Hi all, I am new here.
My father has multiple myeloma, he is today hospitalized because he has high calcium and bone pain. I am very worried and don't know what I should do. How to treat this and whether calcium will come down? What diet should be administered to him to make him well?
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Re: High Calcium
High Calcium is a common symptom with active multiple myeloma. The disease causes bone to dissolve releasing calcium into the blood stream. The fact that he is also experiencing bone pain is consistent with the high calcium. High calcium can cause problems with kidney and liver function. This is not something that can be made better with diet. The underlying multiple myeloma has to be treated and gotten under control, then the calcium levels will drop and the bone pain should improve.
Where is he in the treatment process?
Ron H
Where is he in the treatment process?
Ron H
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: High Calcium
He had developed a tumor 2 years back in shoulder and took thalidomide. He had responded well to it but after a year tumor returned in rib bone. From that time till now he is taking linalidomide. He even took radiation for the rib tumor which has almost disappeared now. But now he developed this high calcium in body. Doctor said that he should be hospitalized for few days for better treatment. Will the calcium become normal and the pain go away with treatment? Will it return back ? This disease is really very bad. 
Re: High Calcium
A few days after I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2011 I went to the ER because I was going into kidney failure from high blood calcium and also had significant back and rib pain, much like your father. I was given an IV solution of something, I cannot remember what, to reduce the calcium levels in my blood and they pumped a lot of IV saline into me to have me urinate a lot and try to flush the calcium out before my kidneys were damaged to the point they would not recover. These does were a bit fuzzy then because my cognitive thinking was a bit clouded from the high calcium which also caused my heart to race. It was unclear at the time of these efforts would be successful in saving my from permanent kidney damage but after a week stay in the hospital I recovered enough to be discharged and my kidney function as restored completely. It could have gone the other way and if it had I would be on dialysis for the rest of my life. I know of others with myeloma where this has happened. My back pain went away with treatment. As for your father, I think they would be following the same course of treatment they did with me and the next few days will tell how he responds and does.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: High Calcium
Hi eric,
Its great you are well. I hope so my father gets well soon. Does it matter if you get late in going to doctor, I mean we initially thought that the pains are due cold weather and went to doctor after 2 weeks when his condition got worse. He was admitted immediately after his reports showed high calcium. I am worried will it effect his kidney? How much chance is there to get back to normal condition with calcium being normal and bones getting stronger? Does this increase in calcium keeps on happening? How are you managing yourself?
Thanks.
Its great you are well. I hope so my father gets well soon. Does it matter if you get late in going to doctor, I mean we initially thought that the pains are due cold weather and went to doctor after 2 weeks when his condition got worse. He was admitted immediately after his reports showed high calcium. I am worried will it effect his kidney? How much chance is there to get back to normal condition with calcium being normal and bones getting stronger? Does this increase in calcium keeps on happening? How are you managing yourself?
Thanks.
Re: High Calcium
Luckly, my problem with calcium is that it is always too low, which is good. i am a 2 year multiple myeloma survivor. I avoided calcium because of the CRAB associated with multiple myeloma. So now I have to take a supplement, drink milk and eat yogart and cheese. However, I do know that Zometa will lower calcium levels and it is what is given to patients with high calcium counts. hope this info helps.
God Bless
God Bless
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GeorgeLJurak - Name: George Jurak
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan. 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 59
Re: High Calcium
About 2 years before I came down with multiple myeloma I had 2 episodes with Kidney stones(extreme back pain), one was to large to pass so they used a laser to blow it up , I screened my urine and they were able to determine that the stones were calcium / carb. , I was put on a special diet of foods low in carb. , I've had no more stones so that's a good effect of the diet , since I came down with multiple myeloma I have continued the diet but have been wondering if perhaps I shouldn't be as I don't know if there's a connection here or not , I plan on asking my Oncologist about this on my next visit , I have no idea if this is information is of any use in this forum but thought it might be so decided to include it . NG
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Nipon Ginko - Name: Nipon Ginko
- Who do you know with myeloma?: ME
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2004
- Age at diagnosis: 66
Re: High Calcium
Hypercalcemia (high calcium) is a one the classic signs of end organ damage in mutliple myeloma; part of the "CRABI" criteria (hyperCalcemia, Renal (kidney) failure, Anemia, Boney lytic disease and Infections). High calcium is treated independently of multiple myeloma with IV (intravenous fluids), Bisphosphonates (Zometa or Aredia), and at times diuretics, and calcitonin. Hypercalcemia frequently leads to renal insufficiency as well. When the hypercalcemia is involved in kidney damage, the renal function generally improves quite quickly- without myeloma therpay.
