[SJARichmond]

Multiple myeloma diagnosed at Christmas, age 66

by SJARichmond on Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:56 pm

My husband and I were both born in Denver, Colorado, and raised our children there. In early spring 2018, something made me want to move to Indiana. Wrong way people said. Our adult daughter and her husband are here and plan to stay, so I got on a plane, bought a house, came home, sold a house, and moved 1,100 miles. My poor husband was shell shocked. I had never done anything like that before in my life.

While establishing new care with physicians here, I complained of back pain. Nothing new to me, since I have an injury that happened at age 15. But being conservative and getting to know me, my new internist ordered an x-ray. She didn't like the looks of it and sent me to an orthopedic doctor. He didn't like the x-ray either and ordered an MRI. That's what started it all; there were several osseous lesions on my spine, sacrum, hip, and femur.

Essentially, I was asymptomatic except for the backache. I am convinced that had we stayed in Colorado, my family doctor (whose medical records went nowhere) would have sent me to the same orthopedist I had seen for years and he would have ordered physical therapy as he had for years. And it might have been a long time and I would have gotten much sicker before multiple myeloma was even suspected or diagnosed.

I am lucky to have an oncologist for a son-in-law. He keeps me informed, updated, calmed. My daughter is my angel. When things seem bleak, she keeps me moving.

I see a stem cell transplant specialist next week. This all happened so fast, it still doesn't seem real some days.

[Pepperink]

Re: Multiple myeloma diagnosed at Christmas, age 66

by Pepperink on Sat Feb 16, 2019 9:45 pm

Hi Sally!

You sound like someone who tackles setbacks head-on, and that will go a long way as you fight your myeloma!

I know that everyone involved with the Beacon will be watching for your future postings and will be pulling for you.