It is multiple myeloma. But not, if I understand correctly, seriously advanced. Gonna take some more tests. Something called a "fat pad biopsy." A needleful of fat that I can readily spare! And an echocardiogram because the myeloma protein can affect the heart muscle. No present indication that it has, but better safe than sorry. That's scheduled for the 30th. Don't know when the fat pad biopsy will be.
Good news is that my potassium level is back down to acceptable, probably because of this terrible-tasting Kayexalate I've been taking. But that's been cut to twice a week rather than three times.
Treatment for the myeloma will be drugs and steroids. Drug of choice seems to be Thalidomide, but that requires taking a blood thinner along with. I'm a pretty easy "bleeder" already, so I hope something else is available. Treatment will probably last for about 6 months. Depends on effectiveness, of course.
I'm a lot less worried than I was when I first found out about this. It's not like "you've got six months!" It's treatable, and I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Ouch!
Stated as simply as possible...a bone marrow biopsy is a pain in the ass! (Well, the hip, actually.)
She said it wouldn't hurt much, and it didn't except for when she was drawing out the marrow. Thank God for Lidocane! (And a cute tech assistant holding my hand!)
I'll know the results in a week.
She agrees with the kidney doc that a MRI on the kidney is most likely a waste of money. Probably wouldn't be any more definitive than the CT scan. Normal procedure is to maybe do another CT scan in three months or so and, if warranted, another one six months after that. If whatever it is is growing they most likely will not do a kidney biopsy. It just comes out and I learn to live with one. Kidney doc will probaly have more when I see him next week, but Dr. Kao, in addition to being a doll (!), is a lot more forhcoming with information than he is.
But that's a long way down the road, and I have more importnt things to worry about.
She said it wouldn't hurt much, and it didn't except for when she was drawing out the marrow. Thank God for Lidocane! (And a cute tech assistant holding my hand!)
I'll know the results in a week.
She agrees with the kidney doc that a MRI on the kidney is most likely a waste of money. Probably wouldn't be any more definitive than the CT scan. Normal procedure is to maybe do another CT scan in three months or so and, if warranted, another one six months after that. If whatever it is is growing they most likely will not do a kidney biopsy. It just comes out and I learn to live with one. Kidney doc will probaly have more when I see him next week, but Dr. Kao, in addition to being a doll (!), is a lot more forhcoming with information than he is.
But that's a long way down the road, and I have more importnt things to worry about.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Update
It's about time I updated this, even if nobody is reading it anyway!
My x-rays were clean. No holes in the bones. More extensive blood tests did show myeloma (didn't show in the blood in previous tests), so I'm scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy on the 15th. Doc is talking about chemo with thalidomide. (She'll know more when the bone marrow results come back.) That has its drawbacks as far as side effects, but she says it's very effective and may not be for a lengthy period. It all depends on how "advanced" the myeloma is.
The CT scan on the kidneys was "inconclusive." There's a 2.8 cm "something" on one of 'em, but whether it's cyst or tumor is undetermined. The hospital radiologist suggested a MRI, but the kidney doc thinks they just want more billing $$$s (!) so he's not ordering that at this time. Next appointment with him is on the 22nd.
To be succinct...............more waiting!
My x-rays were clean. No holes in the bones. More extensive blood tests did show myeloma (didn't show in the blood in previous tests), so I'm scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy on the 15th. Doc is talking about chemo with thalidomide. (She'll know more when the bone marrow results come back.) That has its drawbacks as far as side effects, but she says it's very effective and may not be for a lengthy period. It all depends on how "advanced" the myeloma is.
The CT scan on the kidneys was "inconclusive." There's a 2.8 cm "something" on one of 'em, but whether it's cyst or tumor is undetermined. The hospital radiologist suggested a MRI, but the kidney doc thinks they just want more billing $$$s (!) so he's not ordering that at this time. Next appointment with him is on the 22nd.
To be succinct...............more waiting!
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