[Rlondono]

Multiple myeloma & amyloidosis - fatigue, loss of appetite

by Rlondono on Fri Aug 21, 2015 6:00 pm

My mom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in February. She is 84 years old. Then diagnosed with amyloidosis beginning of June.

She was on Revlimid and dex on and off, as she kept getting admitted to the hospital for shortness of breath due to heart failure. Finally got her home and back on oral meds and started Velcade this week, once a week subcutaneous.

She is very fatigued, and I have a hard time getting her to eat. I realize she is much older than most, but before diagnosis she was like the Energizer bunny.

Any thoughts or info would be very helpful to me. Thank you.

[Ginaseah]

Re: Multiple myeloma & amyloidosis - fatigue, loss of appeti

by Ginaseah on Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:07 am

My dad is 90. He just started taking dex and Revlimid in July with a diagnosis of stage II multiple myeloma. He was first diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma in 2003.

He is also having a huge loss of appetite. The nutritionist at the cancer center suggested that he drink milk at every meal, and have small snacks between meals, like 2 crackers with peanut butter. She also suggested he drink Boost in between meals, but not as a substitute for meals.

My dad has never been the Energizer bunny type, but he was a person who loved food, so it is very difficult to see him not eat and losing so much weight. It is difficult for him to push his walker, so we use a transport chair instead. His doctor said that my dad is going to be weak and fragile for at least a few months.

I am trying to be supportive and get used to my dad's new, but hopefully temporary, normal.