[2ndChance]

Hello

by 2ndChance on Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:01 pm

Hi,

My name is Kimberly and I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma on July 4, 2009. This past year for me has changed my life and my families and has been a long journey that is still not completed. I have undergone 5 weeks of radiation to shrink a tumor that is on my pelvic/back area that was pressing on my sciatic nerve, which caused me to be wheel chair bound for a month. After the radiation shrunk the tumor I was able to walk with a walker. Since I was considered young for this disease the doctors were extremely aggressive in treatment, and started me on DTPACE. I had 6 rounds of DTPACE chemotherapy and then a high dose of chemotherapy called melflan and then my first bone marrow transplant on Dec. 18, 2009. After the bone marrow transplant I pretty much was in isolation at home until my numbers started to improve. I received another high dose chemotherapy and another bone marrow transplant on April 18, 2010. I just completed my 200 day follow up appointment and I'm in Complete Stringent Response. I have had 8 bone marrow biopsy's so I know how painful they can be. I'm unable to work due to extreme neuropathy in both feet and hands which is a side effect from the chemotherapy, so I'm considered permanently disabled. I had to give up my career of 16 years and I'm trying to learn how to be home, it is taking some time to get use to it. I currently have to use a cane to walk and I have undergone 6 rehabilitation therapy to help gain some balance and relieve some of the pain. Through all of this I kept my faith and stayed positive which is the key to healing. My transplant nurse told me that she has never seen anyone smile through everything even when I was so sick with a hemoglobin of 5, I never stopped smiling and never stopped being positive. Forgive my misspellings. Sorry for rattling on.

[habubrat]

Re: Hello

by habubrat on Wed Nov 03, 2010 6:35 pm

Hello Kimberly. Well done on your excellent response to treatment! I'm sorry to hear of the severity of your PN. It is indeed a common problem with all these drugs multiple myeloma patients are subjected to.

Good luck to you!

Lori