Monday, November 23, 2009

Peeing Like a Race Horse

Shayna gained ~.25kg each week for the last two weeks in water weight in her abdomen (girth is up from 49cm to 54cm) and her albumin levels are down enough to justify another over night hospital stay for 2 albumin transfusions (a protein found in blood).  The greater the ascites (abdomenal fluid retention), the greater the risk of infection as the collecting fluid tends to increase the porosity of the organs which then allows bacteria to seep through.  This can lead to a major infection and serious complications and is the main reason we're in the hospital.  From what I understand, I think the albumin in the blood stream will instigate the vessels to suck the fluid back in to reach a new equilibrium.  She'll get 2 doses of diuretic and pee a lot of the fluid out.  She looks like a characature of humpty dumpty and is moving a little more like a fragile egg too.  Losing this fluid should help a lot and make the last week before transplant much more fun.

1 comment:

  1. Glad the transfusions went well! I'll bet Thanksgiving will be awesome with Shayna getting into all kinds of mischeif without her budda belly! Keep us posted. Everyone is praying for you! (And give my little love-bug some kisses from me!)

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