However they also suspect she may have C. diff., otherwise known as Clostridium difficile. C. diff is a bacteria that thrives in the gut when other helpful "gut flora" are absent. In other words, when you have been on certain types of antibiotics, some of the good stuff is gone from your intestines and it leaves perfect growing conditions for C. diff and the result is antibiotic-associated diarrhea (which can rapidly turn into further complications). And it is extremely difficult to get rid of (hence the name difficile). It is even more difficult to get rid of when stopping antibiotics isn't an option (say, because you need them to treat your pneumonia). Again, this particular bacteria has not yet been implicated in Alicia, as we are still waiting for test results. But, it is something they are talking about while we wait.
On the CT Scan from this morning, they also noted a mass on one of her kidneys. We are waiting on more information about that spot. I don't know yet if it is the mass they always note on the PET scans or not, as it has never been mentioned during CT scans before. So we should hear more about that sometime in the next week.
To address all of this, Alicia has been started on a new antibiotic, Levaquin. She is getting an infusion of that today, then will begin taking it at home. She will be on that for a week. She will go back to the doctor next Thursday. At that time, they will do blood work, vitals, and an xray. Should things look favorable she will get a chemotherapy infusion. If not, we will go back to the drawing board.
Bascially, as long as her body shows signs of infection, she can't get chemo.
As we know more I will try to keep everyone updated.
Thank you all for the prayers!
~Sarah