CancerCompass message board discussion started by harleynightrider on 12/17/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,18928,0.htm Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ After being diagnosed in April this year with mm stage three and experiencing pain worst than kidney stones, I have been taking thal/dex since. I have gone from being in a wheelchair to a walker and now get around pretty much normal. I have voluntarily reduced the amount of morphine from 60 mg to 30 mg daily and will be trying 15 mg at the beginning of my next cycle. I currently take 150 mg of thalidomide daily and 40 mg of dex for four days a month. The side effects have been a low pulse rate( 56 bpm), fatigue, and depression but otherwise I have progressed to almost being "normal" again despite having two spinal disc compressions. I have put-off the stem cell and chemo treatment until after the holidays as the oncologist said the delay wouldn't matter. I have gone from a stage three to a stage two as a result of the treatment and am most grateful. The Vetrans Hospital dentist tells me I have to have all my upper front teeth pulled prior to chemo & stem cell transplantation as I have periodontal disease. Has anyone else had this problem or is there any alternatives to loosing my teeth? I suppose I am somewhat vain and should be grateful for my good fortune so far but dang it I hate to think of wearing dentures but will do so in order to extend my life. I feel quite fortunate after reading so many others on this site with terrible side effects that I have somehow managed to escape thus far. I hope God will bless all of you and a cure for this disease will soon be forthcoming. Good luck to all. harleynightrider Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT