Chris’ Myeloma Blog

Things have been coming along fine and my strength is returning daily. I’m supposed to be returning to work on Sept 21st, but I’m not sure how effective I will be yet. I go tomorrow for a bone marrow biopsy, and next week I will see the doctor one last time before I go back to work to make sure I have the green light.

I do have a couple of weird things going on that are puzzling my medical team. I seem to be re-growing some of my tumors. We’re hoping that these things are just inflammation and not a relapse of my cancer, because that would suck . All should be fine though.

Oh yeah; I’m getting some hairs on my head! I’m starting to re-grow my facial hair too.

My apologies for the sporadic updates lately. I’ve been going through a time of physical and spiritual turbulence. Nothing huge, just enough to keep me distracted. Overall, my progress has been fantastic. There are still alot of things I can’t do, but I can drive, which is way cool!

Here is a basic otline of what I experienced since I went in for my transplant.

• July 15th 2009 I was admitted to MCV in the morning and I got a massive dose of melphalan to destroy my cancer.
• July 17th 2009 I got my new stem cells. The D.M.S.O. they store the cells in stinks and I smelled like that funk for days. I also slept for almost three days.
• The week of July 20th was a week that I didn’t feel too well. Everything tasted like crap and I spent my time just getting by.
• July 29th 2009 I was released from the hospital. 2 weeks after admission.. Awesome!

Since then, I’ve been going to the hospital on a regular schedule. My progress has been excellent and I’m slowly beginning to feel ‘normal’.

Sorry I disappeared over the weekend, but the mule kicked on Friday and I haven’t even begun to feel like myself until this morning. It’s 11:30 and I’m still awake!

I’m sure hoping that I’ve turned the corner, because I sure don’t want to feel like I did this weekend anymore.

Enough whining . I am feeling better today, and thanks to all of you who have been supporting and praying for me all through this.

God Bless you all.

As I wind down the first stage of this campaign, I thought it might be a good time to reflect for a few moments before I take my last treatment as a outpatient.

These last couple of weeks have felt “odd” to me. I really can’t put my finger on what it is either. As everything swirls around in my life right now, I try to put all my feelings in the proper box, but sometimes it gets difficult to keep the “public Chris” persona going. Don’t get me wrong, I get so many people commenting on how positive I’ve been in my blog, and that attitude and outlook is the real deal. Sometimes however, the devil tries to sneak up on me and take all that away. The thing I’ve battled lately is loneliness. Weird huh? The last thing I truly am is lonely, but the feelings come anyway. I have family, friends, and co-workers who always pray for, check up on, and encourage me, but the feelings still come.

This morning I spent my prayer time dealing with these issues and it was very helpful. First of all, there is the obvious. I am never alone. God is always with me. I know that is such a cliched phrase, but a few of you reading this will genuinely understand what I am talking about. I did come to an understanding. Sometimes, there are places we need to walk where no one else can go. Some doors we must pass through alone so I will go where God directs me. I will stumble, I will fall, but God will pick me up, brush off the dirt and place me back on my path.

That feels better! Now I can finish getting ready for my treatment.

Treatment went pretty well yesterday. I’ve been really tired this week, but at least I’m sleeping again. I have until Tuesday before my next treatment. Plenty of time to rest up. If my body holds up this week, I want to take a nice ride next weekend.

Did I ever get a surprise! After am uneventful treatment yesterday, I had a late kick-in of the steriods. I slept for an hour of so last night and then the old eyes popped open. I’ve been up ever since. Maybe I can get a little shut eye on the couch this morning.

Treatment one of cycle two went well today. I think having a week without these drugs has helped. I am one week closer to the big transplant. I still don’t have a firm date for the procedure.

On the down side; all of my genetic tests for a donor have ben negative. We might end up looking to the national registry to try for a match. The first transplant is a go regardless, as I will be donating stem cells to myself I sure hope they’re a match! Anyone have any extra stem cells they would like to lend?

Here is a picture I took of my dexamethasone bag. Yes, I was bored.

It’s been a few days since my last treatment and I’m beginning the week long process of giving my body a break from the poisons that have been pumped into me over the last couple of weeks. I am finally starting to feel the cumulative effects of the treatment, the worst of which at this point is that everything is starting to taste and smell terrible.

I’m also feeling other effects of the treatment. The neuropathy and pain in my leg and foot are really starting to become a problem. I’m taking one drug that seems to help some, but it’s becoming less effective as time passes. My big concern is that many myeloma patients using the drugs I’m taking continue having the nuropathy permanently. It goes away for some, so I’m hopeful.

Actually, I am thankful. You see, it really doesn’t matter which experiences one has in this life. The big thing is to remember that your experiences belong to you, and they all have a special meaning. Your experiences, good or bad, are a gift. So what if I don’t understand yet why my life is unfolding the way it is. The fact is, I wouldn’t trade my life for any other, because this is the life God gave to me.

Thank you God for THIS day.

Thank you God for THIS life.

I had my fourth and final treatment of cycle one today. My body seems to be holding up fairly well. The neuropathy of the past few days is subsiding temporarily. I’ll spend this next week doing lab work and getting some of this poison out of my body so I can start cycle two. The bad muscle cramps have let up some too. I’ll be very happy if they don’t come back.

I haven’t prayed much in the past couple of days. I guess right now would be a good time for some of that.