tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58308511005319275872024-03-06T12:02:37.906-08:00Myeloma DawgMyeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-71547045789733961462016-03-06T13:46:00.002-08:002016-03-06T13:46:39.156-08:007 years with MMWell another year has come and gone; my physical condition is more or less unchanged since my last post about a year ago. Visit the doctor every 6-8 weeks and that is about it. My MM markers (M-spike, kappa, and Igg) are about the same as they were a year ago; and I still take 10 mg of dex every four days. The dex, however, appears to be causing my blood glucose to rise and I started (in Feb.) to take medication for this. Nevertheless, still living a more or less normal life and traveling some. Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-49210241187815117662015-03-12T12:37:00.001-07:002015-03-12T12:37:50.821-07:006 Years with MMWell, I still doing well. Had to have surgery on my knee a few weeks ago; I am now in PT. Comes from jumping off my high school more than 50 years ago. Still taking 4mg of dex every 4 days; that is all. When knee recovers, I plan to go back to my exercise program; but probably will have to wait another month or so. No bone pain; however, I continue to tire easily. CBC blood counts are in normal range; so is creatine. Last M-spike was 1.3; Kappa is 4.20 mg/l; Igg is 1672 mg/dl. Not much change over the past year. Will continue on current course for the time being.
Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-46223589501573128512014-03-20T19:06:00.000-07:002014-03-20T19:06:26.720-07:00March 20, 2014--5 years with MMMarch 30 marks my 5th anniversary of my official diagnosis of having MM (although I first went to doctor about 6 weeks earlier). My most recent MM markers (3/5/2014)are Kappa Light Chains @4.45, up from 3.77 on 1/21/2014; Igg 1744, down from 2014; and M-spike 1.4, down from 1.5. One marker up and two down. Blood pressure and blood work is normal. H/O does not seem concerned and I will stay off chemo but continue 10mg of dexamethasone every 4 days.
On 2/12/2014, I had a full body scan set of x-rays (19 images); no new lytic lesions were seen and the old lesion on my right femur was no longer observable. Basically my bones are in better shape than they were 5 years ago prior to my 2-year treatment with Zometa (completed in July 2011).
I have now been off chemo for 3 2/3 yrs. I continue to have some neuropathy in my hands and feet; but I am in no pain and can get about ok.
So far; there are no issues of pain; no broken/fractured bones; I do tire easily and commonly take a nap in the afternoon.
Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-13877706035020740492013-11-07T13:48:00.000-08:002013-11-07T13:48:01.192-08:00November 7, 2013It's been a while since I have last posted and an update is in order.
Last April, I began to have some stomach problems in that I would feel full after eating a small amount of food and eventually end up having to induce vomiting. This resulted in significant weight loss (about 30 pounds). After an endoscopy in June of 2013, I was diagnosed with a parasophogeal hernia where my stomach had slid up into my chest cavity. At this time, I stopped taking dexamethasone.
Surgery was performed on July 16 and it took about 2 1/2 months to recover where I could eat normally and do everyday things.
Dropping off the dex, however, caused my IGG, K Light chains, and M-spike to rise significantly. However in mid September, I went back on dex and these myeloma parameters began to decline. Here are the results:
August 2, 2013: IGG = 2205; September 16,2013: IGG = 2188; October 30, 2013 = 1916; this is a 13% decline in 3 months.
August 2, 2013: KLC = 3.68; September 16,2013: KLC = 4.35; October 30, 2013 = 3.52; this is a 19% decline since mid September.
M-spike stayed constant at 1.5; however, gamma globulin (of which the M-spike is a part) decreased about 19% between August 2 and October 30; this would seem to suggest that the M-spike is starting to decline.
I am back on dex at 10 mg/day every 4 days (i.e., dex day with no sleep and then 3 nights of sleep).
I will see the O/H on December 17 and we will review the above parameters again to assess if the declines continue or start to rise. Until then, I will continue to take the dex every 4 days.
Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-56175055330847478392013-08-25T14:21:00.002-07:002013-08-25T14:21:10.830-07:00August 25, 2013Dull day; but I did get the Corvette up and running and took it out for a spin.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-9087301844808577382013-07-01T14:25:00.002-07:002013-07-01T14:25:21.480-07:00July 1, 2013Nothing much to say; back from 3 weeks in Europe.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-13402845681204505762013-04-24T19:51:00.000-07:002013-04-24T19:51:27.040-07:004 years with MM--Taking Dexamethasome
Immediately after being diagnosed with MM in March of 2009, I started on program of 10 mg/wk of dex. This continued into the Fall of 2011, when I increased dosage to 10 mg/2 times a week. I had gone off chemo in the summer of 2010; and dex was the only medicine I was taking. The rationale for increasing the dex dosage was try and keep Igg, M-spike, and kappa light chains at relatively low levels.
Today is dex day.
It starts with 10 mg taken orally between 8-9 in the morning. I quickly begin to feel good and energetic; this lasts for about 5 hours at which time I feel somewhat sleepy and I take a nap. After the nap, I feel wide awake and I know I will be up all night in which I watch movies on TV or on the Internet. About 5 am, I start feeling sleepy again and sometimes I can fall asleep for 1-2 hours. I feel sleepy most of the day; sometimes I can nap, but mostly I don't. That evening I take a single Advil PM and I will fall asleep about 9:00 and sleep like a rock until the next morning. After 3 nights of good sleep, it is dex time again. Basically it is dex day, 3 nights of sleep, and then dex day again.
Staying up all night is not ideal; however, I just try and make the best of it. At this point I'm used to taking the dex and just regard it as something I can do indefinitely.
Overall taking dex is not a significant issue in my life.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-90543594803706698372013-04-17T22:25:00.001-07:002013-04-17T22:25:42.101-07:004 years with MM Part 2I started chemo with Velcade + dex on 4/13/2009. Prior to starting chemo my numbers were Igg = 3982, M-spike = 2.7, and Kappa LC = 96. After the first cycle, the numbers dropped as follows; Igg = 2176, M-spike = 1.9, and Kappa LC = 41. After the second cycle, the numbers dropped still further to Igg = 1623, M-spike = 1.22, and Kappa LC = 30.43. After the cycle, the numbers dropped still further and I was happy as clam: Igg = 1555, M-spike = 0.9, and Kappa LC = 30.
Up until this point I considered chemo as a "walk in the park"; but with cycle #4 ,which began on June 29, all hell broke loose. During this cycle I began to experience significant neuropathy, particularly in my feet. Also once the cycle was completed, I broke out in rash that covered my arms and legs. Because of the neuropathy and the rash, cycle #5 was cancelled.
A revisit to my O/H in late July had the following numbers: Igg = 1462, M-spike = 1.2, and Kappa LC = 26.42. Cycle #5 was postponed to be held abeyance.
During this same time period, I continued to take Zometa to strenghthen bones. The only negative with the Zometa was the slight pain in the sternum for about 24 hours after infusion.
In early July of 2010 (about 2 2/3 years ago), I discontinued Velcade chemo. I did continue Zometa to the early summer of 2011 (25 total infusions); Zometa was discontinued in the summer of 2011.
At present (March 4, 2013) my numbers are Igg = 1681, M-spike = 1.4, and Kappa LC = 29.1; WBC = 4.2, Creatine = 1.02, Total Protein = 7.8, and calcium = 9.2 (all of these CBC values are in the normal range).
I still have residual neuropathy in my feet and I still get tired quite easily; but otherwise I lead a generally normal life; I am not in pain.
I take 10 mg of dexamethasome every 4 days; the des keeps me up most of the night; but generally on those days that I take the dex I am more productive.
Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-4126013819558734912013-04-04T14:01:00.000-07:002013-04-04T14:01:46.822-07:004 Years with MM---Part 1March 30 is my fourth year aniversary with MM. I first went to my GP on February 23, 2009 complaining of a gait problem. It felt as I was forever walking on a mattress; no pain only an odd feeling when I walked. The GP didn't know what the problem was; however, she perceived I was not faking; thus she began a testing program. Simple blood and simple X-rays gave way to more complex blood tests and cat scans/MRIs. While this was going on, I literally could feel strength flowing out of my body. About 4 weeks into the testing program, elevated IGG, M-spike, and Kappa Light Chains along with a lesion on my upper right arm were detected. At that point, I was referred to a H/O for follow up. Here the H/O repeated much of the blood testing; again when high IGG, M-spike, and Kappa Light Chains were detected; a bone marrow analysis was scheduled. The bone marrow results took 5 working days to come; but they showed about 30% involvement. I got these results on March 30, 2009; this is my "official" diagnosis day. Within just a few days I was on Velcade and Dexamethosome plus Zometa to strengthen my bones.
Overall I have never experienced any pain; and I have had no broken bones. I still have gait issues along with some managable neuropathy; my biggest complaint is weakness or lack of strength. I haven't spent the night in the hospital nor have I had truely bad days.
My GP was initially stumped but she didn't give up. Continued testing resulted in diagnosis. From start to finish from the first doctor visit to the "official" diagnosis was about 5 weeks.
Over the next few weeks, I will review for this blog my personal and treatment history. Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-71997512379072942252013-03-05T18:26:00.003-08:002013-03-05T18:26:38.624-08:00March 5, 2013Had labs drawn yestrday at 8:00 am. Exclusive of M-spike, results were back by 2:00 pm and e-mailed to me. IGG went up significantly; however Kappa light chains went down and have been going down since last fall. M-spike results generally take 5 working days as this analysis has to be sent to a differnet lab (only about 1/4 mile away however). Have appointemnt with O/H on Tuesday (March 13, 2013). This will be close to my 4th year aniversary.
Today was dex day (10 mg/2 times a week). I feel good on dex days but I don't sleep during the night. Drove the Corvette to the horse farm country west of Ocala; beautiful sunny day. Celebrated with BBQ ribs for lunch.
Will give a better update after my upcomming O/H visit.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-39101913007255779662013-02-03T18:57:00.000-08:002013-02-03T18:57:13.448-08:00February 3, 2013Just back from a 2100 mile road trip and will start a new project on Monday. Today also was dex day. Busy busy. Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-62824256825917729242012-12-31T19:04:00.001-08:002012-12-31T19:04:40.806-08:00December 31, 2012
Today (12/31/2012)is dex day; took 10 mg this morning; but probably will not sleep tonight. 2012 was a reasonably good year; no chemo, no pain, blood work was stable. Only real symptom is that I tire easily and commonly take naps during the day.
Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-58228484799202682792012-11-22T22:40:00.001-08:002012-11-22T22:40:23.887-08:00November 23, 2012Finished up my project on Wednesday and sent report out via UPS.
On Monday, November 19, 2012, I went to get my blood work done for my upcoming O/H visit on November 30. Got to lab at 7:45 am and blood was drawn before 8:00. On the way home (on my i-phone) about 8:30 began to get results. By 3:00 pm, all results were in except M-spike, which has to be sent to another lab a few blocks away. M-spike historically is not received until 4-5 business days after the blood was drawn.
Biggest time delays generally occur when there are just a number of people in front of me; that is why I just ask for an 8:00 blood draw. Get it over with ASAP. With the exception of M-spike all blood analyses are done in 6 hours and quickly e-mailed to me.
I read on other blogs about people waiting for days to have their blood drawn and weeks for the results. This is a disgrace; the technology is available for rapid turn around time.
Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-37446420828666746142012-11-08T19:17:00.001-08:002012-11-08T19:17:49.227-08:00November 8, 2012Have been working on new project for the past month; staying busy. Nothing new on myeloma front. Feel good. Will see O/H on November 30, 2012.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-55855183083880378202012-08-22T13:48:00.000-07:002012-08-22T13:48:02.055-07:00August 22, 2012
Had visit with H/O today. BP was ok at 131/81. IGG had dropped from 1556 on 6/22/12 to 1512 mg/dl; which is in the normal range. Kappa Light chains dropped to 2.45 from 3.64; upper normal is 1.94. M-spike went up to 1.4 from 1.3; however, it has been 1.4 in the past. Will go back to H/O in early October and repeat labs. Now off chemo 2 years and 6 weeks.
Will be flying to France this next Tuesday; therefore, will drop dex for the time being (don't want any blood clots in tight airplane seats).
Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-43364885562756650552012-07-07T10:22:00.002-07:002012-07-07T10:22:50.849-07:00July 7, 2012Nothing much new on this end. Igg, M-spike, and Kappa Light Chains are more or less the same. I have now been off Velcade for two years and Zometa for one year. Take 10 mg of dexamathasome twice a week.
I now get my lab results via e-mail; CBC comes within 6 hours, Igg and Kappas come in 2 business days and M-spike in 3 business days. This is quite an improvement as I know lab results quite quickly.
It is superhot in GA and FL these days; I tend to stay indoors during the day and if I do something outside, I try finish up before 10:00 am.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-14798761057665469182012-04-16T23:31:00.000-07:002012-04-16T23:31:11.294-07:00Corvette/Deer/3 Year Anniversary--April 17, 2012Last Saturday was a beautiful day in north Florida so my wife and I decided to take a drive in the Corvette. Unfortunately, a small deer decided that he wanted to share the road with us. He and the front end of the car are no longer with us. <br />
<br />
March 30, 2012 is my 3rd anniversary with MM. On the April 11, 2012; I had my 6-week checkup with H/O. Igg was 1568, down from 1631 of 2/14. M-spike was 1.4, up from 1.3 of 2/14; but it has been 1.4 in the past. Kappa Light Chains were 3.5, up from 3.35 of 2/14. WBC, RBC, and Creatinine were all normal.<br />
<br />
I have now been off chemo since early July of 2010 (almost 1 3/4 years). Will continue to stay off chemo at least until next appointment in late May.<br />
<br />
I feel good and am staying busy.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-30017615003658501392012-03-23T18:43:00.000-07:002012-03-23T18:43:03.556-07:00March 23, 2012---3 years with MMMarch 30, 2012 will mark 3 years after my official diagnosis. Generally feel good and I have now been off chemo for 1 3/4 years. Will go for my periodic checkup in early April. At that time, I can be more specific about my condition. Regards:Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-27790355307140684462012-01-04T06:03:00.000-08:002012-01-04T06:03:31.220-08:00January 4, 2012Visited the O/H yesterday. IGG had dropped to 1472, which is in the normal range; Kappa Light Chains rose slightly to 3.02 (1.94 is upper normal); but they have been higher in the past; M-spike dropped from 1.3 to 1.2. Overall I feel ok and there is no pain. WBC and RBC were low and I need to watch this. I did get a flu shot this past October; hopefully flu will not be an issue this year.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-4416106767098940672012-01-01T01:00:00.001-08:002012-01-01T01:00:20.733-08:00January 1, 2012Happy New Year to everyone.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-28865794722375037252011-11-20T18:31:00.000-08:002011-11-20T18:31:53.921-08:00November 20, 2011Today is another 10 mg of dex day--probably will not sleep tonight.<br />
<br />
Had a visit with O/H last Monday (11/14/2011). lab results of 11/7/2011 were in and can be compared to 10/7/2011 lab results. Kappa Light Chains dropped to 2.45 mg/dl from 2.82mg/dl(uppermost normal is 1.94mg/dl); obviously any drop is good news. M-spike dropped 10 1.3g/dl, which is a drop from the previous months value of 1.4 g/dl. Igg dropped to 1572 mg/dl from 1622 mg/dl. Uppermost normal Igg is 1554 mg/dl. In other words all of the three cancer makers dropped.<br />
