Abdominal Paracentesis #11 (October 18, 2024)

It’s been a bit of a challenging week, but we’re pushing through as always.

Originally, Ali was scheduled for her next abdominal paracentesis procedure next Wednesday. However, for the past week or so, she’s been experiencing a significant amount of discomfort due to fluid buildup in her abdomen. This buildup not only causes pain but makes it very difficult for her to eat... something that’s so critical for her right now. Given the discomfort, we called to see if we could move the appointment up, and Vanderbilt was able to get her in today at 2:00 PM at their main hospital.

On our way to the hospital, we stopped by The Cupcake Collection. Ali wanted to bring something special to her nurses to show our appreciation for everything they do.

We hit a little traffic and arrived about five minutes late, but as soon as we checked in, the nurse was ready and called Ali back. When Ali goes back for these procedures in the interventional radiology area, I’m not able to go with her. So, I waited out in the lobby and used the time to catch up on some work on my laptop.

The procedure took a little over an hour, and this time they removed 2 1/4 liters of fluid... more than what was removed last time, which was just a few weeks ago. While the increase in fluid isn’t great news, we’re trying not to let it get us down. Just a few weeks ago, Ali’s CT scan showed positive results, so we’re hoping this fluid increase is just part of the ups and downs of fighting cancer. We plan to ask Dr. Michael Gibson what might be causing this increase, but we’re staying hopeful that it’s nothing new.

As always, after the procedure, Ali felt better. The pressure the fluid creates on her GI tract not only causes pain but makes it very hard for her to eat. Since maintaining her weight and energy levels is vital in this fight, getting that fluid out as quickly as possible is our top priority when it starts to build up. While it’s a relief to have the procedure done, these treatments do leave her feeling exhausted, and her abdomen remains tender for a few days afterward.

We were lucky that our appointment timing allowed us to beat the Friday night traffic heading home. Ali is resting now, and though she’s feeling better, she’s definitely wiped out from the procedure.

Thank you, as always, for your continued love, prayers, and support. Every message and act of kindness means the world to us.