Dear all,
My mother-in-law is aged 76, and she is in her terminal stage of multiple myeloma.
She is diabetic and also has kidney issues. In the month of November, she had a massive heart attack, and hence her chemo was stopped for almost two months. She has already taken 10 chemos, and on the day she got her 10th chemo, she had her massive attack. She was given bortezomib (Velcade) and dexamethasone weekly, and also denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva) injections once a month until she had an attack.
Post that, they decided to put her on Revlimid 5 mg, and she used to take it every alternate day. After 15 days, when we did her CBC and her renal profile, there was low hemoglobin and also the creatinine was high. Seeing this, her doctor stopped the drugs, as they felt that she was not tolerating it.
Presently, she is not on any treatment, and doctors said that she might survive for about 4-6 months. However, I am worried, as I do not want her to suffer more.
With these multiple issues, I am really wondering if she can even prolong for four months. Even if she survives, would her life be miserable?
She would receive only palliative care, and as such in south India, we do not have much hospice facility too. I presently have one full time caretaker, who is taking care of her. She is not really qualified, but she is keeping a tab on her sugar and other cleanliness aspect.
Adding to the agony, my mother in law is allergic to paracetamol (Tylenol, acetaminophen), and hence whenever she is running temperature, it becomes difficult to handle.
How can I take care of my mother in law better?
Regards,
Vij
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Re: Terminal stage multiple myeloma
I do not have any words of advice on how you can take care of your mother in law better, but I did want to say she is lucky to have you and to know she is being loved. I wish I could be of more help and I'm sorry your family is going through this.
Re: Terminal stage multiple myeloma
Vijay:
I am sorry to read status of your mother-in-law. Based on chemo you describe, it appears she is with you in the USA currently. Where do you plan to bring her in South India?
I am sorry to read status of your mother-in-law. Based on chemo you describe, it appears she is with you in the USA currently. Where do you plan to bring her in South India?
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MMFeb16,15 - Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: February 16, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 66
Re: Terminal stage multiple myeloma
Hi MMfeb15,
I live in India, and my mother in law lives with me in Bangalore. Presently she is not on any treatment, as doctors felt that she cannot tolerate the chemo.
She will be on palliative care, as and when required.
Regards,
Vijayashree
I live in India, and my mother in law lives with me in Bangalore. Presently she is not on any treatment, as doctors felt that she cannot tolerate the chemo.
She will be on palliative care, as and when required.
Regards,
Vijayashree
Re: Terminal stage multiple myeloma
Hi Viju,
So, in my opinion you could do your mother in law the greatest service by ensuring that she will stay absolutely painfree or with as little pain as possible until her body decides to give up. At least that's the way I would want to be treated in her situation.
I wish you and your mother in law the best.
Kate
So, in my opinion you could do your mother in law the greatest service by ensuring that she will stay absolutely painfree or with as little pain as possible until her body decides to give up. At least that's the way I would want to be treated in her situation.
I wish you and your mother in law the best.
Kate
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Kate - Name: Kate
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Dec. 2012
Re: Terminal stage multiple myeloma
Hi Viju,
I am also sorry to hear that your mother is so very ill and has to receive palliative care too. Is there a nursing care service in Bangalore whereby a qualified nurse could come in regularly to help your mother, and do the doctors do 'house calls' there? That might help to keep her comfortable.
I was going to suggest that she might be able to take bone building meds such as pamidronate or Zometa, which could ease bone pain, but I am not a doctor and don't know how they would interact with her other health problems. Also, they are given by IV, which could mean a trip to the cancer centre.
Best wishes to you both.
I am also sorry to hear that your mother is so very ill and has to receive palliative care too. Is there a nursing care service in Bangalore whereby a qualified nurse could come in regularly to help your mother, and do the doctors do 'house calls' there? That might help to keep her comfortable.
I was going to suggest that she might be able to take bone building meds such as pamidronate or Zometa, which could ease bone pain, but I am not a doctor and don't know how they would interact with her other health problems. Also, they are given by IV, which could mean a trip to the cancer centre.
Best wishes to you both.
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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
Re: Terminal stage multiple myeloma
So very sorry to hear of your mother's pain – hers and yours. As a fellow diabetic, I'm sympathetic to the complexity that injects into things.
Is your mother able to tolerate ibuprofen? That might help with the fever.
Is your mother able to tolerate ibuprofen? That might help with the fever.
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moonscape - Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 11/2015
Re: Terminal stage multiple myeloma
Hello Moonscape,
She also has kidney issues, and hence we avoid ibubrufen. She is taking Ultracet (tramadol + acetaminophen / paracetamol / Tylenol) for her pains. She is presently having lower back pains, which just shoots up at times.
Also, I needed one more advice, friends.
Her RBC, haemocrit and haemoglobin is reducing day by day. Her ESR value is 120, which is again high. What does this indicate? Does this mean the disease is spreading all through?
Her HB 2 weeks back was 11.5, and now it is 9.6. Her RBC was 4 million/micro liter, but now it has reduced to 3.32 million/micro liter. Her ESR was 63 then and now it has increased to 120.
Her doctor used to see her every fortnight till the last visit, but today he asked us to come and see him only after a month. This is kind of bothering me. I always thought that during the last stage, doctor's care is more important. But to my surprise, this is going the other way. Does that mean she is nearing her end, and so doctor does not have much role to play?
Thanks much in advance for your understanding and help.
Regards,
Vijayashree
She also has kidney issues, and hence we avoid ibubrufen. She is taking Ultracet (tramadol + acetaminophen / paracetamol / Tylenol) for her pains. She is presently having lower back pains, which just shoots up at times.
Also, I needed one more advice, friends.
Her RBC, haemocrit and haemoglobin is reducing day by day. Her ESR value is 120, which is again high. What does this indicate? Does this mean the disease is spreading all through?
Her HB 2 weeks back was 11.5, and now it is 9.6. Her RBC was 4 million/micro liter, but now it has reduced to 3.32 million/micro liter. Her ESR was 63 then and now it has increased to 120.
Her doctor used to see her every fortnight till the last visit, but today he asked us to come and see him only after a month. This is kind of bothering me. I always thought that during the last stage, doctor's care is more important. But to my surprise, this is going the other way. Does that mean she is nearing her end, and so doctor does not have much role to play?
Thanks much in advance for your understanding and help.
Regards,
Vijayashree
8 posts
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