"It's Always Something"

[AlaCowboy]

...to quote Roseanne Roseannadanna. Just found out I have Multiple Myeloma. I am meeting with a hematologist at the cancer center to work on a plan for treatment. Also going to a nephrologist due to some kidney issues related to it. I had five colds in 2022, plus my bout with pneumonia, and have felt tired and exhausted for the last year.
In December my primary care physician said she woke up one night thinking of me, and got on her computer to look at my symptoms and issues over the last year. She suspected MM and called me in for a full blood workup and based on that she sent to the hematologist. He in turn did a complete blood workup and took a series of x-rays (head to waist, front, back, both body sides). Once the nephrologist examines me they will work on a treatment plan.

[oujour76]

Jan 28, 2023 17:10:28 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

...to quote Roseanne Roseannadanna. Just found out I have Multiple Myeloma. I am meeting with a hematologist at the cancer center to work on a plan for treatment. Also going to a nephrologist due to some kidney issues related to it. I had five colds in 2022, plus my bout with pneumonia, and have felt tired and exhausted for the last year.
In December my primary care physician said she woke up one night thinking of me, and got on her computer to look at my symptoms and issues over the last year. She suspected MM and called me in for a full blood workup and based on that she sent to the hematologist. He in turn did a complete blood workup and took a series of x-rays (head to waist, front, back, both body sides). Once the nephrologist examines me they will work on a treatment plan.

Well, shit. Terrible news. Hate to f-ing hear about this.

[Panama pfRedd]

Jan 28, 2023 17:16:18 GMT -5 oujour76 said:

Jan 28, 2023 17:10:28 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

...to quote Roseanne Roseannadanna. Just found out I have Multiple Myeloma. I am meeting with a hematologist at the cancer center to work on a plan for treatment. Also going to a nephrologist due to some kidney issues related to it. I had five colds in 2022, plus my bout with pneumonia, and have felt tired and exhausted for the last year.
In December my primary care physician said she woke up one night thinking of me, and got on her computer to look at my symptoms and issues over the last year. She suspected MM and called me in for a full blood workup and based on that she sent to the hematologist. He in turn did a complete blood workup and took a series of x-rays (head to waist, front, back, both body sides). Once the nephrologist examines me they will work on a treatment plan.

Well, shit. Terrible news. Hate to f-ing hear about this.

Ditto. Will be praying for you, Cowboy.

[Walter]

Jan 28, 2023 17:10:28 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

...to quote Roseanne Roseannadanna. Just found out I have Multiple Myeloma. I am meeting with a hematologist at the cancer center to work on a plan for treatment. Also going to a nephrologist due to some kidney issues related to it. I had five colds in 2022, plus my bout with pneumonia, and have felt tired and exhausted for the last year.
In December my primary care physician said she woke up one night thinking of me, and got on her computer to look at my symptoms and issues over the last year. She suspected MM and called me in for a full blood workup and based on that she sent to the hematologist. He in turn did a complete blood workup and took a series of x-rays (head to waist, front, back, both body sides). Once the nephrologist examines me they will work on a treatment plan.

Well hell....that sucks.
Best wishes for a KO and remission.

[AlaCowboy]

Jan 28, 2023 20:08:47 GMT -5 Walter said:

Jan 28, 2023 17:10:28 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

...to quote Roseanne Roseannadanna. Just found out I have Multiple Myeloma. I am meeting with a hematologist at the cancer center to work on a plan for treatment. Also going to a nephrologist due to some kidney issues related to it. I had five colds in 2022, plus my bout with pneumonia, and have felt tired and exhausted for the last year.
In December my primary care physician said she woke up one night thinking of me, and got on her computer to look at my symptoms and issues over the last year. She suspected MM and called me in for a full blood workup and based on that she sent to the hematologist. He in turn did a complete blood workup and took a series of x-rays (head to waist, front, back, both body sides). Once the nephrologist examines me they will work on a treatment plan.

Well hell....that sucks.
Best wishes for a KO and remission.

Well, at 76 years I've had a full life. Took me until my 55th year to find true love but it was worth waiting for. I have much to live for so I plan to irritate you Godless Liberals for a while yet.

[Walter]

Jan 28, 2023 23:42:27 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

Jan 28, 2023 20:08:47 GMT -5 Walter said:

Well hell....that sucks.
Best wishes for a KO and remission.

Well, at 76 years I've had a full life. Took me until my 55th year to find true love but it was worth waiting for. I have much to live for so I plan to irritate you Godless Liberals for a while yet.

I look forward to many years of explaining...again...why you are wrong.

[AlaCowboy]

Jan 29, 2023 10:11:39 GMT -5 Walter said:

Jan 28, 2023 23:42:27 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

Well, at 76 years I've had a full life. Took me until my 55th year to find true love but it was worth waiting for. I have much to live for so I plan to irritate you Godless Liberals for a while yet.

I look forward to many years of explaining...again...why you are wrong.

