Hi,
This is my fist time posting here. Please let me share some important info. that does not seem to be widely discussed here. The number one treatment center for multiple myeloma is the Myloema Institute at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS) They have the best statistics on longest remission times and highest survival rates and people come from around the world for treatment there.
I have MM with Kappa Light Chain Disease and Kidney failure and I am on Dialasys. I have been in complete remission for 2 yrs. I was originally trated with VAD. After my fourth round I had a bad case of pnemonia and nearly died. After a month in a coma I came back and later was treated with two stem cell transplants at UAMS. Living with Kidney failure kind of sucks but I am greatfull to be here and I have good hopes for a kidney transplant.
Let me offer some basic tips for anyone new.
1. If you are a light or thin or even average person, make yourself gain 15 pounds before each major round of VAD, before your collection and befoe each transplant as you will most likely loose that much each time and you will be stronger if you are heavier.
2. Attitude and the most positive outlook makes a lot of difference in your outcome.
3. Pray. If you have not accepted Jesus, do so immidiately. Only God can cure you. Doctors are only instruments of God's hands.
4. IF BP is a problem then learn to manage your own BP through your own trial and error. Make the doc let you try various bp meds and experiment a little at a time with the dosages and take your BP every couple hrs until you get a good result. A doctor can not manage your BP only you can.
Sorry about the type O's, I still have quite a bit of hand tremors.
Best of luck to everyone.