Help Kristie's Cancer Journey

I've been battling a rare, very aggressive kidney cancer since 2018. In 2019 it became stage 4 when it metastasized to both my lungs and going from my right renal vein to the right atrium of my heart in my IVC. So far I've been on 3 different combo cancer meds. I've had little setbacks here and there, but this time tops the charts.

This week has truly been the hardest one on me yet. Some are aware I had to go to the ER Sunday for 2 massive nose bleeds lasting a little over 2 hours each. But both times when we finally made it back to a room and the dr came in, it had finally stopped. The first time they just sent me back home. The 2nd time they actually checked my blood levels and my hemoglobin had dropped from 12.4 to 8.5 but they said there was nothing they could do....even said yeah you may have internal bleeding but I dont know and sent me back home since they don't do blood transfusions until you're at 8. I even have black stools but they said it was probably from all the blood I had swallowed.

Monday morning, less than 24 hours later, I woke up yet again with the massive nosebleed. I texted my oncologist that something needed done since this was the 3rd nosebleed in under 24 hrs.... this time my oncologist got me squeezed in at an ENT. The bleeding lasted a little over 3 hours this time.

By the time we got into the ENT, the bleeding had finally slowed. BUT when he put the stuff in to numb everything, it ripped the nosebleed wide open again. I was leaning over in the chair now with blood constantly coming out of my nose and mouth...even a little from my eye. The dr had stepped out so my hubby went rushing for the dr and nurse. By the time they came in I had already lost between 12-16 oz of blood in one of those barf bags. The nurse had to help support me while I sat up for the dr and I ended up passing out. He got my nose plugged with some sort of tampon looking thingy and said we needed to leave it in for a week and to stop blood thinner so it'll have time to clot correctly. During his exam I found out I even had blood in my ears. (The hospital never examined me) Once we got done there we went over to my oncologist office so I could get some fluids in hopes to get me feeling a little better.

Tuesday morning comes around and by now I was feeling terribly weak, could barely take a few steps without breaking out in a cold sweat and almost passing out....I knew something wasn't right. My hubby called our oncologist nurses who set me up with an appt with the nurse practitioner. She informed me to stop my treatment as that is what they believe the nosebleeds came from and being on a blood thinner, it just made it so much worse. (I have to be on a blood thinner as my cancer puts off a protein that causes my blood to clot so I'm high risk) Once that appt was finished they were getting me set up with some fluids to try to make me feel a little better. They decided to run some labs to check my levels again with all the blood loss, plus they were concerned with me still having black stools. The labs came back and my blood level was only 5.5 I needed a blood transfusion. They were going to have me get a transfusion Wednesday but I was feeling so bad and weak we decided to go back to the ER after one of the nurses called to inform them what was going on. We get over there and after examination I was informed I needed to be admitted.

The whole stay there was terrible. The third time I went for a transfusion they said I may have a bleeding stomach ulcer and needed to prep for an endoscopy so I couldn't eat or have much water or ice chips, knowing I hadn't ate all day. They said the endo dr would be in to see me the next morning. Well the next morning rolls around and they decided they weren't doing the endoscopy and that the bleeding was from my 2 cancer meds. My nose started bleeding some while I was there and it was like no one wanted to touch it. So we sprayed some Afrin, held pressure and it finally stopped again. Once they had given me 3 bags of blood and magnesium, there wasn't anything else for them to do. I wanted to go home as being in there increases my anxiety. This whole time my hubby was keeping in touch with my oncologist, one of the nurse practitioners, the Ent Nurse and our oncology nurse team, he was amazing and spoke for me when I couldn't. I'd be so lost without him After hearing from all of them that itd be safe for me to be resting at home, I informed the dr I wanted to go home. Not knowing how my vitals normally are, he wanted me to stay. Knowing my cancer team said it was safe and they were only a phone call away...even my wonderful oncologist, I wanted to be home. When I stood my ground, the attending dr said I'd have to sign a AMA, didnt give me no discharge instructions, didnt go over the head CT they gave me while there, nothing....all he did was put a hand on my should, said "Good Luck" and left I will not go back to Easton if I can help it.

When we got home last night my nose plug started leaking blood I held pressure and it ended up stopping but I slept with gauze under my nose. My hubs ended up calling the ENT this morning to ask if we could get in so the dr could check it or fix it, something.....well he didn't he said what I was experiencing was completely normal and he wasn't going to take it out and repack it, we'll do that next Monday as originally planned. But to keep putting fresh gauze under my nose as I'll continue to have little bleeds until it's fixed. If it's still bleeding a lot Monday then I may need surgery. I'll be honest, I was disappointed he didn't do anything. It's so hard to eat and drink when your nose is plugged

So I'm back on bedrest until at least Monday when the ENT can hopefully cauterize where the bleed is and hopefully all the cancer meds and blood thinner is out of my system enough. I never use to have a thing with blood....but needless to say after experiencing all that blood lose just from my nose and it coming out my mouth and eye....yeah a bit traumatizing.

After we got done at the ENT we yet again stopped by to see my oncology nurses so they could check my levels again. I'm proud to say they're back up to 10.4. My iron is still low and I may need an iron transfusion next week, but one step at a time.

I'm still on the mend and still have a ways to go. I'll be so happy when this is all fixed and over with. I'm try to get through this and keep my sky high anxiety (yes even with multiple meds on for it) under control and just rest. Next week we'll meet with my oncologist to figure out a new treatment plan since this one has failed me.

With everything going on and next week being unpredictable, Devon has had to take a small LOA with all the dr runs. Needless to say this is putting a strain on us financially, as well as extra medical bills and adding extra stress when we really need to focus on getting me better. Any help would be greatly appreciated and helpful. Thank you and God Bless