Today is dex day; so I probably won't sleep tonight. I am used to this by now.
On Tuesday, January 25, I had my 22nd Zometa infusion. Spent more time in waiting room than for the infusion; 2.5 hrs from checkin to checkout. Two more infusions to go and I will have completed my initial 24-month therapy. After that it will probably be once a quarter; this just gives me greater flexibility.
BP and blood work all fell in the normal range. WBC, however, were at the low end of normal.
Will have cancer numbers checked on 2/7/11 so that they will be available for my H/O for my 2/14 appointment. It takes about 4 days to turn around the cancer values such as IGG, M-spike, and Kappa light chains.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
January 15, 2011
On Monday (1/3/20110), I had my appointment with my H/O and I got the results of my 12/27/2010 lab work. Igg was 1564 mg/dl, up slightly from 1558 on 11/22/2010--upper normal is 1554, thus 1564 is only slightly above normal; total protein was 7.1 g/dl, normal and unchanged; M-spike was 1.3 g/dl up from 1.2 in November (it also was 1.2 last June, thus no large change); Kappa Light Chains were 2.42 mg/dl (normal is less than 1.94)--up from November but less than June of 2010. Because there were no large changes and the values were not that different than 6 months earlier, I decided to stay off chemo for another 6 weeks. I have another appointment on Valentine's Day.
On the 25th, I have my monthly Zometa; only 2 more after this on the 2-year schedule. After that, the H/O suggests every other month or quarterly. Zometa has not been a big deal after the second or third time, when I did experience some aches and minor pains.
Later that same day, I had my teeth cleaned and it was decided that I needed a root canal, which was scheduled for the next day. This was done.
On Thursday (1/6/2011), we took off for a week in Puerto Rico, where we did some snorkeling and lots of sunbathing.
Tonight is dex day thus I probably won't sleep tonight. Tomorrow, I take off for Atlanta for some business meetings.
Nothing much else to say; will keep all of you posted; but there is not much to say right now.
On the 25th, I have my monthly Zometa; only 2 more after this on the 2-year schedule. After that, the H/O suggests every other month or quarterly. Zometa has not been a big deal after the second or third time, when I did experience some aches and minor pains.
Later that same day, I had my teeth cleaned and it was decided that I needed a root canal, which was scheduled for the next day. This was done.
On Thursday (1/6/2011), we took off for a week in Puerto Rico, where we did some snorkeling and lots of sunbathing.
Tonight is dex day thus I probably won't sleep tonight. Tomorrow, I take off for Atlanta for some business meetings.
Nothing much else to say; will keep all of you posted; but there is not much to say right now.
Friday, December 31, 2010
December 31, 2005
Happy New Year to Everyone:
Yesterday was dex day; so I was up all night; but watched the late Nebraska-Washington bowl game.
When you take steroids such as dex, you have to worry about glaucoma; had my checkup today; everything ok, will go back in 6 months. I have a slight infection in my gum; no pain but I suspect that a root canal may be in order. Will see dentist on Monday.
If I do need dental work, I will need to postpone January's Zometa infusion.
Also will see O/H and get the results of Mondays lab work (it takes about 4 working days to get M-spike, Igg, Kappa LC, etc.). Other than dex, I have been of chemo for 6 months. If the cancer numbers have gone up, then I guess I am back on Velcade again. Also I will start pursuing a stem cell transplant.
Yesterday was dex day; so I was up all night; but watched the late Nebraska-Washington bowl game.
When you take steroids such as dex, you have to worry about glaucoma; had my checkup today; everything ok, will go back in 6 months. I have a slight infection in my gum; no pain but I suspect that a root canal may be in order. Will see dentist on Monday.
If I do need dental work, I will need to postpone January's Zometa infusion.
Also will see O/H and get the results of Mondays lab work (it takes about 4 working days to get M-spike, Igg, Kappa LC, etc.). Other than dex, I have been of chemo for 6 months. If the cancer numbers have gone up, then I guess I am back on Velcade again. Also I will start pursuing a stem cell transplant.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
December 23, 2010
We are back from our cruise; had a good time and was able to do some snorkeling at Roatan. Probably ate too much as I weigh 5 pounds more now than when I left.
Had my Zometa treatement last Tuesday; WBCs were a little low; but everything else was ok. Today is dex day so I doubt I will sleep tonight.
I go and see the H/O on Monday after New Years. At that time, I will know whether I can stay off chemo for another month.
