Just back today from 8 days in New England. Feel good. I must be getting used to the dex as I now sleep the night after as long as I take an Ambien.
Monthly Zometa infusion is Tuesday and monthly blood work is Wednesday (along with monthly visit to H/O).
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
October 18, 2009
Nothing much is new; spent much of the past week making house repairs or repairing appliances. Probaby ate too much and drank too much wine. My wife and I found a wonderful place to eat; so we went there twice (last Sunday and then again today).
I feel about the same or slightly better.
I feel about the same or slightly better.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
October 7, 2009
I had my monthly Zometa infusion yesterday; and felt quite achy the rest of the day. I feel reasonably good today. It seems, however, that the achy-feelings go away within two days. Zometa infusion (counting preliminary bloodwork) takes about 1 1/2 hours, which is just time to read a magazine or two.
I have learned not to take Zometa on the same day as Velcade chemo. If I have to take both, I would just choose separate days.
If there are any other Zometa users out there reading this blog; what has been your experience?
I have learned not to take Zometa on the same day as Velcade chemo. If I have to take both, I would just choose separate days.
If there are any other Zometa users out there reading this blog; what has been your experience?
Monday, October 5, 2009
October 4, 2009
In 1986, I took out an cancer insurance policy. I did this because both of my parents had come down with cancer. My father had died of it; but my mother survived eventually dying of heart failure some 29 years later at age 94.
Such a policy is generally not recommended by consumer advocates; however, with a family history of cancer, I went ahead and took out the policy 23 years ago. So for 23 years, I made annual premium payments.
Of course, I did not know that I would contract MM; however, once I contracted the disease, I did submit a claim about two weeks ago for my treatments to date and my claim was quickly paid. The payout was approximately equal to 10 years of annual premiums and is about twice my out-of-pocket expenses to date. My total medical expenses for everything related to my MM now total about $60,000; however, virtually all of this has been paid insurance and my out-of-pocket expenses (including dedcutibles) are less than $1000.
The claim forms were somewhat complicated; but the instructions were good; and if one reads them carefully, they are straightforward.
Since I am only in partial remission, it is likely that I will be submitting additional claims in the future.
For the readers of this blog, I would simply say that if there is a history of cancer in your family, then obtaining a cancer insurance policy might be prudent. What you get from such a policy is method of paying your deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.
Such a policy is generally not recommended by consumer advocates; however, with a family history of cancer, I went ahead and took out the policy 23 years ago. So for 23 years, I made annual premium payments.
Of course, I did not know that I would contract MM; however, once I contracted the disease, I did submit a claim about two weeks ago for my treatments to date and my claim was quickly paid. The payout was approximately equal to 10 years of annual premiums and is about twice my out-of-pocket expenses to date. My total medical expenses for everything related to my MM now total about $60,000; however, virtually all of this has been paid insurance and my out-of-pocket expenses (including dedcutibles) are less than $1000.
The claim forms were somewhat complicated; but the instructions were good; and if one reads them carefully, they are straightforward.
Since I am only in partial remission, it is likely that I will be submitting additional claims in the future.
For the readers of this blog, I would simply say that if there is a history of cancer in your family, then obtaining a cancer insurance policy might be prudent. What you get from such a policy is method of paying your deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.
Friday, October 2, 2009
October 2, 2009
Have received the results of latest blood work that was done on September 23, 2009.
Igg is down to 1413 mg/l from 1575 mg/l; that's good and Igg is now in the normal range.
M-spike is reported as 0.1 g/dl; however the lab report narrative suggests that the actual M-spike is 1.0 g/dl. I need to follow through on this to verify which value is correct. Even if 1.0 g/dl is correct, it still will be a decline from the 8/25/2009 value of 1.1; this is about a 9.1% decline.
Total protein is 7.1 g/dl, which is a decline from 7.3 g/dl; this is an improvement.
Igg is down to 1413 mg/l from 1575 mg/l; that's good and Igg is now in the normal range.
M-spike is reported as 0.1 g/dl; however the lab report narrative suggests that the actual M-spike is 1.0 g/dl. I need to follow through on this to verify which value is correct. Even if 1.0 g/dl is correct, it still will be a decline from the 8/25/2009 value of 1.1; this is about a 9.1% decline.
Total protein is 7.1 g/dl, which is a decline from 7.3 g/dl; this is an improvement.
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