[suzierose]

Re: Weight loss or gain during multiple myeloma treatment?

by suzierose on Sun Oct 02, 2011 11:35 am

Hi Moya,

In terms of age I have you beat by about half a decade

Yeah, I am sure getting off that Dex helped. I am wondering if taking whey supplements can cut down on weight gain, and if weight lifting will build up muscle to increase metabolism and ward off some of the dex induced weight gain. I posted in the forum on that topic but haven't heard anything. Although I did read somewhere that high lactate dehydrogenase is also a marker of poor prognosis and that enzyme increases when you build muscle, so I am uncertain if building muscle is a plus or not.

Cytogenetics, is when they test your chromosomes. The best specificity comes from the FISH test to detect specific abnormalities.

God may not want me soon..so I will just pray.

[moya]

Re: Weight loss or gain during multiple myeloma treatment?

by moya on Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:15 am

Oh im sorry to hear that.. dont think anything makes a difference with our weight when we are taking steroids....We have got to be positive and take everyday as it comes..I wish i could give you a hug to lift your mood...so instead i will send you one.

[Chip]

Re: Weight loss or gain during multiple myeloma treatment?

by Chip on Tue Oct 04, 2011 2:34 pm

Dex made my appetite soar. I was on four high Dex cycles before I started RVD.

Before I started Dex, I was advised to stick to a low sodium diet while taking Dex. It was very difficult because food manufactures add salt to everything. I added no salt to my food and I looked at the salt content on every package. It was a very difficult diet but I managed to stick to it and eventually learned how to eat eggs and mashed potatoes without salt.

The bottom line is I did not gain any weight while I was on Dex.

I wish I could say I continued the low sodium diet after I stopped taking Dex, but I didn't.

[moya]

Re: Weight loss or gain during multiple myeloma treatment?

by moya on Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:30 am

hello chip.. are you still taking any treatment and how is your health now.. well done you for not gaining weight .........moya

[Chip]

Re: Weight loss or gain during multiple myeloma treatment?

by Chip on Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:00 pm

Hi moya:

I am past day 50 post stem cell transplant. I am doing quite well and feeling very good. My appetite is good and I am sleeping like a baby. I would say the only thing unusual is that I am requiring about 12 hours of sleep. But "unusual" isn't bad since I like to sleep.

The SCT physicians did not order any maintenance chemo. I believe that decision will be made after the results of my day 100 day bone marrow biopsy and return SCT clinic visit.

At about day six following my transplant I was admitted into the hospital because my mouth and throat were in pretty bad shape. I could not swallow, eat or drink. I was placed on TPN which fed me on an IV. So I lost some weight in the hospital that I am gaining back.

Right now I weigh 167 and I am 5'11". Prior to SCT I weighed about 179.
I think I'd like to stay between 170 and 175 mainly to keep the weight off my spine which has been damaged by myeloma. It is the damage to my spine which places the greatest limitation on my quality of life

[moya]

Re: Weight loss or gain during multiple myeloma treatment?

by moya on Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:28 pm

Hi chip,...Your response to the treatment sounds positive..its really encouraging for me to hear your feedback..I have to have more tests because I have not responded well to the trial I was on,..I have got pins and needles in my hands and feet, and by all accounts its common with this treatment...So another two weeks without any drugs...Happy days...

[hofcat]

Re: Weight loss or gain during multiple myeloma treatment?

by hofcat on Mon Nov 21, 2011 7:30 am

While on Velcade and dextramethasone my appetite increased significantly but I did not gain any weight. I was taken off Velcade and dextramethasone last July because it was causing problems with my adrenal gland function and I was having severe orthostatic blood pressure. I had a stem cell transplant on Oct 29th. Between July and now I have lost nearly 50lbs. Most of the weight was lost in the first two months after July. I have had loss of appetite and trouble eating for various reasons since going off Velcade and dextramethasone. I have had gastrointestinal issue going from severe constipation to severe diarrhea. The chemotherapy treatment for stem cell harvesting and transplant also killed the appetite and made eating difficult. For months now it always feels like my stomach is full and eating too much causes me to vomits. I was only a few pounds overweight and fairly athletic before the weight loss. I have loss of fat but also muscle mass. I am much weaker now and short walks are a work out where I used to swim about 10,000 yards a week. The next few months I hope to recover muscle mass and my strength again.

[Myeloma Hater]

Re: Weight loss or gain during multiple myeloma treatment?

by Myeloma Hater on Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:46 am

I had 5 rounds of Doxil and Velcade, followed by mephalan, and an autologous stem cell transplant in 2008. I lost over 100 pounds. I was taking thalidomide for about 2 years and now take Revlimid. I have gained back so much weight and there seems to be nothing I can do about it. I take Coreg, Neurontin, Evista, Protonix, Ativan, as well. But I am tired of being told I'm not trying, your look disgusting, go on the Biggest Loser, etc. I am lucky to be alive, but I am truly at an impass.

[Nancy Shamanna]

Re: Weight loss or gain during multiple myeloma treatment?

by Nancy Shamanna on Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:08 am

Hi Myeloma H., Have you tried having a consultation with a dietician who works with cancer patients? Maybe your cancer centre could refer you to one. There are guidelines for us, and it would be in a setting that would take into account the fact that you are coping with taking several strong medications. When I went to talks by a qualified dietician who has an interest in multiple myeloma, she spoke of the importance of having six vegetable or fruit portions daily, fish twice a week (for the omega 3), and possibly switching from regular eggs to those enriched by omega-3 (i think that they serve flax to the chickens!). This sort of encouragement got my mind away from weight loss per se, and more on to what I could be eating for better health.

[Evangelos]

Re: Weight loss or gain during multiple myeloma treatment?

by Evangelos on Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:22 pm

Hi everyone

it's the third month since my mother's self stem transplant and the biopsy showed that some myeloma cells are still present but stable and dont cause any problems. She's been consulted by her doctor to start a maintance therapy with Revlimid and cortizone. What i want to ask is this: because the cortizone makes the body to hold fluids is it safe to use any diuretcs medicines or herbs to help remove the excess fluids?