Relapsed High-Risk Myeloma - Update - June 1 2013

Sleeping better on a nightly Xanax 1 mg. However, my left leg neuropathy extends upward to my left groin from my left foot and I ended up taking a WHOLE pain pill which made me dizzy. I know better than taking a "whole Percocet pill" and should only take 1/2 to 1/4 of the pill. I still have mild neuropathy, rated about 2 on a 1-10 scale extending my left foot to my left groin. I'm still swollen like the Michelin-Tire-Girl, especially my guts. Still need twice daily Prilosec, and twice daily Zantac.

The eye discoloration deal in my right eye continues from the bottom of my right pupil and moves up and down. It looks similar to the shape of "Africa" and lost the tail it initially had. It was diagnosed as a "floater", but I do not think it is a floater. When I look through both eyes at the same time, I do NOT see it. However, I can see it ALWAYS when I look through my right eye.

Even though my most recent platelet count was just 31 on 28 May 2013 and I was advised by Clay Smith, MD (Oncologist at the University of Colorado Hospital) NOT TO RIDE MY 4-WHEELER until my platelet count was at least 60 (norms 140-440) - I RODE IT TODAY, 1 Jun 2013! I have to live my life OFF THE SOFA some of the time!

 Kemmer LOVES to ride the 4-wheeler with me!

 Judy and Kemmer, Jani and Zoe, and Jeff who has 2 cats at home, but no dog!

 Judy and Kemmer Malkiewicz with Mt. McCaleb in the background 1 Jun 2013.

 Kemmer's best smile!

Judy and Kemmer with Jani and Zoe on the 4-wheelers on the off ramp of the big truck scales in Mackay, Idaho off Stockman Drive. We got home and I was tired, but I don't think I started any bleeding anywhere on my body. We stayed on flat, paved, roads, so it wasn't much different  that driving Jonah (1990 Honda Passport) that I get the mail in each day.

My sister-in-law, Carol and Jani took on a sewing project to make an upholstered cover for the foam in the back of Jani's truck for dogs. Carol is an expert sewer and easily figured out my sewing machine that neither Jani nor I know how to run.

Vitreous Floater - April 11 2013

Around midnight on April 9th in to April 10th I noticed a rather large blood blob in my right eye. The interior of the moving blob had many many black dots that were all moving - pumping in and out - very strange. I had no vision through the brownish blob. I told the nurses at St. Luke's Hospital in Twin Falls about this weird new eye deal and they consulted Dr. Padavanija who thought it was important enough to refer me to an ophthalmologist  for a consult in light of my low blood values, anti-coagulant therapy, etc. 

Appointment with ophthalmologist, Michael Taylor, MD in Twin Falls, Idaho to be evaluated for this new eye deal in my right eye.

Filling out 1st visit paperwork is always fun~~~ Shirley Olsen went with me from Mackay in case they did something to my eye which made driving home difficult or impossible. I'm so lucky to have such a good friend who was willing to give up a total day, miss work, etc.

They dilated my eyes with yellow drops. I HATE having my eyes dilated, but this time it didn't seem to make me systemically ill feeling like it has in the past. 

Dr. Taylor is pretty sure I have, just a vitreous floater - a consequence of NORMAL AGING - the first time I've ever been happy to hear that I'm aging! He said my brain will get used to it and it won't bother me as much as time progresses - it could even disappear. I'm to return immediately if I notice a "curtain coming down over my vision" or developing flashing lights.

In addition, I was born with physiologic glaucoma  which is not a problem!   However, when my eyes are examined internally, it looks like I have a good case of bilateral glaucoma. When a person really does have glaucoma, the pressures in the eyes are elevated. My pressures have always been normal. Today, the pressures in my eyes were just a tad above normal, so, Dr. Taylor wanted to do additional tests to assure himself that I just had physiologic glaucoma and not developing glaucoma. The additional picture tests were normal, so I continue to have normal (if there is such a thing) physiologic glaucoma. Dr. Taylor wants me to come back in 4 weeks to have the pressures checked again for sure.