Dreaming, Decadron, Diuretics, Diastolic, and hopefully (no) Duke visit

I really try hard not to over post, but sometimes I have  to keep up with all the ACTION that surrounds my oldest fellow. If I didn't keep this blog and my written journal, there is no way in HECK, I could keep up with it all. 

Yesterday, was another long day at Duke. Braeden had his 2nd IVIG and his 11th Avastin infusion yesterday. Thankfully, he slept through most of the treatments.  His blood pressure was misbehaving and hanging around 160s/110s.  Steroids are likely the biggest culprit causing it rise. Those little pills are the biggest troublemakers.  I am so glad he is being weaned off of them within the next few weeks. Avastin can cause issues with his kidneys which in turn causes BP issues, but Braeden's kidney lab work from Tuesday looked good.

They were able to finally bring it down with IV blood pressure medicine and, finally, diuretics.  Once the diuretics started working, there was no sleeping for him, lol.  We were told we could go home as long as we had a way of checking his blood pressure and to call in today with his numbers.  If his BP was still up today, we would begin blood pressure medicine.  Once again, thank you steroids for being such a PITA. 

This morning before school his blood pressure was 156/96 &140/90.  We made a plan for him to continue school at the kitchen counter and not to do anything else.   (Duke wants to see his bottom number (diastolic) below 90)

Around 11:45, I rechecked his pressure and rechecked and rechecked....His pressures were 187/125, 185/118, & 181/118.  

I called Duke and they immediately called in a blood pressure medicine for him.  He began the medicine today at 1:30.  Realistically, the medicine will take a day or two to start working.  

I gave them another call at 3:30 because he was having a nose bleed and his pressure was still high at 

187/112.   

He is pretty asymptomatic even with his blood pressure being so high.  If he ends up having a terrible headache, a more significant nose bleed, or if his pressure climbs anymore we will definitely head to Duke.   

For now, he is being waited on hand and foot, drinking lots of fluid, taking his Tylenol for his headache and says he is feeling  "pretty good".  

I just asked him what the worse thing about his day has been so far.  He responded pretty quickly and said having to get up for school.  I think the kid is going to be ok.

Prayers that his BP doesn't get any higher, and that we can all have a nice quiet weekend at HOME.

UPDATE just checked his BP at 5:45 after I posted this blog and his pressure is 160/90 so we are heading in the right direction. 

#BraedenBrave

#MrUnlucky