I hope to live long enough for you to finally be right about something.

[beuycek]

Jan 28, 2023 17:10:28 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

...to quote Roseanne Roseannadanna. Just found out I have Multiple Myeloma. I am meeting with a hematologist at the cancer center to work on a plan for treatment. Also going to a nephrologist due to some kidney issues related to it. I had five colds in 2022, plus my bout with pneumonia, and have felt tired and exhausted for the last year.
In December my primary care physician said she woke up one night thinking of me, and got on her computer to look at my symptoms and issues over the last year. She suspected MM and called me in for a full blood workup and based on that she sent to the hematologist. He in turn did a complete blood workup and took a series of x-rays (head to waist, front, back, both body sides). Once the nephrologist examines me they will work on a treatment plan.

Sorry to hear that. Hoping for the best for you as you fight this.

[Walter]

BTW...Xrays instead of a CAT or PET scan?
As someone who has had them all more than once, it seems odd to me.
Perhaps a bone marrow thing?

[AlaCowboy]

Jan 30, 2023 10:08:56 GMT -5 Walter said:

BTW...Xrays instead of a CAT or PET scan?
As someone who has had them all more than once, it seems odd to me.
Perhaps a bone marrow thing?

I had the same thought. My hematologist explained it. The first stage of multiple myeloma is MGUS, monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance. The body (for some unknown reason) begins to produce abnormal white blood cell plasma. These cells do not produce the antibodies as normal white blood plasma does. The normal cells produce antibodies that attack diseases and die off as they kill the disease. The body then produces more white cell plasma to replenish. The abnormal cells don't attack, and they don't die off, so the body doesn't reproduce enough good white cells to build up what died off. The body then is more susceptible to infections. The abnormal cells also produce their own shield that makes the good cells think the bad ones are good ones, so the body thinks it doesn't need to produce more.
Eventually the abnormal cells become cancerous, reproduce, and crowd out the good cells. The cancerous cells leak proteins into the blood and the protein affects the kidneys, leading to eventual kidney failure.
So, the x-rays lets him see the inner workings of the bones better than scans.
I never thought I would have to understand things like this.
I'll know more in a couple of weeks when I see the nephrologist.

[DrSchadenfreude]

Yes, Cowboy, the X-rays are better than bone scans at identifying lytic bone lesions in multiple myeloma.  I studied the subject in detail in medical school, but I'm 40 years behind the times regarding current treatment protocols, including the use of modern stem cell transplants.

In MM the plasma cells over-produce components of serum IgG-- light chains-- which they used to call Bence-Jones proteins.

I'm truly sorry to hear about this, and I wish you all the best. 

Fortunately, you're a tenacious old Bull Dog, and a fighter.

[daleko]

Jan 28, 2023 17:10:28 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

...to quote Roseanne Roseannadanna. Just found out I have Multiple Myeloma. I am meeting with a hematologist at the cancer center to work on a plan for treatment. Also going to a nephrologist due to some kidney issues related to it. I had five colds in 2022, plus my bout with pneumonia, and have felt tired and exhausted for the last year.
In December my primary care physician said she woke up one night thinking of me, and got on her computer to look at my symptoms and issues over the last year. She suspected MM and called me in for a full blood workup and based on that she sent to the hematologist. He in turn did a complete blood workup and took a series of x-rays (head to waist, front, back, both body sides). Once the nephrologist examines me they will work on a treatment plan.

Fight on. My best Karma to you.

[canefan]

Jan 28, 2023 17:10:28 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

...to quote Roseanne Roseannadanna. Just found out I have Multiple Myeloma. I am meeting with a hematologist at the cancer center to work on a plan for treatment. Also going to a nephrologist due to some kidney issues related to it. I had five colds in 2022, plus my bout with pneumonia, and have felt tired and exhausted for the last year.
In December my primary care physician said she woke up one night thinking of me, and got on her computer to look at my symptoms and issues over the last year. She suspected MM and called me in for a full blood workup and based on that she sent to the hematologist. He in turn did a complete blood workup and took a series of x-rays (head to waist, front, back, both body sides). Once the nephrologist examines me they will work on a treatment plan.

Very sorry to hear this. Hopefully as they stage it you will be early on. Good luck and I will remember you in my prayers.

[AlaCowboy]

Hematologist and Nephrologist consulted and my next step is a kidney biopsy. Go to hospital on 3/9 for consultation and evaluation (they tell me what to expect and how to prepare) and biopsy will soon follow. Still early yet so no treatment plan yet. More to come.

[Buckeye Dale]

Feb 27, 2023 11:11:25 GMT -5 AlaCowboy said:

Hematologist and Nephrologist consulted and my next step is a kidney biopsy. Go to hospital on 3/9 for consultation and evaluation (they tell me what to expect and how to prepare) and biopsy will soon follow. Still early yet so no treatment plan yet. More to come.

WOW...I'd never even heard of this.  Good luck with the next steps here, and hoping & praying it's not the worst case scenario...