Had my Zometa treatement last Tuesday; WBCs were a little low; but everything else was ok. Today is dex day so I doubt I will sleep tonight.
I go and see the H/O on Monday after New Years. At that time, I will know whether I can stay off chemo for another month.
Friday, December 3, 2010
December 4, 2010
Today is dex day again; so I am still up and its 1:30 in the morning. Dex was common when I was UGA back in the 60s. Students would take a pill and stay up all night studying. Generally the day I take dex (usually at about 8:00 am), I feel quite good and productive. The difficulty with dex is that my brain keeps working when I lay down and try to go to sleep.
This past Tuesday, I went to see my O/H. My numbers were as follows: WBC = 3.6; but my neutrophils were good so I am not overly susceptible to infection. Igg is 1558, but this is only 4 over normal. M-spike was 1.2, which is an increase over last months 1.1; however for the two proceeding months it was 1.2. Glucose, calcium, and total protein were normal. Kappa LC were 2.34 and went up slightly from last month but are down from the three previous months. Overall the Myeloma markers went up some but not that much from earlier in the late summer and early fall. I have now been off Velcade for 5 months now. Because there was no marked deterioration in my cancer numbers, I in consultation with my O/H decided to wait another month (actually 6 weeks) before making the decision to go back on chemo. During the spring and early summer, I took Velcade once per week and the cancer numbers stabilized with Igg being in the high normal range, M-spike at 1.1 and the Kappa LC being about 2.6-2.8. These numbers are not that far different than my most recent numbers. I guess I'm inclined to believe that if I go back on Velcade I will not achieve much improvement; nevertheless with these values I can live a more or less normal life. The neuropathy has lessened over the past 5 months; but it is still there.
My wife and I decided to take a cruise starting December 11, 2010, so I will be out of pocket for a while and not blogging.
This past Tuesday, I went to see my O/H. My numbers were as follows: WBC = 3.6; but my neutrophils were good so I am not overly susceptible to infection. Igg is 1558, but this is only 4 over normal. M-spike was 1.2, which is an increase over last months 1.1; however for the two proceeding months it was 1.2. Glucose, calcium, and total protein were normal. Kappa LC were 2.34 and went up slightly from last month but are down from the three previous months. Overall the Myeloma markers went up some but not that much from earlier in the late summer and early fall. I have now been off Velcade for 5 months now. Because there was no marked deterioration in my cancer numbers, I in consultation with my O/H decided to wait another month (actually 6 weeks) before making the decision to go back on chemo. During the spring and early summer, I took Velcade once per week and the cancer numbers stabilized with Igg being in the high normal range, M-spike at 1.1 and the Kappa LC being about 2.6-2.8. These numbers are not that far different than my most recent numbers. I guess I'm inclined to believe that if I go back on Velcade I will not achieve much improvement; nevertheless with these values I can live a more or less normal life. The neuropathy has lessened over the past 5 months; but it is still there.
My wife and I decided to take a cruise starting December 11, 2010, so I will be out of pocket for a while and not blogging.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
November 20, 2010
Thursday was Zometa day; labs were slow so I ended up spending almost 3 hours at the infusion center. Only bad lab was WBC, which was 3.7 instead of 4.0. No reaction to the Zometa. Friday was dex day with 10 mg. It's 3:30 am Sat. morning and I am still awake. Will need Ambien tonight but after that I will be ok until next dex day (next Friday).
Friday, November 5, 2010
November 5, 2010
Today is dex day; will probably be up all night; but I do have a DVD so I can watch a movie tonight; also have some project work that will keep me busy for a few hours.
I have read many of the other blogs and it seems that most initial symptoms are pain (mainly back pain), the unexplained breaking of bones, or being very tired. I had none of these.
My initial symptom was a gait and balance issue; I felt as if I was forever walking on a giant mattress. That's all. My primary care physician just tested for everything and in 5 weeks, MM was confirmed. To date, I have never had any pain; but the being tired symptom did come on after the initial visit to the primary care physician.
I have read many of the other blogs and it seems that most initial symptoms are pain (mainly back pain), the unexplained breaking of bones, or being very tired. I had none of these.
My initial symptom was a gait and balance issue; I felt as if I was forever walking on a giant mattress. That's all. My primary care physician just tested for everything and in 5 weeks, MM was confirmed. To date, I have never had any pain; but the being tired symptom did come on after the initial visit to the primary care physician.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
