Multiple Myeloma

[Jestjoan]

Thanks for the update. I'm praying that everything will go very well for you.

 

[Ginny]

Will send energy your way ~ you're in our thoughts.

 

[Dori]

Please know that you have the hopes and best wishes of all your TUG friends!

Dori

 

[suzanne]

Hop,

It sounds like you have an excellent medical team helping you. I hope all goes well with your treatments. God Bless.

Suzanne

 

[SpikeMauler]

God Bless you and Good Luck.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Hop,

As you know, you're in good hands at MD Anderson. You're in my prayers for a complete recovery.

All the best,

Richard

 

[shagnut]

Hoppie, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Hugs, shaggy

 

[dmharris]

Attitude is so important in our health. It seems you have a great attitude. I will pray for total healing and peace of mind. Keep the faith!

 

[falmouth3]

Best of luck with everything!

Sue

 

[Hophop4]

Thanks again all.

An interesting thing is my Doc at MDA wants to use me for their clinical trial research because I was treated with Velcade for chemo for Multiple Myeloma. So I guess I will agree to it. If it can help others in the future, that's great. They are also doing research with the Bone Marrow Biopsies and when I had mine they asked me if I would participate which I agreed.

I will keep you all posted how it goes. There is wi-fi all over the hospital so hopefully they will let me have my laptop while I am staying there.

 

[riverdees05]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[Hophop4]

Falmouth,

Everytime I see a post of yours, I think of my hometown. I am from Tewksbury used to work in Burlington.

 

[Htoo0]

Best of luck. My FIL was there yesterday to discuss treatment for what is hoped to be a primary lung cancer. (only 2mm) This would be much better than if it were from the bladder cancer they removed 2 years ago. MD seems to be a wonderful place.

 

[MelBay]

I'll add you to my prayer list. There was a piece on NPR today about Multiple Myeloma! You can listen to a replay.


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99970093

My husband is undergoing chemo for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. The doctors are very optimistic but it's always in the back of your mind.

Keep us posted. I've heard such wonderful things about M.D. Anderson. I checked not long ago to see if they were on our insurance, "just in case". They are thank heaven.

 

[Hophop4]

Htoo0....

Good luck to your FIL, I hope they can help him there.


MelBay....

Thanks for the link.

So far I have been pleased with MDAnderson. They are so efficient. I was at my family doctor's office the other day and talking to the gal there about MDA and all of a sudden she said we just got a followup report from them on you. I had just given MDA this doctor's name just a couple days before. That was fast.

 

[Hophop4]

Another Update

A month has passed since I started this and all the Medicare and Insurance approvals have come back and now I am scheduled next week, Monday to Thursday, for a total of 18 appointments. eeek I am just tired of thinking of it. I will have a hospital stay, I think, Thursday night and get a one dose of chemo on Friday and stay Friday night, go home Saturday. The following Monday I go back and they start me on approx 4 days of injections to boost the stem cells (which I do myself) then go back daily for blood tests. When they think I am ready, they will pump the blood with a machine that separates the stem cells and the blood goes back in me and they store the stem cells. This is done daily several times until they have enough stem cells stored. Then they addmit me to the hospital for about 3 weeks. They will give me strong chemo treatments for couple days then put the stem cells back in and then monitor me for the rest of the time. When I get discharged from the hospital I have to stay within a block of hospital for one week with someone with me 24 hours in case of emergency.

Now for the bad news: Doc says chemo will be so strong, I will lose my hair even with only 2 days of chemo. Well, I guess it will grow back in. I can't go in any pools or beach water until next year. Might be able to take my Landmark July vacation but no water.

Will keep you posted.

 

[Kay H]

HOP,
this sounds so tireing but in the long run, perhaps the results will be worth it. I wish you the very very best. You'll be in my prayers.

Please let us know when it is all over so we can rejoyce with you.

 

[funtime]

Hop - 18 appointments - that is a record! Please keep us posted. You are doing your bit for educating others by your posts as it helps others who chime in with their knowledge. In short, even as you are zapped and lying in your bed you are helping others! Best of everything with your treatments. Funtime

 

[Hophop4]

Thanks,

The one good thing about all these trips to MDA is we live less than 30 miniutes from the Medical Center. Others that come in from out of town or state end up in a hotel/apt for couple months or more.

 

[dmharris]

Hop,

You are in my prayers.

A positive approach to your time hospitalized might be to catch up on things you might have always wanted to do, but didn't get the time to, e.g. read, write letters, journal your life's lessons, tie fish flies, knit, write out recipes, put photos in albums, whatever makes you happy. Think of the opportunity to catch up on something you enjoy.

 

[Htoo0]

Wishing you all the best. Thanks for the update.

 

[Hophop4]

Hop,

You are in my prayers.

A positive approach to your time hospitalized might be to catch up on things you might have always wanted to do, but didn't get the time to, e.g. read, write letters, journal your life's lessons, tie fish flies, knit, write out recipes, put photos in albums, whatever makes you happy. Think of the opportunity to catch up on something you enjoy.

I'll have my laptop, to keep you all updated.

 

[MelBay]

Journaling is a great idea. My husband (who has non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) started a blog about this test. It helps tremendously with keeping everyone informed, and cuts down on phone calls which can get overwhelming, especially if you are repeating the same story over & over.

He's enjoying honing his writing and has discovered he has a pretty good literary sense of humor. Our family & friends call & complain if he misses more than a couple of days in a row.

There are lots of free blogs you can use. If you can use TUG, you can blog!

Just a suggestion. You'll be in my prayers.

 

[KCI]

Our prayers are with you to keep you safe during this coming journey you are facing and hope for the very best outcome.

 

[Jaybee]

Hop, I've been following your saga, and I want you to know that my prayers are with you, too. As someone else said, attitude has much to do with healing, and yours sounds awesome. Be strong, and I know we'll all be waiting to hear how everything goes. Healing hugs... Jean