Geez, now is has a fever! Treatment deferred. Going to do a blood culture.
BLAH!
Forums
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Halches - Name: Carol S
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 7/15
- Age at diagnosis: 73
Re: Husband newly diagnosed
@Halches, how are things with your husband today?
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Little Monkey - Name: Little Monkey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Father-stage 1 multiple myeloma
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March/April of 2015
Re: Husband newly diagnosed
Jim is doing better today. He was out of bed, sitting up when I arrived. Fever has abated. He is getting two different IV antibiotics. Pain is being controlled with tramadol.
He was unable to complete his MRI of the thoracic and lumbar spines. Lumbar was complete but he just couldn't do the thoracic as he cannot keep his arms over his head due to severe pain. Anyway, the L spine was okay. That was good news.
He has eaten well today and is currently napping and as everyone knows you can't get a good night's sleep in the hospital so he was tired. Fortunately, I am a good sleeper and have been able to get a good night's rest every night since he has been in the hospital.
He even looks better today. Boy, pain can really take a toll on you. He's at a 1-2 level today instead of yesterday's 9-10.
It's nice to know there are so many people who care how he is doing.
He was unable to complete his MRI of the thoracic and lumbar spines. Lumbar was complete but he just couldn't do the thoracic as he cannot keep his arms over his head due to severe pain. Anyway, the L spine was okay. That was good news.
He has eaten well today and is currently napping and as everyone knows you can't get a good night's sleep in the hospital so he was tired. Fortunately, I am a good sleeper and have been able to get a good night's rest every night since he has been in the hospital.
He even looks better today. Boy, pain can really take a toll on you. He's at a 1-2 level today instead of yesterday's 9-10.
It's nice to know there are so many people who care how he is doing.
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Halches - Name: Carol S
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 7/15
- Age at diagnosis: 73
Re: Husband newly diagnosed
What a terrible time since my husband came home from the hospital on Thursday evening. Having a hard time getting his pain and nausea under control. Was able to get an addition pain med, tramadol, to add to his Vicodin, so that has helped some and as long as he isn't moving around his pain level is low.
He is taking all of these pain meds with food (his appetite is non-existent) to combat nausea. He has always had a sensitive GI tract and this worries me, as we will be starting Velcade and dex soon. He is taking Colace (docusate) twice a day, and I have added Miralax (polyethylene glycol) to combat his constipation from the meds and lack of exercise. Still waiting for appointment for PET scan before treatment begins.
He is just pathetic to see! He just sits in his recliner. Lying down seems to bother him, as he moves around more in bed so it hurts. Can't do that in his chair. Depression has definitely set in too.
We don't have our appointment with his doctor until Tuesday afternoon. I am going to call tomorrow to see if we come in sooner. I am afraid his renal function is going to decline again. I still don't have all the lab numbers but will get them at our appointment.
He is still somewhat bloated since they pushed IV fluids into his system last week to get his renal function under control. He also is hot all the time and he is normally cold-natured. I've had to lower the AC a couple of degrees for him to be comfortable.
I will be so glad when the ball gets rolling. I feel like we are in a time warp going nowhere.
We do not have any children but have his brother and close friends who we see regularly and will help if I need something. I lost my mother at the age of 96 in March. She lived with us for 8 years. Now this. The one saving grace is we adopted two older kittens on June 1. They are such a comfort to me and give us both enjoyment from watching them frolic around.
That's all for now. Just kind of sad. I know this community knows what we are going through and I will get lots of encouragement from everyone. Thanks so much in advance.
He is taking all of these pain meds with food (his appetite is non-existent) to combat nausea. He has always had a sensitive GI tract and this worries me, as we will be starting Velcade and dex soon. He is taking Colace (docusate) twice a day, and I have added Miralax (polyethylene glycol) to combat his constipation from the meds and lack of exercise. Still waiting for appointment for PET scan before treatment begins.
He is just pathetic to see! He just sits in his recliner. Lying down seems to bother him, as he moves around more in bed so it hurts. Can't do that in his chair. Depression has definitely set in too.
We don't have our appointment with his doctor until Tuesday afternoon. I am going to call tomorrow to see if we come in sooner. I am afraid his renal function is going to decline again. I still don't have all the lab numbers but will get them at our appointment.
He is still somewhat bloated since they pushed IV fluids into his system last week to get his renal function under control. He also is hot all the time and he is normally cold-natured. I've had to lower the AC a couple of degrees for him to be comfortable.
I will be so glad when the ball gets rolling. I feel like we are in a time warp going nowhere.
We do not have any children but have his brother and close friends who we see regularly and will help if I need something. I lost my mother at the age of 96 in March. She lived with us for 8 years. Now this. The one saving grace is we adopted two older kittens on June 1. They are such a comfort to me and give us both enjoyment from watching them frolic around.
That's all for now. Just kind of sad. I know this community knows what we are going through and I will get lots of encouragement from everyone. Thanks so much in advance.
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Halches - Name: Carol S
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 7/15
- Age at diagnosis: 73
Re: Husband newly diagnosed
Hello Carol,
I know this is a difficult time for both you and your husband, and I'm sorry you have to go through it. He will start his treatment soon, hopefully very soon, and it will make a huge difference. I'm not saying that your husband will wake up one morning and there will be a night-and-day difference. But starting treatment is the first step in the process of getting things right in his body.
When your husband starts treatment with Velcade, it may be worth watching his heart function for a while. In rare cases -- we're talking a few percent of patients -- Velcade can have heart-related side effects. It's so rare that I almost hesitate to bring it up. But your husband is so weak right now that I sort of feel it's worth mentioning.
It won't be easy, for you or your husband, in the next couple of weeks. Treatment won't be as harsh as the older style chemotherapy drugs that are still used for some cancers, but there can be side effects, and the body just has to get adjusted to them.
Keep us posted on how things are going, and don't hesitate to ask questions if any come up along the way.
Good luck!
I know this is a difficult time for both you and your husband, and I'm sorry you have to go through it. He will start his treatment soon, hopefully very soon, and it will make a huge difference. I'm not saying that your husband will wake up one morning and there will be a night-and-day difference. But starting treatment is the first step in the process of getting things right in his body.
When your husband starts treatment with Velcade, it may be worth watching his heart function for a while. In rare cases -- we're talking a few percent of patients -- Velcade can have heart-related side effects. It's so rare that I almost hesitate to bring it up. But your husband is so weak right now that I sort of feel it's worth mentioning.
It won't be easy, for you or your husband, in the next couple of weeks. Treatment won't be as harsh as the older style chemotherapy drugs that are still used for some cancers, but there can be side effects, and the body just has to get adjusted to them.
Keep us posted on how things are going, and don't hesitate to ask questions if any come up along the way.
Good luck!
Re: Husband newly diagnosed
Halches,
Offering prayers and best wishes to your husband that as his treatment begins he gets relief from the pain he's experiencing and the multiple myeloma begins to get under control. Kudos to you for for being such a great caregiver and patient advocate.
Spirit
Offering prayers and best wishes to your husband that as his treatment begins he gets relief from the pain he's experiencing and the multiple myeloma begins to get under control. Kudos to you for for being such a great caregiver and patient advocate.
Spirit
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