Dr's visit

I saw Dr Goldman today. My plts were up to 58 and wbc 2.5 so I will be resuming my Revlimid 15 mg hopefully tomorrow depending on delivery. I gave my doctor a card for celebrating our 5th anniversary together and I got a big hug in return. I am feeling really good and have not needed pain medications for a few weeks.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

I received my Zometa..

..infusion yesterday. I asked the nurse to run a blood count on me as I only had 4 more days of Revlimid. You need to have your blood work done before you can reorder the next months supply. My wbc was 2.8 (L) and my platelets were 26 (L). They normally have to transfuse platelets if they drop below 20. This means I am at risk for infection and for bleeding. Hopefully everything will increase during my week off the Revlimid. I see Dr Goldman on Thursday Feb 11th. He may have to adjust my dosage.

I continue to get occasional muscle spasms in my feet and legs and my feet burn at night. I had forgotten the wonderful side effects of this medication being off of it for 2 years. I have tried taking a Valium when I go to sleep to prevent the spasms but then I can sleep for 12 hours and nap all day. My L hip pain is almost completely gone from the radiation therapy. Believe it or not this not a complaint post. I am feeling great most of the time and blessed to be celebrating my 5th anniversary with mm in 12 more days. Plus I just celebrated my 43 rd wedding anniversary last week. Which means I don't give up easily. : )

Finished with radiation..

...this week. I am using much less pain medication then prior to treatment. The effects of the radiation continue for 4 to 6 weeks so I am hoping any pain left in my hip will be gone by then. I am resuming Revlimid today after stopping it in July 2008. I again was blessed to receive a grant from The Chronic Disease Fund (CDF). They are providing me with over $8500 to cover my copay on the Revlimid. CDF will pay all of my copay except for $20 which I am responsible for. I filled an online form on Tuesday and printed it out. I then faxed it along with verification of my income and my insurance card to the CDF. The pharmacy called yesterday and they contacted the CDF and found out I was accepted. I did a phone survey with Celgene for using the Revlimid yesterday and received my medication this morning from UPS. I can't believe how easy it was.
While writing this the pastor from Church of the King called to see how I was feeling and prayed for me. Now I feel doubly blessed. God is so good to me, knowing just the right time to send words of encouragement.

First doctors appointment of 2010

I saw Dr Goldman today and he is going to have me get radiation to my ribs for pain relief. I will probably be starting next week as soon as I finish the radiation to my L hip. I had an incident two weeks ago (Dec 23) where I couldn't breath for a few minutes and he thinks it was probably a spasm to my diaphragm. I really don't care what is was as long as it doesn't happen again. He is also ordering the Revlimid and getting me started on it as soon as possible. I was also reminded the importance of being aware of what is being done to you in the line of medications and such. The tech who drew my blood from my port was new to the procedure and had to request help. She drew my blood and went on to flush it. As she was getting ready to pull the line I asked her if the last flush was heparin and she told me "no it was saline". I told her that the final flush was supposed to be heparin so that the port would not clot. She went and got the other tech who had helped her and she said "no, it is supposed to be saline. I have been doing this for over a year" I told her "Well. I am a nurse and I have accessed ports for over 15 years and the final flush is heparin unless they changed it in the last 5 years." They got my doctor who informed them that the proper procedure was saline first and then heparin. I told them that I wasn't mad at them but they needed to know the proper procedure. I didn't even mention to her how many times she would have contaminated my line if I hadn't caught before it hit my sweater. My doctor is having an infusion nurse give his tech staff an in service on accessing ports starting today.

Starting radiation..

..therapy to my L hip tomorrow. Dr Goldman said waiting until mid January was not an option and he got me an appointment the next day. I had my meeting with the radiation doctor and got my markers done. I only needed one new tattoo since I already some radiation last July in the same area. Somehow I pulled a muscle over my L rib cage. It was excruciating whenever I moved and I ended up taking large amounts of pain medication and muscle relaxers. It started subsiding the day after Christmas.

My bone marrow biopsy showed a drop in plasma cells from 21% down to 6% which is good but some of the other results were not. I am stopping the chemo and will resume Revlimid after my radiation is completed. I continue to put my trust in Jesus and the wonderful doctor who's hands he placed me in.

