This will be a lengthy post recapping my father's battle.
My father entered hospice care September 18.
Although he was diagnosed with MDS on May 7; a series of hospitalizations and transfusions began March 7. What follows is a chronological sequence of 'events'.
7 Mar 2014 Hospital-diagnosis: Minor stroke, low rbc
8 Mar 2014 Hospital - Polyp removed (colonoscopy), Neuro Diagnosis:
Small blood vessel disease
Hgb: 8.7
10 Mar 2014 Blood transfusion - Nurse: "abnormalities with red blood cells"
11 Mar 2014 Discharged - Hematologist will see in office.
Hgb 8.8
18 Mar 2014 Appointment (Hematologist) diagnosis: Iron Deficiency (Will do
IV Iron Infusions. Blood Transfusion
Hgb 11.8
25 Mar 2014 Appointment (Hematologist) IV iron treatment. "The anemia
is a direct result of the polyp. Should be better soon"
27 Mar Hospital ER
Hgb 8 Given transfusion & admitted
28 Mar Transfusion "Blood volume down to loss from before polyp removal
takes weeks to build blood back up"
April
1 IV iron treatment
8 IV iron treatment
14 Hospital ER
Hgb 7.3 Transfusion
15 Transfusion (2units)
WBC 1.8 Hematologist in today and
schedules a BMB.
16 CT Scan. Liver shows elevated bilirubin
22 BMB- results in 7+ days
Hgb 8.9
29 Transfusion
HGB 8.1
30 another BMB - results inconclusive on previous BMB .
May
5 Transfusion
Hgb 8.2
7 Diagnosis: "Myelodysplastic Syndrome Stage 4"
9
Hgb 8.3-Procrit "Oh...it is High Risk MDS"
10 Hospital ER Transfusion
Hgb 7.9
12 Port put in (AM) Vidaza (PM)
13 Vidaza
14 Vidaza
16 Hospital ER Edema (Pulmonary)
Hgb 9.1
17 Additional diagnoses: CHF, COPD, Stage III Kidney Disease,
Diabetes
27
Hgb 7.7 Plt 87 Wbc 2.9
28 Transfusion-2 units
June
9 Vidaza
Hgb 8.0
10 Transfusion-1unit Vidaza
11 Vidaza
16 Transfusion-2unit
Hgb 6.4 Aranesp (receive
weekly)
23
Hgb 9.3 Aranesp
24 Hospital ER CHF(edema)
Hgb 8.2
25 Transfusion-2unit
Hgb 7.6
July
5
Hgb 8.6
7 Vidaza
Hgb 9.0
8 BMB Vidaza
9 Vidaza
Hgb 9.1
13 Hospital ER
Hgb 7.4 transfuse 2units/blood
14 "Biopsy reports inconclusive. We are treating him for the right thing,
and there will be no more BMB" transfuse 2units/blood
22 Hematologist out of office until Wednesday. Did not inform patient (Dad)
25 Hospital ER Dehydration
Hgb 9.4
August
1 Hospital ER check blood levels
Hgb 8.3
4 Vidaza
Hgb 7.4
5 Vidaza transfuse 2units/blood
6 Vidaza
18
Hgb 7.5 transfuse 2units/blood
22 Hospital ER Edema
23
Wbc 2.7 Plt 102 Hgb 7.7 transfuse 2units/blood
September
5
Hgb 8.4 transfuse 1unit/blood
8 Vidaza (
Hgb 10.5 Wbc 5.7 Plt 266)
9 Vidaza
10 Vidaza Hematologist: "Is Stabilized"
11 Hospital ER
Hgb 8.5
12
Hgb 7.4 Wbc 2.4
Transfuse 1unit/blood
13 Hospital Dr: "Entering final stages, consider hospice"
Hematologist: "Not improving...is worsening...consider hospice"
14 Final Transfusion 2unit/blood
15 Discharge to "wrap things up"
My father's decline was rapid and for me- at least - there will always be some unanswered questions.
Best wishes and best of luck to all of those (and their family members) who are dealing with this disease.