I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. Your dad is probably terrified and his reaction is pretty normal, especially after coming home from hospital where he was (most likely) told that everything can hurt him. At this point, I believe his doctor is the only one who can help you, so I'd suggest to set the appointment, go there with your dad and get answers to all questions about your daily life. It should help.
When we were getting ready for my husband's first autologous stem cell transplant, we were also concerned about our dog. However, when we asked what we should do about her when hubby gets home, the doctor just gave us the strangest look and said, "Pet her."
Forums
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Maya - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 59
Re: Pets and multiple myeloma
Great advice, Maya!
Something else you can do is to make sure dog is groomed and bathed. That will reduce risk.
Also, dog viruses do not infect humans because viruses are species specific (almost all the time). Your dad need not worry about that source of infection.
Can you not seek help with your local cancer society? There must be good-hearted people who will “rescue” your dog for a few months while your dad recovers from transplant.
Joe
Something else you can do is to make sure dog is groomed and bathed. That will reduce risk.
Also, dog viruses do not infect humans because viruses are species specific (almost all the time). Your dad need not worry about that source of infection.
Can you not seek help with your local cancer society? There must be good-hearted people who will “rescue” your dog for a few months while your dad recovers from transplant.
Joe
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Wobbles - Name: Joe
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 67
Re: Pets and multiple myeloma
I am at Day 28 post transplant. I came home two weeks ago.
I have a 13-year-old lab and a two-year-old cat. I love them both and could not part with either. My cat is an indoor/outdoor variety. My transplant team cautioned me to wash my hands after I touch either of the pets, not to kiss them, and definitely to not go near the cat's litter box.
I think your father is just extremely anxious as I am; but again, I am not getting rid of my pets. I love them too much.
I have a 13-year-old lab and a two-year-old cat. I love them both and could not part with either. My cat is an indoor/outdoor variety. My transplant team cautioned me to wash my hands after I touch either of the pets, not to kiss them, and definitely to not go near the cat's litter box.
I think your father is just extremely anxious as I am; but again, I am not getting rid of my pets. I love them too much.
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Mark Hamblett
Re: Pets and multiple myeloma
I am sorry about your Dad, too. And it is too bad.
Now me, I got my first puppy in thirty years (I've always been a 'cat lady') almost exactly a year ago. She doesn't bite (never has, though she loves to "mouth' my fingers), and doesn't lick my face.
Dunno why. She licks and chews everything ELSE.
Her claws, though. They are LETHAL. Don't think I"ve gone a week without her having drawn blood with them somewhere on my arm. She's just a little bundle of springs and excitement; a big, calm Lab she ain't.
I just wash my wounds, keep everything around as clean as I can, but dang it, she DOES sleep with me. Under the covers, where she keeps my toes warm. I haven't had any problems with infections.
However, everybody is different. I love my Belle, and she's done me a great deal more good than any bug she might inadvertently give me. It's that 'unconditional love' thing, I think. She's spoiled, she has NO manners, but ...
Well, I'm sorry about your Dad.
Now me, I got my first puppy in thirty years (I've always been a 'cat lady') almost exactly a year ago. She doesn't bite (never has, though she loves to "mouth' my fingers), and doesn't lick my face.
Dunno why. She licks and chews everything ELSE.
Her claws, though. They are LETHAL. Don't think I"ve gone a week without her having drawn blood with them somewhere on my arm. She's just a little bundle of springs and excitement; a big, calm Lab she ain't.
I just wash my wounds, keep everything around as clean as I can, but dang it, she DOES sleep with me. Under the covers, where she keeps my toes warm. I haven't had any problems with infections.
However, everybody is different. I love my Belle, and she's done me a great deal more good than any bug she might inadvertently give me. It's that 'unconditional love' thing, I think. She's spoiled, she has NO manners, but ...
Well, I'm sorry about your Dad.
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Pets and multiple myeloma
I am dog lover. I own 3 dogs now. I had 4.
My health had been in decline in this little body I live in for several years. I lost my male Saluki less than 2 months after I found out I had stage 2 going into stage 3 multiple myeloma. I referred to him as Mommy's Man.
I felt my world was ending. Losing him at that moment and that he had been sick also and I had not known it because of all my testing and living at the doctors and hospital. He was in kidney failure. Congenital. As I sat at the radiologist office getting testing, my husband was at the vet's office. My husband called and told me he had to be put down right then for his suffering. I cried and cried in the waiting room as people comforted me.
My dogs are my love. They make me stronger. My dogs live in my home. They are large.
I had a stem cell transplant last May and just stayed in my room most of the time for 4 months. I would pet them with gloves on then. Now I just love them up as usual. They are hairy, and I vacuum and clean up a lot.
I am weak now and consider getting them new homes all of the time, but I just can't. I love them too much. I push myself everyday, and they are worth it just because the love they have. This week I had to get Neupogen shots everyday because of my new chemo, which has been hell on me. Dangerously low white blood cell counts. They are coming up, I hope, but I have isolated myself from them a little again. When I get better, it will be back to bed with me.
I have always been a caregiver to everyone and everything, a role I can't reverse. I care and love for them. They give me more love than anyone or anything else.
I have not got sick at all from them.
My health had been in decline in this little body I live in for several years. I lost my male Saluki less than 2 months after I found out I had stage 2 going into stage 3 multiple myeloma. I referred to him as Mommy's Man.
I felt my world was ending. Losing him at that moment and that he had been sick also and I had not known it because of all my testing and living at the doctors and hospital. He was in kidney failure. Congenital. As I sat at the radiologist office getting testing, my husband was at the vet's office. My husband called and told me he had to be put down right then for his suffering. I cried and cried in the waiting room as people comforted me.
My dogs are my love. They make me stronger. My dogs live in my home. They are large.
I had a stem cell transplant last May and just stayed in my room most of the time for 4 months. I would pet them with gloves on then. Now I just love them up as usual. They are hairy, and I vacuum and clean up a lot.
I am weak now and consider getting them new homes all of the time, but I just can't. I love them too much. I push myself everyday, and they are worth it just because the love they have. This week I had to get Neupogen shots everyday because of my new chemo, which has been hell on me. Dangerously low white blood cell counts. They are coming up, I hope, but I have isolated myself from them a little again. When I get better, it will be back to bed with me.
I have always been a caregiver to everyone and everything, a role I can't reverse. I care and love for them. They give me more love than anyone or anything else.
I have not got sick at all from them.
- Mommy's Man Caesar
- Mommie's Caesar 1.jpg (81.82 KiB) Viewed 400 times
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Cgirl58 - Name: Cgirl58
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Pets and multiple myeloma
Thanks for sharing that about your dogs, Cgirl58! I hope that the Neupogen shots help to restore your blood counts and that you can treat the dogs as you usually would.
I wanted to add that my 'grand puppy', a golden doodle almost five years old, has been a great help to me too! Dogs are intuitive and understand if you are feeling down. Plus walking a dog is good exercise! We look after him from time to time.
Good luck with everything!
I wanted to add that my 'grand puppy', a golden doodle almost five years old, has been a great help to me too! Dogs are intuitive and understand if you are feeling down. Plus walking a dog is good exercise! We look after him from time to time.
Good luck with everything!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
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