I am the caregiver to my 86 year-old mother who was diagnosed 10 months ago with multiple myeloma. She was admitted to the hospital last May with severe nausea and diarrhea. She has complete kidney failure. She went thru a couple of rounds of chemo, no help. She was in and out of the hospital until October 15, 2015, when they sent her home under Hospice care. We were told to notify the family that she had probably 7 - 10 days.
That was 5 months ago. Mom also has atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, and a pace maker. She goes to dialysis 3 times a week. In the last 2 weeks, Mom has gotten steadily weaker, losing approximately half a pound a day, and completely lost any interest in eating or drinking. She has constant diarrhea that we are having an almost impossible time stopping. She is taking Lomotil (diphenoxylate and atropine) and Bentyl (dicyclomine), which will stop it for one day, but not the next. She has nausea the whole time she is awake. She will sleep 20 hours a day if you let her. The only thing she will wake up to do is go to dialysis.
Our hospice either has no knowledge of multiple myeloma or just doesn't care. They come by a couple of times a week, send out medication, that's it.
My question is, since she is on hospice care and doesn't have a doctor for me to ask, is this the last stage of multiple myeloma? Will this continue for months, or are we down to weeks?
She is a fighter, so she refuses to stop dialysis. I have searched, but I can't find anything that will tell me what to expect since she is still taking dialysis. When she left the hospital in October, the oncologist said the bone biopsy showed the multiple myeloma had completely taken over her bone marrow and that she was no longer making blood. That can't be true, or she wouldn't have made it for the past 5 months.
I know we are on God's time table, and none of you have a crystal ball, but if anyone can tell me what to expect or how to help her from here, I would be so appreciated. Thank you.
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Re: Is this the last stage of multiple myeloma?
Halesangel,
My husband has multiple myeloma, but we are not far enough in his journey for me to base my answer on his experience. Instead, I am answering based upon my experiences with my mother (ovarian cancer) and father (lung cancer).
Each person is different, but the increased need to sleep, lack of appetite or thirst, nausea, and almost uncontrollable diarrhea are very familiar. Based only on my own experience with a very limited sample population, I would say you have weeks and not months. When my mother was in similar condition, we moved her to residential hospice care. She had begun constant vomiting and the doctors put her on a very strong medicine, which knocked her out completely. She passed away a few days later.
Some hospice providers do more than others, but you have every right to insist that they make every effort to keep your mother comfortable. Hospice should have a doctor who is responsible for your mother – you can insist on having her seen. Key is to base your request on her comfort level and not on her disease, since they are not responsible for fighting the disease.
Hope you can keep your Mom comfortable.
Peace be with you.
WV Farmgirl
My husband has multiple myeloma, but we are not far enough in his journey for me to base my answer on his experience. Instead, I am answering based upon my experiences with my mother (ovarian cancer) and father (lung cancer).
Each person is different, but the increased need to sleep, lack of appetite or thirst, nausea, and almost uncontrollable diarrhea are very familiar. Based only on my own experience with a very limited sample population, I would say you have weeks and not months. When my mother was in similar condition, we moved her to residential hospice care. She had begun constant vomiting and the doctors put her on a very strong medicine, which knocked her out completely. She passed away a few days later.
Some hospice providers do more than others, but you have every right to insist that they make every effort to keep your mother comfortable. Hospice should have a doctor who is responsible for your mother – you can insist on having her seen. Key is to base your request on her comfort level and not on her disease, since they are not responsible for fighting the disease.
Hope you can keep your Mom comfortable.
Peace be with you.
WV Farmgirl
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WV Farmgirl - Name: WV Farmgirl
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01/03/2014
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Is this the last stage of multiple myeloma?
I know this initial post is from a few months ago, but I would love to get an update.
My mother is 85 years old and has had multiple myeloma for the past 5 years. The symptoms you talk about – nausea and diarrhea – always seemed to be my mother's multiple myeloma creeping back. Her oncologist is a believer in treating with chemo even as a palliative treatment, since these symptoms are part of the active disease. I have a feeling that your mother's kidney failure and dialysis may have something to do with chemo not working.
I feel like there are some doctors who don't want to treat elderly patients very aggressively. I have been through this with both of my parents. I am a big believer in changing doctors or hospice companies if you feel they are not giving you what you need. Sometimes I feel like a little girl stomping my feet and holding my breath until things get taken care of.
My mother is 85 years old and has had multiple myeloma for the past 5 years. The symptoms you talk about – nausea and diarrhea – always seemed to be my mother's multiple myeloma creeping back. Her oncologist is a believer in treating with chemo even as a palliative treatment, since these symptoms are part of the active disease. I have a feeling that your mother's kidney failure and dialysis may have something to do with chemo not working.
I feel like there are some doctors who don't want to treat elderly patients very aggressively. I have been through this with both of my parents. I am a big believer in changing doctors or hospice companies if you feel they are not giving you what you need. Sometimes I feel like a little girl stomping my feet and holding my breath until things get taken care of.
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