Our family

My husband Bob and Me

Our son Steve & daughter-in-law Jen,our daughter Julie & son-in-law Andy

Our 7 grandchildren

Alex, Ashley, Alyssa, Jack, Max, Danielle and Dean

Checking in

My serum freelight results have not come down since starting on velcade. They have not gone up either. Dr Goldman decided to do a bone marrow biopsy to see how my myeloma was doing. I had it done yesterday. Prior to going to the hospital I took a pain pill and a ativan. This was by far the best BMB ever. I had a minimal amount of pain and it was over quickly. He is the best doctor ever in my opinion. I am going to get radiation therapy on my L hip as soon as I can be scheduled in. Due to Christmas and the other holidays it is looking like the middle of January unless there is a cancellation. I had a CT scan done Monday and it doesn't show any changes in my hips since last done in July which is good, but the pain in my L hip is almost constant. We are hoping the radiation eliminates the pain. I am praying for good news .

Half Way Done

...with my velcade/doxil infusions. I will start cycle 5 of 8 next Tuesday. Everything went well at my oncologists appointment this morning. My labs all are normal except for my low platelets (58T). He is waiting for the results of my serum free light test. It usually takes several days. We are hoping the test results are lowering but if not I will need another bone marrow biopsy.
I am feeling really good so I hope my results confirm that.
My mom is back in Florida and home after a week stay in the hospital for dehydration. I feel bad about her being there by herself but I can't go there now because of my treatments. Hope she is completely better soon.

Why am I so happy?

No chemo this week. I start my 2nd cycle next Tuesday. Good News for me was the medicare part B paid for all of my chemo. No co pay and it doesn't effect my medicare D drug coverage or involve the dreaded donut hole. Total cost of my velcade, doxil and the antiemetic for 1 day was $6,376.00. Now you know why I am so happy.

First Chemo Update

I had my chemo on Tuesday and today is Saturday and I never did get sick. I have been sleeping an awful lot but that's it. I am hopeful that this is the way it will be. Thank you, Jesus!!

First Chemo Dose

Yesterday I had my first infusion of Velcade and Doxil along with the Zometa for my bones. This was my first Zometa since January sue to my tooth extraction. My doctor wanted to make sure my jaw was completely healed before resuming it due to chance of osteonecrosis of the jaw. I was given an IV anti emetic prior to receiving the chemo. I can't remember what it was called. Next week I will write it down, It is supposed to last 4-5 days. They used my new port for the infusion which made my nurse and I both happy. Nurses LOVE ports. It is now 23 hours since the infusion was given and so far I am fine. No nausea!! I am hoping that I can say the same thing tomorrow.
I slept the best I have slept since my back surgery last Tuesday. I am on the way back to feeling normal and it feels good.
In all things I give praise to God!!

Vertebroplasty

Last Tuesday I had a vertebroplasty of my L4 and L5. I had the procedure done is special procedures by a radiologist. After the procedure was completed I went to the short stay unit for a couple of hours. I had lunch and then returned home six hours after I had first left. I have experienced quite a bit of pain in my lower back especially while trying to sleep in my bed. Each night is better than the night before and I am hoping the pain will be completely gone soon. I understood about the pain a little more when the doctor called the next day and I told him I felt like I got run over by a truck. He said well you know we had to use a hammer on your bones during the procedure. The original pain I had when I stood up is no longer there, so I know the surgery was a success.
Thursday I went to see Dr Goldman and had labs drawn through my port for the first time. That was great not having to get stuck in the arm. I know I am going to love my new body part. : ) I am going to start my chemo on Tuesday.

Followup

I had a Smart Port put in my R chest today. I was lightly sedated and the procedure was pain free. Several hours later when the numbing agent wore off I started experiencing some neck pain but it is easily controlled. I had my 7th radiation tx to my R hip and only have 3 left. Radiation is painless but getting on and off the table is a task for me and I will be glad to finish it. Also they put a huge rubber band around my ankles to keep me from moving my legs. After a few minutes my legs start quivering and I keep waiting for the rubber band to bust. Hasn't happened yet. lol.
I had a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon on Monday and he put my mind to rest. He says that as long as I am not having pain in my R groin or buttocks I don't need to worry about hip collapsing. He agreed with Dr Goldman that after the radiation kills the cancer cells new bone will begin filling in the empty space. The only precaution I have is "not to fall".
My MRI shows I am a candidate for a vertebroplasty of my L3,L4 and L5 so that may happen in the next week or so.
Finally I am not sure when I will start my chemo but I assume it will be after my back surgery.
God is putting everything in place to assist the doctors in extending my life. I am very blessed.

