Relapsed High Risk Myeloma - Update July 4 2013

My legs are "creepy" and I have pain from my left toes to my left groin area - ended up taking 1/4 of Percocet during the night, which helped a lot. My gastrointestinal tract seems to be doing better now. My upper right back hurts - probably from post-shingles pain, even though I  am careful to take Faciclovir 3 times daily in 8 hour intervals.

Jane Koeckeritz and her granddaughters arrived late last night from Colorado (680 miles each way) on their way to Boise, Idaho for Jane's mother's 90th Birthday Party - I was already asleep in bed - but Jani got everyone settled along with Jane friend Corki (bridesmaid in Jane and Steve's wedding).

This morning, we were up early and making pancakes for breakfast. Suni (age 14) is an EXPERT and even made a Mickey Mouse pancake for her little sister, Nayana (age 7).

By 10 AM, they were on their way to Boise. Quick visit, but I enjoyed it. L to R: Judy Malkiewicz, Jane Koeckeritz, and Corki.

 Farewell photos from the front porch decorated for the 4th of July.

Then, Jani and I got ready and headed to Mackay's Kid's Park for the 2013 Annual Kid's Races (sack races, 3-legged races, egg toss, water balloon toss, wheelbarrow races). They provide free hot dogs and salads which support the Mackay School PTA. They ask for a donation for the drinks and desserts. We got a hot dog for Dad and Jani ran over to his house right on the corner of Kid's Park.

Judy Malkiewicz and Ken Krishnek July 4 2013.

 Judy Malkiewicz and Angie Hainline Jul 4 2013.

More photos to follow (check back).

Relapsed High Risk Myeloma - Update June 24 2013

During the night I had left hand cramp spasm...hard to get rid of it and finally wrapped my hand in the heating pad, which helped. Worried most of the night that I would NEVER be able to type on my computer again - but, it finally went away.

Woke and showered...felt pretty good and then I just FELT TERRIBLE for the rest of the day. Terrible gastritis, shaky, brain wasn't working well, some dizziness, and my resting pulse seemed stuck at 102 or so. Just laying on the sofa, doing nothing, had sustained pulse of 98 to 102 with shaky hands.

Today was a Dex 10 mg day and I took it after breakfast - didn't help me feel any better. 

Jani drove Sare to the Idaho Falls Airport for a mid-day flight back to DIA in Colorado where they have a mountain cabin - they (she and Randy) live in Hawaii. It was nice to share my corner of the world with Sare.

Then, Jani went shopping in Idaho Falls and didn't get home until around 3:30 PM. I was still feeling ROTTEN and went to bed. My resting pulse had fallen to around the mid-80's.

All I can figure out, is that I OVER DID it at the rodeo parade and rodeo Saturday and tour of the Mine Hill on Sunday and I PAID THE PRICE today. I had creepy legs all day.

About mid-day, my neighbors turned 16 of their horses out in the pasture behind me. I love watching them.

So, How Do I Feel - January 27 2012

My cold seems to be over and I took my last dose of the 10-day course of Augmentin this morning. Mornings are best for me. I have pretty good energy and manage to get all of my household chores completed and a walk with Kemmer in each morning. I am still bothered by an aching left leg which I'm more aware of each evening and night. I'm taking Tylenol 500 mg for that twice during the night. My acid stomach still bothers me, but a daily dose of Prilosec 40 mg and 150 mg Zantac seems to keep that in check. My skin is extremely dry and living here in ultra-dry Idaho doesn't help - using lots of lotion, Aspercreme ointment, and sunscreen (I use Coppertone Water Babies for children because it does not sting my eyes and right now the only part of me exposed to the sun is my face, neck, and occasionally my hands. The neuropathy in my fingertips continues and is LOTS worse when my hands get cold. By 7 PM each evening my energy is toast and I often fall asleep on the sofa before I go to bed.


Today was another beautiful one in the Big Lost River Valley and I managed to extend my walk to 1.80 miles with a 100 foot gain in elevation (20 degrees with a nice icy wind, but I was dressed appropriately and stayed warm).

Day 58 - Walking - November 10 2011

I went shopping today by myself for a few groceries and some t-shirts. I also went to the bank drive-through. I wore my mask. I'm so afraid of the blood clot in my heart that I walked slowly. I've been complaining of pain in my legs - especially my left leg behind my knee and thigh. At my appointment yesterday, they thought I might even have blood clots in my left leg. However, since Fragmin 12,500 IU is the treatment and I'm already on daily Fragmin injections, they didn't think any diagnostics were needed. Even if I don't have blood clots in my legs, my legs bother me especially at night - enough that I take 1/2 Percocet - sometimes twice during the night.

Day 47 - October 30 2011

Upped my walking distance a tad this morning to 2.06 miles. My pace is still a stroll.



After lunch, Jani and I went food shopping at the grocery store - much too crowded, but I wore my mask and did good handwashing when I got home.

My restless legs seems some better - just taking plain Tylenol once or twice a day now.

Day 44 - October 27 2011

Our electricity finally came on around 10:30 AM this morning - making the outage 32 hours in length - that's a long time~! Jani had just returned from taking the frozen food to friend's house who had power and buying dry ice for the refrigerator items when the power came back on...just her luck!

With the permission of nurse practitioner, Diana V., I went to the movies this afternoon with Sandy Baird. Counting Sandy and me, there were only 4 people in the theatre. I was instructed to wear my mask and not to eat or drink anything from the concession. I wore the mask, but I don't think I needed to since the other 2 ladies in the theatre never sneezed or coughed or nada nothing. We saw a women's basketball movie from 1972 (based on a true story) called Mighty Macs. It was entertaining. It was good to get out of the house for awhile.

I've really been bothered by restless, painful legs - especially in my left calf and knee. Walking helps. When I asked Diana V. about it, she said it didn't really go with my stem cell transplant - but, I'm not convinced.

Day 42 - October 25 2011

I walked 1.82 miles with Jani and the dogs. We are expecting a big snowstorm later today, so we went early. I've been bothered with restless legs each evening and the only thing that seems to help is a 1/2 of Percocet. I'm going to discuss this with the doctor tomorrow at my appointment.