Relapsed High Risk Myeloma - Update August 18 2013

Woke this morning with such a ROTTEN sore throat that I needed to get a glob of old blood and mucous out - it just chokes me.  And it was a lot thicker than it looks in this photo. I had another episode while showering today,

I tested my blood sugar at 7:45 AM  (this the before breakfast check) and it was 128, so, I didn't require any insulin.

I was unable to eat my toast and barely able to down my 6.5 dex;. In fact, I had to give taking the pills a couple of tries.

Being a Type 1 Diabetic is  no fun - in fact, it might be a whole LOT LESS FUN than having multiple myeloma. I checked my blood again at 10 AM and needed 2 units of Novalog. Since I did not sleep last night, I napped several times today. 

Jani worked on cleaning the barbecue on my back porch even though the air quality is so poor outside due to the Ketchum Sun Valley forest fire which has consumed over 100,000 acres and is TERRIBLE on the air quality ~ just 50 miles north and west of Mackay, Idaho. 

I'm most likely a diabetic now because of the dex I take every other day. I had been taking 10 mg every other day and now they have lowered my dex to 6.5 mg every other day.

Slowly, my SORE THROAT has been improving today. I've had no more discharge from my throat since I showered. 
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Relapsed High Risk Multiple Myeloma - Updated August 16 2013

Dr. Padavanija stopped by early and  told me that I should come down to MSTI after Dr. Tom DiRocco discharged me this morning. I would be getting chemo (intravenous carfilzomizb) and then be on my way home to Mackay with Jani. She wants to lower my Dex dosage to 6.5 mg from 10 mg every other day. I told her about my TERRIBLE SORE TROAT and how RAW it was after it started to to downward by my esophagus.

Before I was discharged from St. Luke's Medical Unit, I had french toast for. Then Dietitian Elba cam by to do the Diabetes  Teaching - and a discussion about what to eat. They also gave me lot of paperwork discussions on carbohydrates, etc.  

 Jani "doggles" and N-95 Mask to protect her during mowing the lawn.

 Bart's windshield is covered with ash from the forest fires in Ketchum and Sun Valley.

Before we left for home in Bart, they gave me an appointment with a diabetes doctor in their St. Luke's Clinic - Dr. Martins at 4 PM for next Thursday afternoon. 

Relapsed High Risk Myeloma - Update July 28 2013

Slept well through a night of, rain, thunder and lightning. Woke to a brand new baby colt in the field behind my house. Blue, the mare, probably had Thunder about an hour earlier and was still with afterbirth. Baby Thunder looks just like mom Blue and is very tall.

I called the owner and Blue let her right up to check the colt and afterbirth progress.

I feel much better this morning. My legs are stronger and my mobility not so rigid.

My sore throat is much better too.

I drove Bart (2006 Honda Pilot) to get gas at Sammy's. Rarely do we have different gas prices between our locally owned Sammy's and the national chain Chevron gas stations... but we did today. I ALWAYS go with Sammy's no matter the price. Was going to stop at Ivies (groceries) but it was very crowded and my ANC is less than 1.00 at 0.66 - so, without a mask, I didn't stop. My sore throat is some better - well, a lot better today.

We went to visit Gretchen Lawrence - our dogs really were interested in her cats.

The B Family with my favorite "B's" came by for a short visit as they headed up the Mine Hill on their 4-wheelers.

Kobe, Helen, and Andrea Marinac brought their brand new puppy, Mocha, over today - she is so cute and will be so loved. A day with a new colt and new puppy!

More iphone apps via Jani and her imagination.

2nd ASCT Day +3 - May 21 2012

Woke this morning with a sore throat that extends down my throat where you cannot see it with a flashlight. It really hurts below this point the most. Very uncomfortable and makes even swallowing water difficult.


This is the best photo I could take this morning May 21 2012.

By 4 PM, the redness in my throat has increased and it is more and more painful to swallow.

They are giving me a pain pill before I eat and that helps with the swallowing. I have almost not been nauseated at all since I'm receiving intravenous Kytril twice a day a 9 AM and 9 PM with intravenous Nexum and Ativan by mouth when needed. I feel like I have the same kind of sores in my stomach that I see in my throat. They are running maintenance intravenous fluids  on me continually which is helping to keep my throat a tad moist and less painful. I've been able to eat a couple of soft sandwiches on soft white bread today.

I'm having issues with things going south FREQUENTLY and they now have an order to give me Imodium to slow things down. Boy, this is a fun process~

Adventure in the Emergency Room - January 17 2012

Yesterday, I received intravenous Zometa 4 mg. I was gone from home 8 hours with the 200 mile round trip drive and a couple of shopping trips after my Zometa appointment. When I got home, I ate dinner and fell asleep on the sofa. I woke up at 8 PM with pain in my right chest that radiated through to my back and up the left side of neck and back of my head. The pain was alarming to me since I have not had anything like this EVER and I do have that mobile blood clot in the right atrium of my heart. I was not short of breath and I did not know what I should do. So, I took 1/2 Percocet and went to bed.

I didn't sleep well and the pain persisted. So, once daylight came, I drove over to Ron's place and asked him if he would drive me to the emergency room in Idaho Falls (100 miles). Fortuitously, Ron was just warming his truck up (minus 5 degrees) and was heading to Idaho Falls for some shopping. So, we went in Bart (2006 Honda Pilot) and headed across the desert arriving at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center Emergency Room at 11 AM. 

They took me right in. I had a chest x-ray and an EKG right away. 

Started an IV after 2 pokes. 

They hooked me to a cardiac monitor and all of my vital signs were normal. 

I was seen by Dr. Rosenberg. I had to wait 2 hours for a CT with contrast of my lungs. This test is quick and the contrast really gives you a HOT FLUSHING SENSATION all over your body. Then, I had to wait for the results of the CT. I hadn't eaten all day and I asked for a snack. I thought they would bring me a couple of saltines, but was surprised when they brought a nice little lunch box with a turkey sandwich and fruit cup.

Finally, 4 3/4 hours after I arrived, Dr. Rosenberg came in and told me that they could not find any evidence of a blood clot in my lungs. He didn't know WHY my right chest and neck were hurting and suggested that maybe I had pain from scar tissue from my removed Bard Power Port. I tried to think about how I might have hurt myself yesterday and couldn't remember doing anything out of the ordinary. Now, I'm thinking it is some sort of WEIRD reaction to the Zometa - but, it seems strange that it would only hurt on one side. Dr. Rosenberg consulted my oncologist, Dr. Shull and they decided to send me home. 

I was relieved! But, I still have the pain in my right chest and neck! But, a lot less anxiety!

Started 10 days of Augmentin for a sore throat and sinus drainage.