Maybe for a week

 Diagnosis, Edie  No Responses »
Aug 222007
 

That’s how long the nephrologist said Edie may have to stay in the hospital. :o , after his consultation with Dr. Durie (Myeloma specialist).

Dr. Durie agreed the pheresis was a good idea. Plus he added that she should continue with the Velcade plus an increased dosage of Dex (40 mg day 1, followed by 20 mg every other day 3 more times). Edie won’t like that, but if it helps it will be worth it.

The on call oncologist thought the Velcade may have been exacerbating the problem with the kidneys, but according to Dr. Durie, Velcade is not cleared through the kidneys, so that isn’t an issue. Plus the Dex, being an anti inflammatory should also help.

So right now, she should be receiving her catheter for administering the pheresis as well as the Velcade.

I forgot to ask whether they will be continuing the Doxil. I’m not a real fan of that particular drug, so I’m not overly concerned if they don’t restart it, assuming of course the Velcade and Dex will do the trick.

And so far Edie is in decent spirits considering all she is going through. I know I’m not in such good spirits, but then at this moment, that isn’t important.

Stay tuned for more.

Oh, and BTW, she has been moved to a private room now (Kaiser Bellflower), and her new telephone# is (562)461-5210, or you can try her cell phone.

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 Posted by Marc at 8:14 pm

At least one more day, and………

 Edie  No Responses »
Aug 222007
 

Got a chance to talk to the nephrologist (who looks young enough to be our son) today, and he seems to think the rapid rise in Creatinine is due to her free light chains, which have been steadily increasing, and depositing stuff in the kidneys. An earlier ultrasound ruled out any blockage.

I’m not so sure though, being convinced it is the elimination of the Dexamethasome, which Edie stopped about 3 weeks ago, that caused the problem. She hates the Dex, as it causes all sorts of unpleasant side effects, and wanted to stop taking it.

Still there doesn’t seem to be much consensus as to how to proceed. Right now we’re waiting for the [on call] oncologist (hers went on vacation this week), to decide if we are to continue with the Velcade/Doxil treatment, hopefully with the Dex added back in, and when and if they’re going to put a shunt in her jugular, for the administering of chemo and/or plasmapheresis or dialysis.

I’m sure she would welcome visitors (I can only stay there so long at a time), or you can call her in her room at (562)461-5214. I’m also returning her cell phone to her shortly, so you can call her on that, provided you know the number.

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 Posted by Marc at 2:53 pm

It’s like deja vu all over again

 Edie  2 Responses »
Aug 212007
 

The only difference between today and last Monday, was this time Edie’s creatinine had risen to 6.1, and I wasn’t there with her, when they decided she need to be admitted to the hospital, for more fluids and to receive dialysis.

I just don’t know. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. :cry:

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 Posted by Marc at 7:23 pm

First infusion

 Edie, Treatments  2 Responses »
Aug 182007
 

Yesterday, Edie had her first infusion of Doxil, and second infusion of Velcade, but this time in the infusion center at the hospital, as an out-patient. (She had her first infusion of Velcade while in the hospital last Tuesday)

Because of the administration of Doxil, yesterday was a particularly long day, starting at around 10 AM with blood work, and ending around 4:30 PM, by the time she finally got home.

I certainly was relieved. Thank goodness she only has to endure this once every 3 weeks, as I don’t think I could handle it any more often.

The total therapy consists of receiving Velcade on days 1, 4, 8 & 11, with the Doxil administered on day 4, followed by the next 10 days off. Then the process starts all over again, and goes on for up to 8 cycles, which will take us up to just before the time we are planning to leave for New Zealand.

Hopefully by then, or sooner, some sort of remission will be achieved, and she can either decide to stop further treatment, or go on for a transplant.

In the mean time, it’s just wait and see.

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 Posted by Marc at 5:31 am

Home at last

 Edie, Treatments  1 Response »
Aug 152007
 

Well, all of Edie’s counts were stable this morning, which means they didn’t improve, but neither did they get any worse.

I guess that’s good, but…………

Anywaze, the doctor gave Edie the OK to go home, armed with a bag full of drugs including Procrit, Neupogen, and some other drugs mainly to counteract the effects of the chemo (Velcade and Doxil) which she will be receiving for the next couple of months.

It’s amazing, that you have to take so many extra drugs to counteract the effects of the chemo (which is intended to kill all the cancer cells, but in the process destroys many good cells as well), after which you’re expected to get better. Sounds a little counter intuitive to me, but then again, no one ever said medicine was an exact science.

Only time will tell.

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 Posted by Marc at 10:56 am

I take a terrible picture

 Cycling, Life  3 Responses »
Aug 142007
 

I was just checking the schedule for the Team in Training Tuscon Team, anticipating possibly riding with them this Saturday, and I discovered my picture is on the front page of the website, with the team coach.

At the very least, I look like a dork. Even worse, I have this strange grin on my face, and I think I look fat, but the worst part of all, I look old.

Ed, the coach, looks a lot better.

I am so embarrassed! :oops:

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 Posted by Marc at 7:17 pm
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