Thank you, Jeannie - and everyone else! Your prayers and support mean more to me than I can possibly express.
I suppose it's about time I gave you guys an update.
The problems with my heart and arteries are vastly improved. I've had several stents implanted and a couple of balloon angioplasty procedures, and my heart function has gone from 18% to 40%. I can walk a decent distance again, and I can navigate an airport without asking for wheel chair assistance. This is important to me, because nothing distresses me more than losing my independence and the idea of being a burden.
Multiple Myeloma is progressive and incurable, and it doesn't go into a true "remission" - but it can be slowed down, and it has been. My disease is still in Stage I and has been slowed to a point where I don't need to receive intensive chemotherapy treatments. I go in for frequent blood work, and they schedule the treatments according to those tests. Right now, I'm receiving only a maintenance dose of vincristine, roughly every 3 months. Fortunately, I am able to handle vincristine pretty well. The side effects include nausea and peripheral neuropathy. Zofran (ondansetron) does a good job of alleviating the nausea, and I've had no really debilitating side effects. My hair has thinned somewhat, but hasn't fallen out, and the pain I have is more related to disease-induced kidney damage than it is to any of the drugs I've received. Chemo also wrecks your immune system, so I take antibiotics constantly. I tire out very easily, and take several naps every day. I will probably not be going on any more extended trips, flying around the country for CW concerts, but that's not a huge sacrifice. (Since I'm still unemployed, I can't afford those trips anyway.
) Other than that, my quality of life has not been diminished much. As an added bonus, I've lost about 40 pounds. I don't recommend chemo as a weight loss regimen, but it works. Both Máiréad and Lisa told me this week that I look good - in fact, Lisa said, "I've never seen you look better." Hearing that from those ladies certainly raised my spirits!
Eventually, of course, the disease will progress to Stage II. The University of Florida Medical Center in Gainesville has an excellent, ongoing clinical trial program of a new treatment regimen for Stage II and III myeloma, and my oncologist already has me on the list for admission to their program. But it doesn't look like that's going to be necessary for some time yet.
I hate writing these updates. You all have your own cares and concerns. But everyone has been so thoughtful and kind, I feel like I owe it to you to bring you up to date once in a while. Thank you for everything.
