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Multiple Myeloma

Hophop4 said:
I am ready for vacation :cheer: I went to see my Doctor today and he also ok'd my vacation.

My MDA doctor is now turning my treatments back to my original doctor for now and I will go back to MDA in 3 months for another checkup. I have to go on a final chemo maintenance treatment which will be Revlimid (pills) for about one year but I dont have to start that until we get back from our July 4th week vacation.
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What wonderful news that you are 100% in remission. I am sure that all the prayers, vibes and good thoughts for you have helped tremendously too. What a nice community this is.

Have a wonderful vacation with your family from the west coast.
Hophop4 said:
Well here is the news:

On Tuesday, I had Blood Tests, Bone Density Survey Scan and Bone Marrow Biopsy. Today, I went back to MDA for Doctor's Appointment to get all the results. Blood Tests were good. Bone Density looked good also which means I do not have to start back on Aredia treatments once a month to strengthen the bones but will have another scan in one year to see how it goes. Bone Marrow Biopsy came back normal and I am in 100% REMISSION. There is a possiblity that the myeloma can come back but let's hope not for a long long time or never. I go back in 3 months. I will be having follow up visits with my original doctor next week who will put me on maintenance treatment (pills).

I am ready for my Florida July Vacation coming up. :cheer:
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Well we are here in Panama City Beach looking out on the beach. Watched the Fireworks from our balcony last weekend. Water was a little rough for me so mostly sat in beach chair on edge of water. this morning it looks calm tho so might go down on beach for a while. I still can't get in the water completely.

We head home tomorrow morning and then back to the Doctor on Wednesday. Then I will find out if my insurance for my prescription plan has approved my prescription for Revlimid. They denied it the first time couple weeks ago. Anyways if they approve it I will still have to pay a co-payment which will be very expensive. This drug full price costs around $7000/month supply. Will see what happens.
 
I am smiling from ear to ear for your success. I'll continue to keep you in my prayers but I am so happy about your medical report. I'll bet this was your best vacation ever.:cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
 
Glad to hear things continue to go well. Hope things work out on the insurance. My mother was put on a medication which was close to $10K. She was half afraid they would hire a hit man as they might decide it would be cheaper than paying for the prescription! :eek:
 
Hip hip hooray for you! I'm still keeping you on the prayer list. :) And keep us posted.

Aren't insurance companies a PITA, by the way?
 
Well we just got home tonight and I got in the mail three different statements from Medicare on my MDA bills. I guess they are paying what they approved. Also got a statment from MDA which says I owe no amount. So can't complain about Medicare but the Medicare Prescription Part D ....STINKS.... Now the insurance denied the first approval but the pharmacy at doc's office said they might approve it if I take dexamethazone with the Revlimid. I don't need the dex it is a steroid pill used with chemo treatments. I don't know why ins company wants to make you take more meds than needed. It's cost is cheap but it raises your blood sugar, I have been on it twice before and I had to take insulin with it every time. Guess I will find out more on Wednesday when I go to doctor.
 
Another Update

Went to my Doctor today and my last blood tests came back normal again and I feel great. As for the drug insurance they will not approve it so going on Revlimid for maintenance is out for now. The reason for this is Revlimid is a specialty drug and it is approved and used for initial treatments for Multiple Myeloma. But they want me on it for low dosage maintenance treatment for a year and it is still in trial research for maintenance and no one really knows if it really works or not. So I just have to hope and pray I stay in 100% remission for a long time.

I have been talking with a friend that is going thru the transplant right now and it will be interesting to see when she gets to the point of maintenance if her insurance will pay for it. She was on Revlimid for initial treatments but she is not on medicare, she has employee coverage ins.

That's it for now.
 
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Just Another Update

I went yesterday to MDA for my 6 month checkup had Blood Tests and another Bone Marrow Biopsy. And a visit with the Doc today to get results. All came back normal again. I can stop taking the prescriptions that i was on except for one which I have to continue foreever but he changed it to a different brand so I can get it in generic and won't get in that medicare donut hole. As for the maintenance treatment which is not going to happen, he will monitor me every 3 months for now. I go back in December.

Now the great news I can get back in to pool and start doing my water aerobics once again. So far we have been on 3 vacations since June and have 2 more coming up, one end of September and one end of Novenber. Making up for lost time :cheer:
 
What wonderful news! So happy for you.:)
 
Thats wonderful news. I am looking forward to seeing you in November.

Suzanne
:cheer:
 
So happy to hear the good news, dear. And thanks for sharing your experience so others may benefit from the information.

Enjoy the swimming. I remember once I was in Mexico, had surgery, and couldn't swim. I felt so deprived...

Fern

Hophop4 said:
I went yesterday to MDA for my 6 month checkup had Blood Tests and another Bone Marrow Biopsy. And a visit with the Doc today to get results. All came back normal again. I can stop taking the prescriptions that i was on except for one which I have to continue foreever but he changed it to a different brand so I can get it in generic and won't get in that medicare donut hole. As for the maintenance treatment which is not going to happen, he will monitor me every 3 months for now. I go back in December.

Now the great news I can get back in to pool and start doing my water aerobics once again. So far we have been on 3 vacations since June and have 2 more coming up, one end of September and one end of Novenber. Making up for lost time :cheer:
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Fantastic news. So happy to hear it.
 
Congrats again. Now back to normal activities. Ain't life grand (sometimes):D
 
Hop, I've been praying for you for months, and have been wondering how you were doing. It's so good to hear this wonderful news.
Thanks for updating us. God bless you and continue to keep you strong. Woo-Hoo! Jean
 
Hop, this news is fantastic, and I'm so happy to hear how well things are going for you.
For some reason, it makes me think of one of my favorite songs from "Fiddler"..."Blessings on your head; Mazeltov- Mazeltov..." ;) Thanks so much for keeping us updated, and sharing your journey with us.
 
Time for another update

It's been a while since I updated, so here it is.

My last visit to MDAnderson was in December and all tests came back normal again. Doc there wants me on maintenance chemo so talked to my other Doc about a maintenance plan. Went to him yesterday and I am now on a chemo drug called Thalomid pills. Insurance Medicare Drug D approved this. They denied the other drug I tried to get on back in September. Here it is Januray and I am already in the Medicare Drug D donut hole. This drug is over $6000 and my co-pay was $4417. for 28 pills. It is suppose to drop to 5% next time. Don't we all love these medicare/insurance companies.
 
Hophop4 said:
....This drug is over $6000 and my co-pay was $4417. for 28 pills.
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Good Grief, don't drop one! That's waaay more than gold. At least you're here to buy them, and that's the good news! Congratulations and we'll keep looking for the continued positive reports.

Jim Ricks
 
Thanks for the update, Hop. Hopefully my prayers helped some. And they didn't cost $6000.
 
It was so nice to see a note from you again. I was hoping and praying that the news was still good, and Yay! It is!
You just keep on keepin' on. Still keeping you in my prayers.
Happy Winter! Jean
 
Thanks,
I have been on this new drug now for two days, taking them at night before bed and got a good night's sleep without tossin and turnin like I usually do because of my back. It also acts as a seditive. Let's hope I don't get other side effects.

Oh, looks like winter is over down here. It is in the mid 70's now.
 
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