Well it is a New Year; 2009 was a bummer inasmuch as I came down with MM. However, things appear to be going reasonably well. I haven't ever had a fever; I haven't ever been nauseaus; I haven't ever been in pain. I , however, have had joint andleg aches, mild constipation, and insomnia. Back in the summer, the Velcade program of 4 infusions every three weeks induced an allegric rash; this is gone for the most part but I do have an occasional red splotch. Neuropathy has been my primary problem; but I am dealing with it and I still drive, walk, and make minor home repairs. If you saw me you would not think that I had cancer.
This week I had Zometa infusion #9 and Velcade infusion #22. Also yesterday (12/31/2009) was my dexamethasome day. CBC counts and creatitine were all ok. The neuropathy from the Velcade typically peaks about 4 days after the infusion, this should be Saturday (1/2/20100).
Nothing much else to say; I feel reasonably good right now and will try and take in a movie this weekend.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
December 22, 2009
Today was Velcade day; CBC bloodcounts were ok, except for WBC, which was 4.68. The labsheet showed this value to be low; however other lab sheets from previous lab analysis indicate this level to be in the normal range; I'm somehat confused as I have had lower WBC counts in the past.
Velcade was no big deal; however the chemo-lab is so so so slow. Was in 8:45 am and out 12:15 pm. All in all a 4+ hour sesion. No reactions so far; will wait and see as it takes about 3 days (about Friday) to 4 days (Sat.) for the side affects to fully mainifest themselves.
Merry Christmas everyone
Velcade was no big deal; however the chemo-lab is so so so slow. Was in 8:45 am and out 12:15 pm. All in all a 4+ hour sesion. No reactions so far; will wait and see as it takes about 3 days (about Friday) to 4 days (Sat.) for the side affects to fully mainifest themselves.
Merry Christmas everyone
Friday, December 18, 2009
December 18, 2009
The neuropathy resultant from my December 8, 2009 infusion is still with me, even though almost 10 days have passed. It climaxed on December 11-12; since then it has gradually diminished; but I'm not to the point where I was when this Velcade 1/2 cycle began on December 1. My next Velcade infusion is scheduled for 12/22 and any neuropathy resultant from that infusion will be added to any remaining from the 12/8 infusion. It thus appears that the neuropathy will be increasing somewhat with time. Of all the side effects, neuropathy is the worst. Everything else has been quite minor.
Thursday, yesterday, was dex day; no big deal but didn't sleep well Thursday night.
Last weekend we went to a wedding near Atlanta and then spent 2 nights in the mountains. Weather was poor; glad we are back in Florida.
Nothing else to report. Except for spending Christmas in Tampa; we will just take it easy and read a few books and see a few movies until after the New Year.
Thursday, yesterday, was dex day; no big deal but didn't sleep well Thursday night.
Last weekend we went to a wedding near Atlanta and then spent 2 nights in the mountains. Weather was poor; glad we are back in Florida.
