[MarieK]

Would appreciate talking with someone

by MarieK on Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:50 am

I posted yesterday London time. Noticed today 10 people viewed but no replies. I looked at the stories of a few people who have posted and understand how consuming the illness is especially when undergoing treatment. In many ways I am looking on because I don't have the illness myself. Nevertheless I hope that someone will talk to me. I am very isolated in every respect and have a partner who is not dealing well with his illness, in fact handling it badly. Perhaps there is someone with a partner/husband/wife with multiple myeloma who might like to make contact with me.

[Ben S.]

Re: Would appreciate talking with someone

by Ben S. on Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:08 am

Hi, MarieK:

Sorry to hear that your partner was diagnosed with the disease. I don't know how much you know about the different stages of multiple myeloma. Normally, if a patient is at the smoldering stage, that is, the patient does not have high calciums, kidney and anemia problems as a result of the disease and has no bone lesions, only monitoring is recommended. No treatment is necessary. What was the reson that he was prescribed bisphosphonates? In any case, usually the doctor would require routine checkups for a patient at the SMM stage. The frequency ranges from once every 3 or 6 months to annual checkups, depending on the doctor's view on the patient's risk of progression to the active stage. Hope this is helpful.

Ben

[MarieK]

Re: Would appreciate talking with someone

by MarieK on Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:46 am

Hello Ben. Thanks for your response. My partner has several lytic lesions, but as far as I can see is not suffering from anaemia, kidney problems or other symptoms. In UK bisphosonates widely prescribed are taken orally and are about 100 times less potent than the types used in USA. I think Canada, UK, Australia and Italy use the oral variety. Reason presumably is that he has lytic bone lesions. Bone pain which he suffered from in 2007 disappeared shortly after treatment started. He won't go for any appointments (they think he has left the country). If you look at the other post I have written further explanations there. I think a lot of his difficulties (and mine) stem from not knowing where he is on the spectrum now. He could have years of good health ahead of him but he spends it believing his life is cut short, makes his payments for his funeral and generally breathes out clouds of negativity and aggression. This is what I am trying to deal with in the relationship - he continues to be the CEO. I don't want to write anything else because it may upset others but I hope this is sufficient to inform you. I hope I have answered yr queries I will have to go and check your post. With many thanks.