Eric Update

Whew! Thankfully today we found out what has been going on with Eric. Or rather, what has been going on the last week. This whole thing started with a respiratory bug, that turned into bronchitis. Then last week he went to the doc for the bronchitis and it was bad so she said she was going to give him "mega" antibiotics. "I'm not going to let this fester since you're on dialysis!"

So the last week the bronchitis has gotten better and better. But the vomiting continued. And Eric got more and more weak. I'm talking can't get up and walk to the curb without feeling like you're going to pass out weak! Last night I told him (I was done asking!) that we were going to call the dialysis nurse this morning to get something done. Something was NOT right. I have seen Eric sick since I met him 12 years ago but I've never felt in my gut that his life was in danger...until the last two days. But I couldn't figure out the "why" of it.

So we call the dialysis unit today and they say he sounds dehydrated (which he was) and to come in for IV fluids. During the 2-hour procedure we had lots of time to talk to our nurse. At one point we talked about how at least the antibiotics kicked the bronchitis! The nurse said, "What antibiotic?" We didn't know of the top of our heads. "Was it Levaquin?" Yeah! That sounds right. Look of horror on the nurse's face. She made us call immediately to see what the dosage was.

Levaquin is a good drug, but it's NOT a good drug at that dosage for dialysis patients. Eric should have been taking 250 mg every other day, for a total of 4 pills. Eric was instead taking 750mg EVERY day for 7 days. Yesterday was his last pill.

The dialysis nurse shared with us that recently another patient in the unit died from a levaquin overdose. Eric had over dosed on antibiotics! The result of that in dialysis patients is total organ failure. Thankfully Eric is doing much better than the guy who died--likely because he can still make some of his own urine (the other guy couldn't). So basically Eric's pee probably saved his life.

The nurse said that Eric should be feeling better by the end of the week. There's nothing to do for the overdose except wait for the poison to slowly seep out of his system during dialysis.

Mommies and Wives....listen to your gut instincts, even if your husband and kids think you're crazy!!!

We continue to covet your prayers for Eric as he gets over this--that there is no regression and no permanent organ damage.

Anita