[jojeda]

Wierd Occurance

by jojeda on Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:07 am

My mother is 83 years old and has had Multiple Myeloma for almost two years She has been treated with Revlimid and Dexamethasone which has put her in remission. She started having some problems (very weak, not eating, vomiting once a week, looked very bad) and the doctor took her off her treatment in case it was causing the problems. She went in the hospital to be evaluated and they didn't find much other than the usual problems she has (HGB dropping, low potassium) for which they treated her with blood transfusions and other IV treatments for the low potassium. She has been doing a lot better since she got home about a month ago but still remains weak. She has been in a hospital bed at home for 3 months and tries to walk with a walker once or twice a day and sit in the wheelchair for an hour. Yesterday she was sitting in her wheelchair talking on the phone when all of a sudden her head dropped, her eyes closed, she was moaning and drooling. It lasted about 5 minutes and then she was totally fine. She didn't know anything ever happened. We called paramedics and everything checked out fine. Hospice checked her and things were fine. The doctor doesn't know what happened without an MRI of the brain for which she can't do because of not being ambulatory. Does anyone have experience with this? She has been contemplating on whether to go back on Chemo and the steroid and doesn't know what to do. The doctor doesn't think she should and didn't even want to do any lab work to keep checking on her. I feel like he has written her off because of her age. He is doing a CBC once a month and her cancer labs (Kappa Chain) twice a month only after being pushed by me to do it and because my mother wants it. Does anyone have any helpful advice on this? It breaks my heart that he doesn't want to do anything. He seems to think she will stay in remission for a long time without the meds and feels she will die of something else. I feel like I'm the only one fighting for her life.

[Christa's Mom]

Re: Wierd Occurance

by Christa's Mom on Fri Mar 29, 2013 3:55 pm

Hi Jojeda,

I'm so sorry about your mom. My mother is 82. She has lung and heart issues and I worry about her every day. I can't imagine not having her with me.

You mention at the end of your post that your mom is in remission. I'm assuming that the doc you have been talking to is her oncologist. Have you thought about taking her to her primary care doc, or a neurologist? It may be something totally unrelated to her myeloma that is causing the problem.

Good Luck,

Lyn

[Dr. Jason Valent]

Re: Wierd Occurance

by Dr. Jason Valent on Fri Mar 29, 2013 4:59 pm

If she is still in remission from the myeloma, other causes of her symptoms should be evaluated. This would probably best be done by a primary care doctor.