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I continue to be off chemo (except for the twice weekly dex (10 mg twice a week)). Will go back to the O/H in early January.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-90300066006760125452011-10-27T08:15:00.000-07:002011-10-27T08:15:09.237-07:00October 27, 2011Today is dex day; 10 mg before 9 am. I am now on two 10 mg doses per week. Well not exactly, I take 10 mg, then wait 4 days before I take another 10 mg. Thus it is two doses every 8 days. I find that I need 3 nights of good sleep before taking another dose.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-51683000908428434982011-10-19T13:37:00.000-07:002011-10-19T13:37:01.066-07:00October 19, 2011I came across some old blood work that I had back in December 2004, before I was diagnosed with MM. Here are the results compared with my October 7, 2011 blood work; the first number is the December 2004 results; all results are in the same units so they can cross compared.<br />
<br />
WBC 4.2 4.1<br />
RBC 4.2L 4.8<br />
HGB 15.2 16.0<br />
HCT 42 46<br />
Plt 231 227<br />
glucose 96 (fast) 102 (non fast)<br />
Creatinine 1.0 1.0<br />
calcium 8.7 9.7<br />
total protein 7.3 7.5<br />
<br />
Not really much difference; while it may be possible that I had MM in December of 2004; there would have been no symptoms whatsoever.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-58657187158072088572011-10-15T19:30:00.000-07:002011-10-15T19:30:00.445-07:00October 15, 2013Last week I noted that my Kappa Light Chains, collected on 9/23/2011, had been significantly elevated at 3.93 mg/dl (from 2.56 mg/dl on 8/12/2011). This was disturbing; however, the higher values came from a different lab. On October 7, the labs were repeated at the lab that I typically use. This time, the Kappa Light Chains were 2.82 mg/dl. This is not far different than the values that I had back on 8/12/2011 (2.56 mg/dl),3.26 mg/dl on 5/18/2011, and 2.68 mg/dl on 4/20/2011.<br />
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My Igg values increased to 1622 mg/dl; however, they were 1606 mg/dl on 4/20/2011.<br />
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My M-spike is now 1.4 mg/dl.<br />
<br />
Everything appears to inching upward; but not as rapidly as the 9/23/2011 lab results suggested.<br />
<br />
I am on dex twice a week (10 mg on Sat and Wed). <br />
<br />
CBC values are ok wbc, total protein, creatinine,hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet counts, neutrophils, and RBC are all in normal range.<br />
<br />
Will see the O/H in early November; for the time being, no chemo (other than the dex) is scheduled.Myeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5830851100531927587.post-79045193378067310202011-10-07T09:20:00.000-07:002011-10-07T09:35:45.860-07:00October 7, 2011Well it looks as if my 15 month reprieve from chemo may be coming to an end. <br /><br />My Kappa Light Chains, which my O/H thinks are the best MM marker, increased from 2.56 mg/dl to 3.93 mg/dl. Lamda Light Chains were .56 mg/dl which also is an increase but the lower normal is .57 mg/dl. <br /><br />The rise in the Kappa values is disturbing but at my O/H visit today, the following course of action was decided: <br />1. Immediately increase dexamethasome to 20 mg (10 mg, twice a week) <br />2. Do a new set of blood work to confirm if Kappa Light Chains actually are higher or whether the previous analysis is just an aberration.<br />3. If Kappa Light Chains actually are higher, then go back on chemo (probably Velcade on a once a week basis--higher dosages have caused me significant neuropathy). <br />4. If Velcade doesn't do much, consider using something different like Revlimid (Some chemo treatments become non-effective with time). On the other hand, if Velcade is reasonably effective, then continue and monitor.<br /><br />I feel ok but hopefully I can nip this increase in the bud. I should have the lab results by the latter part of next weekMyeloma Dawghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998177648168767120noreply@blogger.com1