However, this it is a demonstration of active multiple myeloma requiring stageing (or restaging), risk stratification, and initiation of therapy (induction for newly diagnosed or salvage for relapsing patients). There are other reasons for hypercalcemia that are unrelated to myeloma.
We wish you the best and keep us informed.
However, this it is a demonstration of active multiple myeloma requiring stageing (or restaging), risk stratification, and initiation of therapy (induction for newly diagnosed or salvage for relapsing patients). There are other reasons for hypercalcemia that are unrelated to myeloma.
We wish you the best and keep us informed.
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Dr. Ken Shain - Name: Ken Shain, M.D., Ph.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: High Calcium
Hi Alice,
I cannot tell you what the chances are of getting back to a normal condition, I believe only your father’s doctor can make that judgment and it would be misleading to assume that my outcome would have any relation to your fathers. I believe Dr. Ken gave a good response on high calcium and myeloma.
It is my understanding though that the bone damage done by myeloma can often be stopped by treating the disease and through the IV treatments with bio phosphates such as Aredia and Zometa that Dr. Ken mentioned. I have also read though that while the bone damage can be stopped, the healing and repair of the bone damage from myeloma can be very slow or not occur at all. This is an active area of research as to why this is and how to improve bone recovery.
I was fortunate to have relatively minimal bone damage despite having high blood calcium when I was first diagnosed. I received Aredia monthly for about a year and now I receive Aredia every three months. I take a vitamin D and calcium tablet daily. I have been in complete remission for about a year now since my stem cell transplant back in October 2011. I am nearly back to normal, probably better than I have been in years in many ways. I believe I probably had myeloma in me a few years before I was diagnosed in April 2011. My cycling has improved significantly, I did my first 100 mile ride in the Tour of Palms Springs just over a week ago and just got back from skiing for four days this last weekend. I know skiing with myeloma is a little risky, but I am in complete remission and my bones are in relatively good shape, I had no major lesions, but lots of small ones. I have been fortunate in my treatment and recovery and I hope your father’s treatment goes as well or better.
I cannot tell you what the chances are of getting back to a normal condition, I believe only your father’s doctor can make that judgment and it would be misleading to assume that my outcome would have any relation to your fathers. I believe Dr. Ken gave a good response on high calcium and myeloma.
It is my understanding though that the bone damage done by myeloma can often be stopped by treating the disease and through the IV treatments with bio phosphates such as Aredia and Zometa that Dr. Ken mentioned. I have also read though that while the bone damage can be stopped, the healing and repair of the bone damage from myeloma can be very slow or not occur at all. This is an active area of research as to why this is and how to improve bone recovery.
I was fortunate to have relatively minimal bone damage despite having high blood calcium when I was first diagnosed. I received Aredia monthly for about a year and now I receive Aredia every three months. I take a vitamin D and calcium tablet daily. I have been in complete remission for about a year now since my stem cell transplant back in October 2011. I am nearly back to normal, probably better than I have been in years in many ways. I believe I probably had myeloma in me a few years before I was diagnosed in April 2011. My cycling has improved significantly, I did my first 100 mile ride in the Tour of Palms Springs just over a week ago and just got back from skiing for four days this last weekend. I know skiing with myeloma is a little risky, but I am in complete remission and my bones are in relatively good shape, I had no major lesions, but lots of small ones. I have been fortunate in my treatment and recovery and I hope your father’s treatment goes as well or better.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: High Calcium
Hi,
My father's condition is improved with calcium back to normal. He was treated with calcitonin and some other medicines but no biophosphate was given. Now he is discharged but he is very weak and cannot move without help. His hemoglobin is down to 8.7. He is now being given bortezomib injections every week and the previous medicine linalidomide has been stopped as his myeloma has increased. His condition is stable but painful especially along the ribs. He is being given calsive and wysolone along with bortezomib injections. No biophosphate has been administered. Are these medicines fine? or Is there a need to talk to doctor about administering biophosphates?
Thanks
My father's condition is improved with calcium back to normal. He was treated with calcitonin and some other medicines but no biophosphate was given. Now he is discharged but he is very weak and cannot move without help. His hemoglobin is down to 8.7. He is now being given bortezomib injections every week and the previous medicine linalidomide has been stopped as his myeloma has increased. His condition is stable but painful especially along the ribs. He is being given calsive and wysolone along with bortezomib injections. No biophosphate has been administered. Are these medicines fine? or Is there a need to talk to doctor about administering biophosphates?
Thanks
10 posts
• Page 1 of 1