Nothing else to report. Except for spending Christmas in Tampa; we will just take it easy and read a few books and see a few movies until after the New Year.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
December 10, 2009
Date M-spike (g/dl) Kappa LC (mg/d) Igg (mg/dl) Status
3/20/09 2.7 96.00 3962 Initial
4/27/09 1.9 41.00 2176 After 4Velcade Infusions (cycle #1)
5/29/09 1.2 30.43 1623 After 8 Velcade Infusions (cycle #2)
6/9/09 0.9 30.00 1555 After 12 Velcade Infusions (cycle #3)
7/9/09 1.0 28.56 1431 After 16 Velcade Infusions (cycle #4)
7/28/09 1.2 26.40 1462 No infusions since 7/2/2009
8/25/09 1.1 27.40 1575 No infusions since 7/2/2009
9/23/09 1.0 27.40 1413 No infusions since 7/2/2009
11/4/09 1.1 28.00 1414 No infusions since 7/2/2009
11/30/09 1.2 After 18 Velcade Infusions (cycle #4.5)
Today was dex day; will drive to Atlanta tomorrow to attend wedding. Went Christmas shopping; legs tired, but otherwise OK
3/20/09 2.7 96.00 3962 Initial
4/27/09 1.9 41.00 2176 After 4Velcade Infusions (cycle #1)
5/29/09 1.2 30.43 1623 After 8 Velcade Infusions (cycle #2)
6/9/09 0.9 30.00 1555 After 12 Velcade Infusions (cycle #3)
7/9/09 1.0 28.56 1431 After 16 Velcade Infusions (cycle #4)
7/28/09 1.2 26.40 1462 No infusions since 7/2/2009
8/25/09 1.1 27.40 1575 No infusions since 7/2/2009
9/23/09 1.0 27.40 1413 No infusions since 7/2/2009
11/4/09 1.1 28.00 1414 No infusions since 7/2/2009
11/30/09 1.2 After 18 Velcade Infusions (cycle #4.5)
Today was dex day; will drive to Atlanta tomorrow to attend wedding. Went Christmas shopping; legs tired, but otherwise OK
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
December 8, 2009
I went today for my Velcade infusion (#20 overall). No problems and I feel ok; I, however, could actually feel the neuropathy increasing as the infusion was ongoing. My next infusion is 12/22/09; and hopefully, the neuropathy will diminish over the next two weeks. When I had infusions in November, I noticed that it took about 7-8 days for the neuropathy to diminish. Perhaps it will be the same this time.
My creatinine today was 1.2 mg/dl, the same as it was on November 30, 2009, which is a day that I had diarreha. This bothers me as it is at the upper range of normal. I really need to make a concerted effort to increase my fluid content.
CBC counts today were all within normal ranges; results for Igg and K LC were not yet avialable; My M spike, however, increased from 1.1 to 1.2 g/dl. This bothers me as this value was obtained after Velcade infusions #18 and #19. Also this if first time my M-spike has gone up while I have been on Velcade (it did go from 0.9 to 1.1 when I was off Velcade for 4 months). I am scheduled for Velcade on 12/22, 12/29, 1/12, and 1/15. If the M-spike goes up; then I probaly go onto Rev.
My creatinine today was 1.2 mg/dl, the same as it was on November 30, 2009, which is a day that I had diarreha. This bothers me as it is at the upper range of normal. I really need to make a concerted effort to increase my fluid content.
CBC counts today were all within normal ranges; results for Igg and K LC were not yet avialable; My M spike, however, increased from 1.1 to 1.2 g/dl. This bothers me as this value was obtained after Velcade infusions #18 and #19. Also this if first time my M-spike has gone up while I have been on Velcade (it did go from 0.9 to 1.1 when I was off Velcade for 4 months). I am scheduled for Velcade on 12/22, 12/29, 1/12, and 1/15. If the M-spike goes up; then I probaly go onto Rev.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
December 5, 2009
The neuropathy (which I attribute to the last Velcade infusion-4 days ago) did not go away as I had hoped; however, it is manageable for the time being. Slept 6 hours Thursday night after taking Dex and 8 hours last nigt (Friday). I am finding that the day that I take Dex generally is good.
Friday was "date" night; we went to a movie and then out to dinner; probably should have laid off the last glass of wine as I have a slight headache this morning.
It is a cool rainy day; so I will just drink hot chocolate and watch football games.
Friday was "date" night; we went to a movie and then out to dinner; probably should have laid off the last glass of wine as I have a slight headache this morning.
It is a cool rainy day; so I will just drink hot chocolate and watch football games.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
December 3, 2009
It's been two days now since my Velcade infusion; some minor constipation, some moderate insomnia (6 hours of sleep last night), and some increase in neuropathy. Hopefully the neuropathy will wear off as I am on 2-infusion 3-week cycle in lieu of a 4-cycle infusion cyle. Took dex this morning and will have likely have some insomnia tonight. Generally, I feel good the day that I take the dex as it picks me up. I will have my next Velcade infusion next Tuesday (12/8/09), and be off unitl 12/22/09.
