Living with MCL

Those were the exact words used by Edie’s oncologist to described her latest Free Light Chain test results.

Edie’s Kappa Free Light Chains is now within the normal range. Her Lambda Free Light Chains were below normal, but we’re not really sure if that is of any significance. I guess that will give me something to do for the next hour or so.

Of course we can’t forget the old adage “one test does not a trend make”, as evidenced by the fact, Edie’s creatinine went back up to 3.4, from the 2.1 reported last week.

Still, all things considered, it is encouraging, and it appears progress is finally being made.

In fact, I was so elated by the news, I wasn’t even upset yesterday, when I lost my second Mens Club Match Play match yesterday, on the second hole of a sudden death play off, after being tied at the end of regulation play.

While it’s not raining at this exact moment, it did rain quite a bit last night. Consequently the roads are pretty wet, and since there’s still a 50% chance of rain the rest of the morning, I won’t be riding my bike today.

So in keeping with my threat to post under such circumstances, plus the fact Edie did receive some good news yesterday, I thought I would inform everyone of that news.

Edie’s creatinine dropped to 2.1.

That’s still not within the normal range (0.6 to 1.1), but it is a far cry from where it was previously, when it got as high as 6.1, and she was admitted to the hospital.

Now we can’t know for certain that the drop is not a result of the dialysis treatments she is undergoing, her oncologist does seem to think the drop is more significant than one would expect just from dialysis. [The Velcade may just be doing its job, and at the very least Edie may be able to get off dialysis soon.]

So on top of the fact, the rain is bringing much needed relief from the drought we have been experiencing in LA (I literally can’t remember when it rained last, it has been that long), the rain is having a cleansing effect as well.

Ooops! It just started raining again.

The only problem now is, what to do with myself for the rest of the morning.

It seems even Morris (you remember Morris our cat) has been so distraught lately, he decided to leave Sylvia a little treat, in her bathroom, last night. [He's such a good boy!]

Sylvia has never experienced anything quite like that before, and I thought her reaction was a little unusual, if not comical.

Instead of picking the rat up, and throwing it in the trash, like I would have done (fortunately Morris did kill the rat), she picked up the rug the rat was lying on, and carried it outside to the drive way. She then proceeded to sweep it (yes, with a broom) down the entire driveway into the middle of the street. (Keep in mind this was very early in the morning, before the sun came out, and even before I went to work.)

It boggles the mind, why she didn’t just carry it all the way to the middle of the street?

Can you imagine what the sight of a little old woman sweeping a rat down the driveway, into the street, looked like?

My only hope is the neighbors weren’t watching. I’m trying not to think about what their reaction might have been!

As I sit here this afternoon trying to recover from my morning bike ride, typically the most difficult of the week, I thought I’d better take this opportunity to update everyone on what is going on!

I really thought I had a lot more to say, but the longer I pondered exactly what to write, I found there was less and less to write about.

So quickly I’ll just update everyone on how Edie is doing.

Fortunately Edie has been feeling much better as of late, albeit that’s compared to how she has felt previously. She still has some problems relating to the chemo, and the dialysis, but overall, she is in much better spirits, and that is encouraging.

Currently Edie is in the middle of her second course of treatment, with another potential 6 to go after this one is completed next week. That will end just in time for our planned trip to New Zealand this coming March.

We’re also hopeful the dialysis will only be temporary, as the Velcade and Doxil do their stuff, controlling the myeloma. Only time will tell of course, but his is her third treatment regimen, and you know what they say

the 3rd time’s the charm.

Oh, and today was Edie’s birthday, and she even went to lunch with a good friend today to celebrate.

This evening I’ll take her out for dinner to celebrate as well.