Cycle 1 Week 2 Day 1 Carfilzomib and Dex - November 6 2012

Up in the dark this morning to walk Kemmer before I had to leave at 7:00 AM for my appointment at St. Luke's Hospital MSTI at 7:20 AM. Kemmer waited for me in Jonah. My blood draw went well on the first poke.

I waited and WAITED and WAITED for my appointment with Dr. Padavanija and finally asked the receptionist Pamela if they might have forgotten me - they DID! I wore a mask in the waiting area because there was someone coughing. 

So, finally I saw Dr. Padavanija about 40 minutes late. She shared my blood test results. My white count is down to 2.7 (norms 4.5-11), my hemoglobin down to 11.7 (norms 12-15) and my platelets are only 71 (norms 140-440). I'm taking Fragmin 15,000 unit injections to prevent blood clots since I'm on Revlimid 10 mg daily (today is Day 8 of 21). If my platelets drop below 50, then I'm supposed to adjust the Fragmin injection to 7,500 units and if they drop below 30, then HOLD the Fragmin. Dr. Padavanija gave me an order to get my blood checked at Lost Rivers Medical Center in Arco, Idaho on 9 Nov 2012 and they will fax her the results. She also gave me a note that I have multiple myeloma and require Fragmin injections so I can get the pre-filled syringes through airport security when I go to the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Arizona during Thanksgiving Week. RN Kenadi is going to help me get prescriptions for Fragmin and Revlimid from Curascript.

The best news on my blood results was the LDH. My LDH has steadily been RISING to 1,046 and today showed a decline to 639 (norms 313-618) after just 2 doses of Carfilzomib. I think this is a very good sign.

6 Nov 2012     LDH     639
30 Oct 2012    LDH     1,046
23 Oct 2012    LDH     993
2 Oct 2012      LDH     710
4 Sept 2012    LDH     661
19 Jun 2012   LDH      590
18 May 2012  2nd Autologous Stem Cell Transplant

Unfortunately, my creatinine (kidney function test) continues high at 1.13 (norms 0.52-1.04). This has been happening ever since I took 2 cycles of Zolinza (vorinostat) 4 Sept 2012 to 15 Oct 2012. I hated that chemo!

Back in the Infusion Room, RN Melisa got my IV started on the first poke in my right forearm. I received my Carfilzomib dose and intravenous dex 20 mg plus 1,000 ml of IV normal saline fluids. 

RN Melisa put heparin in my IV, wrapped it up and we'll try to use it again tomorrow for the 2nd part of the Carfilzomib dose.

I was able to leave at 11 AM. Walked Kemmer around a field and then went to Walmart.

Came back to the motel and had an hour and a half nadir (nap).

Then, walked Kemmer 0.96 miles around the Snake River Canyon area. The hotel is just a couple of blocks from the canyon. The leaves are falling here in Twin Falls and everything is very pretty, 71 degrees and no wind.