Friday is "date " night so we will take in a movie as well as go to a nice place to eat.
Friday is "date " night so we will take in a movie as well as go to a nice place to eat.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Fredrick Joesph of Drexel Burham Lambert
Fredrick Joesph who was the CEO of the junk bond firm (Milliken's old firm) Drexel Burham Lambert died of MM yesterday (December 1, 2009). He was 72.
December 2, 2009
Sunday evening I came down with a bout of diarrhea; ended up having taking pepto-bismo through the night. Really don't know what was the cause; but most likely it was something I ate. On Monday morning, I had my blood work for that days Zometa infusion and Velcade, which was to be done on Tuesday morning.
Creatinine was 1.2 mg/dl, which is the upper end of normal. If the level had been 1.3, then the Zometa could not have been given. Now, I am attributing the relatively high level of creatinine to the diarrhea; the nurse at the infusion center recommended that I drink a gallon of water per day; and for every cup of coffee or glass of wine/beer/bourbon that I drink, match it with an equal volume of water. I don't know if I can drink a gallon of water per day; but I think I should be able to do 2-3 quarts per day.
About 2-3 hours after the Zometa infusion, my knee and ankle joints began aching; this has happened before and generally lasts 2-3 days; hopefully this minor side-effect will be gone by tomorrow (Thursday).
My CBCs were fine; WBC = 5.0 thousand/cu mm; hemoglobin = 15.1; hematocrit = 43.7 %; platelets = 251 thousand/ cu mm; and RBC = 4.56 million/cu mm. MM markers were sent out; the results should be back late this week or early next week.
Yesterday (Tuesday), I had Velcade infusion #19, which was no big deal (no nausua). Ended up taking a nap Tuesday afternoon for about 2-hours; but I could not sleep Tuesday night even with an Ambien. Its about 6:00 am Wednesday now and I am up but don't feed particularly tired.
I weighed myself this morning and my weight (nude) was 219#, which is high for me; I weighed 209# on January 1, 2009 and I was overweight then. I really need to make a concerted effort to get down to 199#, which would be ideal for my 6'4" frame. Between 1984 and 2003, I was an avid runner, often running 5-10-15K races; at that time my weight was in the mid 180s.
My next Velcade infusion #20 is scheduled for December 8, 2009.
Creatinine was 1.2 mg/dl, which is the upper end of normal. If the level had been 1.3, then the Zometa could not have been given. Now, I am attributing the relatively high level of creatinine to the diarrhea; the nurse at the infusion center recommended that I drink a gallon of water per day; and for every cup of coffee or glass of wine/beer/bourbon that I drink, match it with an equal volume of water. I don't know if I can drink a gallon of water per day; but I think I should be able to do 2-3 quarts per day.
About 2-3 hours after the Zometa infusion, my knee and ankle joints began aching; this has happened before and generally lasts 2-3 days; hopefully this minor side-effect will be gone by tomorrow (Thursday).
My CBCs were fine; WBC = 5.0 thousand/cu mm; hemoglobin = 15.1; hematocrit = 43.7 %; platelets = 251 thousand/ cu mm; and RBC = 4.56 million/cu mm. MM markers were sent out; the results should be back late this week or early next week.
Yesterday (Tuesday), I had Velcade infusion #19, which was no big deal (no nausua). Ended up taking a nap Tuesday afternoon for about 2-hours; but I could not sleep Tuesday night even with an Ambien. Its about 6:00 am Wednesday now and I am up but don't feed particularly tired.
I weighed myself this morning and my weight (nude) was 219#, which is high for me; I weighed 209# on January 1, 2009 and I was overweight then. I really need to make a concerted effort to get down to 199#, which would be ideal for my 6'4" frame. Between 1984 and 2003, I was an avid runner, often running 5-10-15K races; at that time my weight was in the mid 180s.
My next Velcade infusion #20 is scheduled for December 8, 2009.
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