Patients with myeloma and myeloma-related conditions are at increased risk of developing infections. This week’s poll asks: what types of infections have you had since your myeloma diagnosis?
A few clarifications:
First, this poll is for anyone who has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma or a related condition, such as smoldering myeloma or MGUS. If you are a caregiver or family member of a myeloma patient, feel free to answer on their behalf.
Second, please vote for any and all relevant types of infections. Feel free to count any type of infection that led to your myeloma-related diagnosis or that you have had since being diagnosed.
As always, feel free to post comments, thoughts, or feedback in the space below. They can be very useful to other readers.
Forums
9 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Re: Weekly Poll - Infections Since Myeloma Diagnosis
Hello,
In addition to pneumonia and UTI, my husband had the bad luck to have a wisdom tooth get infected. He was on antibiotics probably 5 or 6 times before he was far enough along in his Carfilzomib/Rev/Dex cycles to have it extracted. His bad luck continued after the tooth was extracted--although the infection was eliminated, his jaw fractured due to the extensive drilling to get the tooth out. So, he's had his jaw wired for the last 10 weeks while it heals. It was either wiring his jaw or else surgery to.insert a metal plate.
He stopped his Zometa a month before oral surgery and hasn't had it since, either. Thankfully he hasn't experienced any jawbone complications as a result of having had Zometa, which we were concerned about.
In addition to pneumonia and UTI, my husband had the bad luck to have a wisdom tooth get infected. He was on antibiotics probably 5 or 6 times before he was far enough along in his Carfilzomib/Rev/Dex cycles to have it extracted. His bad luck continued after the tooth was extracted--although the infection was eliminated, his jaw fractured due to the extensive drilling to get the tooth out. So, he's had his jaw wired for the last 10 weeks while it heals. It was either wiring his jaw or else surgery to.insert a metal plate.
He stopped his Zometa a month before oral surgery and hasn't had it since, either. Thankfully he hasn't experienced any jawbone complications as a result of having had Zometa, which we were concerned about.
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Chris M
Re: Weekly Poll - Infections Since Myeloma Diagnosis
I have just recovered from a nasty 2 week long upper respiratory infection.
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Pam
Re: Weekly Poll - Infections Since Myeloma Diagnosis
Four weeks ago I had a port put in my chest. All was going well until last week when the incision over the port began to turn red. A cultured was taken and I was told the name of the bacteria but I can't remember the name. I was told it was unusual to find that type of bacteria in the incision because it is usually found in sinus infections and such. I started on an intravenous antibiotic, but I had a reaction to it, so it was decided that I needed to go on oral antibiotics. I am on cipro right now and things are improving.
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msuchsland
Re: Weekly Poll - Infections Since Myeloma Diagnosis
Chris M wrote:
> Hello,
> In addition to pneumonia and UTI, my husband had the bad luck to have a
> wisdom tooth get infected. He was on antibiotics probably 5 or 6 times
> before he was far enough along in his carfilzomib/Rev/Dex cycles to have it
> extracted. His bad luck continued after the tooth was extracted--although
> the infection was eliminated, his jaw fractured due to the extensive
> drilling to get the tooth out. So, he's had his jaw wired for the last 10
> weeks while it heals. It was either wiring his jaw or else surgery
> to.insert a metal plate.
>
> He stopped his Zometa a month before oral surgery and hasn't had it since,
> either. Thankfully he hasn't experienced any jawbone complications as a
> result of having had Zometa, which we were concerned about.
I have been fortunate these past 15 months since my diagnosis. I have had a herpes zoster infection which attacked my left cornea but an antiviral medication keeps it under control since the infection cleared but I have to stay on the acyclovir (sp) to prevent a return.
I also have experienced a tooth problem and stopped zometa. I don't want to do any dental work and I'm putting it off as long as I can for fear of jaw necrosis.
Thank you for your post.
> Hello,
> In addition to pneumonia and UTI, my husband had the bad luck to have a
> wisdom tooth get infected. He was on antibiotics probably 5 or 6 times
> before he was far enough along in his carfilzomib/Rev/Dex cycles to have it
> extracted. His bad luck continued after the tooth was extracted--although
> the infection was eliminated, his jaw fractured due to the extensive
> drilling to get the tooth out. So, he's had his jaw wired for the last 10
> weeks while it heals. It was either wiring his jaw or else surgery
> to.insert a metal plate.
>
> He stopped his Zometa a month before oral surgery and hasn't had it since,
> either. Thankfully he hasn't experienced any jawbone complications as a
> result of having had Zometa, which we were concerned about.
I have been fortunate these past 15 months since my diagnosis. I have had a herpes zoster infection which attacked my left cornea but an antiviral medication keeps it under control since the infection cleared but I have to stay on the acyclovir (sp) to prevent a return.
I also have experienced a tooth problem and stopped zometa. I don't want to do any dental work and I'm putting it off as long as I can for fear of jaw necrosis.
Thank you for your post.
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Edward .G - Name: Ed Garbarino
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/2012
- Age at diagnosis: 69
Re: Weekly Poll - Infections Since Myeloma Diagnosis
Non-pneumonia upper respiratory infections.
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Jubyanne - Name: Julia Munson
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself, son's mother-in-law
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Spring 2008
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Weekly Poll - Infections Since Myeloma Diagnosis
This winter was rough. From Thanksgiving until mid-March, I contracted one upper respiratory virus after another. They finally added monthly IVIG to my regimen, but that was only somewhat helpful.
Re: Weekly Poll - Infections Since Myeloma Diagnosis
Hello Myeloma Beacon Administrators,
I would be very interested to find out if there is a correlation of specific myeloma types (IgG, IgA, etc) to these infections. I would like to know if any are more prevalent with disease subtype. Perhaps you might consider expanding this poll at a future date to include this info if you believe it might be of value. I am SMM, IgG kappa and voted for recurrent Sinusitis.
Thanks you and best regards,
Dana
I would be very interested to find out if there is a correlation of specific myeloma types (IgG, IgA, etc) to these infections. I would like to know if any are more prevalent with disease subtype. Perhaps you might consider expanding this poll at a future date to include this info if you believe it might be of value. I am SMM, IgG kappa and voted for recurrent Sinusitis.
Thanks you and best regards,
Dana
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DanaH - Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, SMM as of 1/2012
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/2012
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Weekly Poll - Infections Since Myeloma Diagnosis
Sepsis which progressed into septic shock. Had a four day stay in ICU. This was all due to my prepararation for stem cell harvest and my immune system was very, very low. I completed the harvest and my myeloma count barely registers now. Despite everything I have not needed a stem cell transplant as that the RVD chemotherapy was successful and Revlimid is currently keeping my Myeloma count under control and has since August of 2011.
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John Fabian
9 posts
• Page 1 of 1