On May 19, 2012 (shortly after my 60th birthday), the doctors confirmed their earlier predictions from the day of my arrival in the emergency room... my diagnosis was Multiple Myeloma--Stage III. My reaction was swift and visceral: OMG, WHY THE F___K DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME?
I am a criminal defense attorney with over 30 years of experience. In July 2010, my wife, Andi, and I moved to Kingman, AZ from the Twin Cities in MN as I had accepted the position of Chief Public Defender for Mohave County AZ. All was going very well. I loved my job. Andi and I became involved in the community and made many friends. My health was the best it ever was. I was 6’3” and 250 pounds and felt in perfect shape. I was an active hiker, often hiking in the mountains in and around Kingman. In October 2011, I completed the most difficult hike of my life, the Rim to Rim in the Grand Canyon, in 12 hours.
It started in January 2012, my energy level was low... so low that I couldn’t workout. Then I had a bout with eczema followed by an infected elbow and a sore back. On March 30th, I was playing golf in Phoenix and while taking a practice swing, I heard a sound and felt like I was shot in the back. An MRI showed that I had compression fractures in 3 places T6,T8 and T9. I went from being able to walk to being almost totally incapacitated in the course of 4 weeks. My last day of work was April 17 because I was on pain killers which weren’t working. The pain was incredible! Finally, after various visits to local doctors and not finding an answer, my wife got me to the emergency room in Phoenix (3 hours from our home) in the nick of time. My lab work was all out of whack and I was in renal failure. Needless to say, I was admitted to the hospital. Since then, it seems like I’ve spent more time in the hospital than out.
As of now, I stand 5’11” and 223 pounds with 8-10 fractures in my spine. I think I am past the woe is me stage... for the most part. I have an understanding of what I am battling and I am fully engaged in the battle. I am blessed to have the best caregiver, my wife. We are fortunate to have strong family and friend support.
I strongly believe that I am on a new journey, a new path which has yet to reveal itself. In spite of multiple myeloma I know that I am truly blessed and that there are many contributions yet to be made.
Forums
6 posts
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jpecchia - Name: jpecchia
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 05/17/2012
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: OMG... WTF!
Dear jpecchia,
I am so sorry to hear of your recent misfortunes. We wish you all the best. As you move forward on your journey, realize that:
1) the treatment for this disease has gotten remarkably better over the last several years and continues to improve;
2) you have an excellent attitude, which will carry you a long ways;
and 3) it sounds like you have a terrific caregiver in your wife!.
Best of luck!
Pete V.
I am so sorry to hear of your recent misfortunes. We wish you all the best. As you move forward on your journey, realize that:
1) the treatment for this disease has gotten remarkably better over the last several years and continues to improve;
2) you have an excellent attitude, which will carry you a long ways;
and 3) it sounds like you have a terrific caregiver in your wife!.
Best of luck!
Pete V.
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Dr. Peter Voorhees - Name: Peter Voorhees, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: OMG... WTF!
Wow, quite the story how the golf stroke changed your life!
I think we all go through this WTF? stage, and then somehow we move into the survival stage, and then later the acceptance stage. Though I'm not sure I'm 100% in the acceptance stage, since I still worry that every little symptom is a sign that my multiple myeloma is relapsing and I've been in remission for a few years!
My story is different to yours, yet the same since my diagnosis was a total shocker, to me, my husband (we were only dating at the time) my family and friends. Every time we told someone I was diagnosed with Cancer, they automatically thought Breast cancer because of my age, so we would say no, Multiple Myeloma and then have the whole elevator speach about "a rare incurable blood cancer of the bone marrow..." I was 32 years old at the time, now I am turning 35 in a few months so it's had a few years to sink in. It helps that I'm now over two years post stem celll transplant, in remission, and doing well! I have on vertabrate fracture at T7 but I have done a few years of bone builder drugs and it is stable. I Hope you find relief for the back pain and you can get back on the gold course and being active! I just wrote a long post about excercise and my belief it was excercise that played a role in my healilng.
I think we all go through this WTF? stage, and then somehow we move into the survival stage, and then later the acceptance stage. Though I'm not sure I'm 100% in the acceptance stage, since I still worry that every little symptom is a sign that my multiple myeloma is relapsing and I've been in remission for a few years!