Update

I went to Dr Goldman's on Thursday and my BMB showed increased plasma cells (19%) I am going to start chemo ( Doxil and Velcade) in a few weeks. On Wed 7/22 I am going to have a mediport inserted in my chest for the IV infusions. I also had a CT scan which showed bone damage to my R hip which will be treated with radiation therapy starting Tuesday. I also have damage to my lumbar spine L3-4-5. I am having a MRI to see whether I am a candidate for kyophoplasties to that area. I am hoping that I am a candidate and that it helps alleviate the pain in my lower back when standing and bending. I am seeing an orthopedic surgeon on Monday 7/20 to see if he can do anything to help my hip or at least let me know if I have any limitation in my activity.
Looks like the next few weeks will be very busy with medical appointments.

Bone Marrow Biopsy

Wednesday I had my first BMB in a year. My serum free light results started rising and Dr Goldman wanted to check and see how thing are going in my bone marrow. It was one of the best tests I have ever had done. By that I mean the least painful. : ) I hear so many people complain about their BMB's and it makes me truly grateful about my doctors good skills. I really love him!! He is the best. I will get the results next week and post them as soon as I can. Next Tuesday I am having a CT scan of my spine and pelvis to see why I am having increased lower back pain.
Bob set up our pool and we are going to try it out now. It is 81 degrees out and the pool water is already at 82.

Another Good report

Sylvia, Me and MaryLou

....from Dr Goldman. My labs are remaining good. My hbg was 13.8. My last free light chains had decreased from the previous one done 2 months prior. I will continue to remain off medication for my MM. It is now 11 months since I stopped the Revlimid. I will also wait another 2 months before resuming my Zometa due to my tooth extraction. And finally best of all no bone marrow biopsy-gotta love that. I thank God for continuing to keep me in good health and in his care.

New Posts

Bob replaced the columns on Julie's porch yesterday. It really looks nice now

I used to Love My Dentist..

But yesterday I had the worst dentist visit of my life. I had an abscessed tooth ( a molar) removed from the bottom of my jaw. My gums were frozen and I used laughing gas and everything was good in the world. He then proceeded to tear out my tooth and roots a little excruciating bit at a time. In all that I have suffered in this last 4 years this was the worst. I cried through the whole procedure and was so glad there were no children in his office at the time. The would have been scarred for life. I am now praying that I don't suffer any jaw problems as it is a side effect of the zometa I take. My dentist did call me last night to see if I was doing ok which I was by then. Maybe some day I will forgive him. I hope none of you have a dentist appointment tomorrow if you do, I apologize.
On a better note my rib pain is gone. I am wondering if it had anything to do with a new medication I had started 3 days before the pain started and have now quit taking.

Beautiful spring day!!

I decide to catch some Vit D on this fantasic spring day. It was 75 . I only lasted a few minutes the first time when I went out at 2pm . I had to get out of the sun because my skin felt like it was burning. I lasted a little longer this second time and actually fell asleep allowing my sneeky husband to catch a few snapshots. It isn't easy staying this shade of porcelain white. : )

I have been having some pain in my left rib area for the last couple of weeks. I went and had x-rays taken on Thursday and I haven't heard the results yet. Will let you know as soon as I hear anything.

Easter 2009

We had a wonderful Easter day. Started out with going to the Easter service at church. After church we went to Steve's house for an early Easter dinner.

We had a great visit with our family until Steve had to go to work. We then went to Sylvia's where we visited with Sylvia, Shaun and Jenny and their families. All the kids are getting so grown up as you can see in this photo.

Doctors visit

My labs continue to remain in the normal range meaning my bone marrow is functioning and not bogged down with excess plasma cells. I will follow up with Dr Goldman in 2 months. I now have been off all myeloma meds for 9 months.
Praise God!