Chris
I was diagnosed in February 2010, after presenting with very similar symptons. At the age of 48 this was a shock and the last two years have not been without some problems, but things are good at the moment. I live in bristol and have had fantastic tretment – the first thing to say is that you should not have a painful time having biopsies, I have had 2, both pain free (fell asleep during the last one!). My treatment started with CDT but I soon ran into problems with neuropathy, so switched to Velcade. I subsequently had an autograft stem cell transplant (September 2011) followed by an allograft (unrelated donor) sct in January 2011. This method of treatment (the double sct) is fairly unusual (I think)but was felt to be the best option as I was fairly young and fit and my myeloma is fairly aggressive. I had about 6 months off work but am now back more or less full time and feeling fine. They are still not sure whetherit has 'worked' but residual paraprotien levels seem to be falling and I am not on any active treatment.
I have always tried to keep positive and treated the myeloma as a minor inconvinience rather than a life changer!