My story is different to yours, yet the same since my diagnosis was a total shocker, to me, my husband (we were only dating at the time) my family and friends. Every time we told someone I was diagnosed with Cancer, they automatically thought Breast cancer because of my age, so we would say no, Multiple Myeloma and then have the whole elevator speach about "a rare incurable blood cancer of the bone marrow..." I was 32 years old at the time, now I am turning 35 in a few months so it's had a few years to sink in. It helps that I'm now over two years post stem celll transplant, in remission, and doing well! I have on vertabrate fracture at T7 but I have done a few years of bone builder drugs and it is stable. I Hope you find relief for the back pain and you can get back on the gold course and being active! I just wrote a long post about excercise and my belief it was excercise that played a role in my healilng.
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lys2012 - Name: Alyssa
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2010, Toronto, Canada
- Age at diagnosis: 32
Re: OMG... WTF!
Hi Jepecchia and welcome to Arizona! Kingman is very nice and we like the hiking in that area too. I was introduced to this great forum due to MGUS and get checked every 6 months to learn if it has progressed to multiple myeloma. I have not visited the Scottsdale AZ Mayo, but understand they have a great multiple myeloma team. Cancer Treatment Center of America in Gilbert is supposed to be very good too. Currently I am being followed by an oncologist-hemo (AZ Oncology) in the Peoria area. We live in Phoenix. Take care, Diane
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dianem
Re: OMG... WTF! Follow up
It has been some time since I was diagnosed with Stage III multiple myeloma. My last CyBorD treatment was mid September. I had an auto SCT at the end of Nov at the Scottsdale Mayo. I am now 104 days post SCT. The most recent blood results show no monoclonal activity! My FLC ratio is just outside the normal range. My IgA is now in the normal range after being over 5800. I can now walk without a walker or cane! I'm getting used to a height of 5'10"; a loss of 5 inches. I walk every day for at least a 1/2 hour and try to go hiking once a week. I made it 2 hours last week.
My myeloma specialist agreed with my analysis that no maintenance other than Zometa is needed. I will have quarterly blood draws and meetings with my specialist.
My back remains a problem and will remain so. My Barrow neurologist determined that any action they could take would have far greater risk than any benefit. So I deal with the broken back and the pain related thereto by wearing a brace and taking morphine and Lyrica 24/7. Now my insurance company has decided that I should be on Neurontin instead. Absurd. I'm meeting with my primary dr tomorrow.
I've reached a certain level of acceptance with my "new normal". My wife and I realize that we've come back through the looking glass.... It is difficult to stay in the present and not worry about the next blood results. The biggest negative is that I can't work. It seems like this battle has been going on forever and it's only been 10 months since diagnosis. All in all I've been very fortunate.
My myeloma specialist agreed with my analysis that no maintenance other than Zometa is needed. I will have quarterly blood draws and meetings with my specialist.
My back remains a problem and will remain so. My Barrow neurologist determined that any action they could take would have far greater risk than any benefit. So I deal with the broken back and the pain related thereto by wearing a brace and taking morphine and Lyrica 24/7. Now my insurance company has decided that I should be on Neurontin instead. Absurd. I'm meeting with my primary dr tomorrow.
I've reached a certain level of acceptance with my "new normal". My wife and I realize that we've come back through the looking glass.... It is difficult to stay in the present and not worry about the next blood results. The biggest negative is that I can't work. It seems like this battle has been going on forever and it's only been 10 months since diagnosis. All in all I've been very fortunate.
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jpecchia - Name: jpecchia
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 05/17/2012
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: OMG... WTF!
Hi jpecchia,
Its great to hear that your blood tests are good. The new "normal" sometimes takes a little getting used to (getting used to a new height). I lost 2 inches (was 5'8'' - had 3 fractures) and my children think its great because they dont have to grow so quickly to be taller than me. I will be the shorty in the family . I hope your back pain alleviates, mine did the further I got the myeloma in order but it does still catch me every now & then. All the best.
Its great to hear that your blood tests are good. The new "normal" sometimes takes a little getting used to (getting used to a new height). I lost 2 inches (was 5'8'' - had 3 fractures) and my children think its great because they dont have to grow so quickly to be taller than me. I will be the shorty in the family . I hope your back pain alleviates, mine did the further I got the myeloma in order but it does still catch me every now & then. All the best.
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LibbyC - Name: LibbyC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 43
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