It couldn't be that easy

After a rough day, Heather finally got the right combination of drugs and managed to get some much needed sleep last night. She did get her 2:00 AM dose overnight, and then got her 10:00 dose this morning. Her side effects had eased off, and she was feeling good (relatively speaking).

Just prior to the doctors coming in this morning, she had a short run of SVT (heart sped up to about 170 beats per minute). This only lasted for about 10 seconds and then settled into a normal rate. The doctors had seen this, and came in and told her that they were going to hold off on her dose at 6:00 this evening, because her heart was beginning to show signs of irritation. 

Believe or not, Heather was ok with that decision. It's been a long week and this meant maybe we could be going home tomorrow, or at least by Sunday. 

But...

The doctors left the room, she stood up to go to the bathroom and her heart sped up again. By the time she was back from the bathroom, her heart rate was now over 230 beats per minute. Needless to say, this got the attention of everyone. Quickly her room was filled with about 10 doctors, nurses, cardiologists, etc.  She remained conscious and talking, but this was a little more serious than our last trip down when her heart sped up. 

For the next two hours, Heather was wrung through the wringer. Fortunately, she was pretty sedated.  They first tried a drug called Adenosine, which is a very short lived drug that is like a chemical shock to the heart. The idea being to temporarily block the electrical activity in the heart and hope it resets into a regular rhythm. Two tries, no success. Heather, however, got to feel what it would be like to have her heart stop.... Twice. 

Well, the chemical shock didn't work... On to electricity. After much more sedation, Heather got to receive two separate electrical shocks to her chest (elctrocardioversion). Unfortunately without success.  Heather now has a good idea what it would feel like to be kicked in the chest by a horse..... Twice. :(

Back to drugs. Different drugs this time, a little less dramatic, but typically don't work as quickly as the previous interventions should.  The good news, though, is they did work. About three hours after her heart sped up, it slowed back down and became regular again.  

No question about the 6:00 IL-2 now, and, no 2:00 AM dose Saturday morning. So she is done with the IL-2 for this trip down. 11/14 doses and a little excitement for the 8NE ICU. Slim chance we may get to leave Saturday.  Most likely Sunday, or early Monday. 

Glad to have this round pretty much behind us.  Looking forward to a week at home for recovery and preparation for the next trip down on February 13.