Thursday, September 29, 2011

Chemo Complications

Carla has had swelling in her ankles for over two weeks.  She was very careful on our flights to St. Kitts/Nevis to get up periodically and walk as well as exercise her feet.  Anyway, yesterday was her day to get her blood tests and the Velcade IV.  The nurse saw the swollen right ankle and reported it to her doctor.  We had to go back this morning for the ultrasound and it was positive for a blood clot.  She was immediately admitted to Cox Hospital for Heparin IV.  They plan to keep her at least two days to hopefully dissolve the clot. 

It is hard for her to be inside on such a nice day and she feels fine except for the swelling. 

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Second Quarterly Checkup

Carla had her second quarterly checkup at the Myeloma Institute in Little Rock June 6 - 9.  She had extensive blood tests, that painful bone marrow biopsy and a full-body MRI.  The good news is her multiple myeloma is in full remission and they don't want to see her again for six months! 

Her platelets, white blood cells and hemoglobin counts have been dropping steadily during the six months of maintenance.  The doctor has decreased the Revlimid starting with her July dosage.  The cycle is Revlimid daily for 21 days and then off 7 days.  She has to have new shipment for each cycle and she had just received a shipment so she can not start the lower dose until the next cycle.  With the price of these 21 pills being $7800 the insurance wants her to use up what she has before they send the lower dose pills.

A couple months ago, Carla was anxious to get plants potted in her flower pots.  She did too much bending and lifting.  She said her back "felt" different that night.  Her local oncologist had her back x-rayed the next day but without other x-rays to compare they could only determine that nothing was loose.  We took those x-rays with us to Little Rock and stayed over one more day in order for us to meet with the surgeon that had operated on Carla's back last November.  He could find nothing wrong and thought it was muscle pain.  He cautioned her to not bend her back.  She finds it difficult to wait for someone to help her when she wants to get something done.  She met with her pain doctor and the doctor did not change her dosage of pain meds. 

It looks like we will continue the Revlimid cycle and the weekly visit to the oncologist for blood tests and the IV of Velcade.  Hopefully once Carla gets the lower dosage of Revlimid her blood counts will increase along with her energy level. 

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Maintenance Update

Carla has been having blood tests and a Velcade IV every Wednesday at Cox Hospital in Springfield. She has been doing well. Her blood counts have dropped but the Arkansas myeloma doctors say that is normal. She did feel well enough that we were able to visit Carla's mother and sister in California for a week in February.

Last week we went to Little Rock for three days of testing and meeting with doctors. She has a PET scan, a bone marrow biopsy and a full-body MRI. The myeloma doctor said the scans showed no new bone lesions and her old lesions were disappearing or getting smaller. Her pain doctor has started her on pain medication specifically for neuro-pain. They plan to decrease her oxycontin dosage. Currently she is ramping up the dosage of the new pain medication. The pain doctor felt the pain level was normal for four months out from major spine surgery. The spine surgeon thought her back was now strong enough for Carla to do most things as long as she didn't attempt to stoop or bend her back.

Basically we were encouraged by the test results and conferences with her three doctors. Carla's next quarterly check up will be in June. Until then, she will continue her weekly chemo sessions in Springfield. The blood samples for the myeloma markers will only be shipped to Little Rock once a month rather than the current two times per month.

We appreciate all the prayer support for Carla. We were able to rent one of the Home Away from Home apartments for the three nights we were in Little Rock. This was much better than going to a motel!

Carla is feeling well enough that she is busy landscaping our yard and getting on with the painting and minor remodeling jobs on our house that were postponed when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.