibiotics moving again. Mike & I both were so relieved when we saw both of her lines working again.

Our next concern was the fever she spiked at 7pm. It took an hour for someone to bring some Tylenol for her. I could have gotten it faster if I left the hospital and went to CVS to get some.

Lastly, the 6-mercapturine (oral Chemo) that Katie is supposed to be getting nightly was not in the "lock box" when her nurse went to get it for her. So she had to call the pharmacist (who had already gone home) to come back and mix it for her. This took 3 hours, she finally got it at 10pm.

The first lab test for Methotrexate levels was taken at 9pm when the ports started working again. Mike & I are expecting to hear the results from those by 1am. Meanwhile, they have decided to up her dose on the antibiotics because her blood cultures are still growing positive for staph bacteria. So, now that the Methotrexate administration is behind us, they want to work aggressively to get rid of the infection in her line.

As far as when we will be able to go home....that will be up to two things:
1) How quickly her body clears out the Methotrexate
2) How quickly the antibiotics clear out the infection in her line.

Right now, the earliest would be Saturday night. We'll see.....