Understanding Mm

My father who just turned 80  has had MM for 11 years and was leading a very active lifestyle until just 6 weeks ago.  The only treatment that he has received is a treatment once a month to boost his immune system.  He ran his own business and stayed on the go from morning till dark.  Six weeks ago he started to feel a bit light headed and has continued to get worse.  The last two weeks he has been basically bed ridden only getting up when neccessarity calls.  He has been experiencing a temperature spite at night going up to as high as 104. but it is normal in the morning.  His breathing is shallow but yet his blood oxgen levels show normal. He has been to numerous doctors and his blood/urine tests are all showing normal as well as xrays showed no congestion in his lungs.  He feels cold all the time and has trouble sleeping.  He is getting so week that I feel he is fading away before our eyes.  He has an appointment with his cancer doctor next week and I am going with him, but I don't know where to start to ask this doctor questions.  I feel this is the cancer progressing but can't decide from the information I've read at just what stage he is in without knowing the results of all his blood tests and what we should expect if any in the way of treatments.  At his age and current condition what is the best we can expect and what questions should we be asking?  He has been prone to colds over the past years but thankfully antibotics has cured these in the past and currently he is on antibotics although the doctors can't find any sign of infection.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 If his Multiple Myeloma has flared up and caused this, then just treat the symptoms, (i.e. diet antibotics if needed fluids etc) It would be very hard on him to have chemo or radiation in any form. The last years of life need to be peaceful and restful in cluding the last hours.  I am not saying he is going to leave soon but remember just keep in comfortable.

Just ask the doctor if his MM has flared up.  YOu will know by his blood work. MM destroys red blood cells and white blood cells. High white counts can be also seen if there is an infection. What are his kidneys doing.  They shut down in late stage MM. What are the protein counts?

Don't even ask how long he will be here as they do not know. Just make your dad comfortable and do what he wants. I personally am against heroic methods for elederly people, it does not improve their quality of life, it makes it worse to give all kinds of drugs. Please be calm for your Dad and just guide him thru the doctors visit and make him comfortable.

I had Multiple Myeloma for a year and they just told me I had back pain or some other nonsense.  I am a retired RN and as soom as I saw my blood work I was alarmed and they still did not respond. I was end stage before they figured it out.  You Dad's lung probably have a partial collapse, due to this disease and the blood tests don't always show the true picture for some time.

Sorry it is so hard but not much you can do except find a doctor to treat his present symptoms without chemo or radiation and make him comfortable...All the best.. 

On 5/8/2007 Cherid007 wrote:

My father who just turned 80  has had MM for 11 years and was leading a very active lifestyle until just 6 weeks ago.  The only treatment that he has received is a treatment once a month to boost his immune system.  He ran his own business and stayed on the go from morning till dark.  Six weeks ago he started to feel a bit light headed and has continued to get worse.  The last two weeks he has been basically bed ridden only getting up when neccessarity calls.  He has been experiencing a temperature spite at night going up to as high as 104. but it is normal in the morning.  His breathing is shallow but yet his blood oxgen levels show normal. He has been to numerous doctors and his blood/urine tests are all showing normal as well as xrays showed no congestion in his lungs.  He feels cold all the time and has trouble sleeping.  He is getting so week that I feel he is fading away before our eyes.  He has an appointment with his cancer doctor next week and I am going with him, but I don't know where to start to ask this doctor questions.  I feel this is the cancer progressing but can't decide from the information I've read at just what stage he is in without knowing the results of all his blood tests and what we should expect if any in the way of treatments.  At his age and current condition what is the best we can expect and what questions should we be asking?  He has been prone to colds over the past years but thankfully antibotics has cured these in the past and currently he is on antibotics although the doctors can't find any sign of infection.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

On 5/8/2007 Cherid007 wrote:

My father who just turned 80  has had MM for 11 years and was leading a very active lifestyle until just 6 weeks ago.  The only treatment that he has received is a treatment once a month to boost his immune system.  He ran his own business and stayed on the go from morning till dark.  Six weeks ago he started to feel a bit light headed and has continued to get worse.  The last two weeks he has been basically bed ridden only getting up when neccessarity calls.  He has been experiencing a temperature spite at night going up to as high as 104. but it is normal in the morning.  His breathing is shallow but yet his blood oxgen levels show normal. He has been to numerous doctors and his blood/urine tests are all showing normal as well as xrays showed no congestion in his lungs.  He feels cold all the time and has trouble sleeping.  He is getting so week that I feel he is fading away before our eyes.  He has an appointment with his cancer doctor next week and I am going with him, but I don't know where to start to ask this doctor questions.  I feel this is the cancer progressing but can't decide from the information I've read at just what stage he is in without knowing the results of all his blood tests and what we should expect if any in the way of treatments.  At his age and current condition what is the best we can expect and what questions should we be asking?  He has been prone to colds over the past years but thankfully antibotics has cured these in the past and currently he is on antibotics although the doctors can't find any sign of infection.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheri I am 55 years old and was diagnosed with stage 3 MM last Sept 06. I too have been as active as I can. My Dr. told me that attitude was 80 % of the treatment. The fact that your Dad has had MM for 11 years gives me hope. Originally I was told that 1-4 years was about as good as I could expect. Although my dr. did tell me that most of the statistics were from people older than me and did not respond to treatment very well. Just recently I reported on this message board that I am at 35% remission. My family and I were very excited to hear this news. I say all of this to say that your Dad is now my newest hero! The Lord has taken care of him thus far and will continue to do so until He calls him home. I drive a truck. That's about all I can do any more as I just "run out gas" very easy. Fortunately I have an air seat in my truck and I am able to sit and drive for several hours at a time. I hope I can continue to do so for a long time to come. After reading your message I now can see where that may be possible. You are storing many jewels in your heavenly crown by taking care of your dad. I am confident that my three daughters along with my wife will do the same for me. May God continue to bless you and your Dad.

Please tell me what " end stage " is considered . I am new to all this but through research have learned that lesions in more than 1 location puts you in stage 3,would this be considered end stage? anyone,please educate me.