My hair definitely thinned out when I was on CTD but didn't fall out completely until I had the SCT.

In a way, the thinning out prepared me for having no hair at all and what I thought would be the most dreadful side-effect turned out to be no problem at all to cope with.

It's the huge dose of chemo that will ping out every hair folicle. get…[Read more]

Hello Pat
After all those tests it must be a relief to know that you've now got the drugs that will put you on the road to remission! 🙂

Of course you'll be feeling nervous about taking them. I was with my first cycle of CTD.
There's no denying that you'll have a mixed bag of days ahead with aches and pains like you've probably never…[Read more]

I'm glad I've just read what some other folk are thinking at the moment because I'm pretty sure there are some "imposters" posting threads at the moment who don't seem to have any definite connections with MM at all.

It doesn't take me long to work out who's genuine and who to quietly ignore.

😐

I've just read your good news Chris. I'm so pleased for you.
Make the most of the breathing space before you get those precious little stemcells back!!

😀

Mmmmmmmm….I had this problem when I was on CTD. I was told that it could be quite dangerous so moved quickly to treat the "problem".

Apart from drinking plenty of water I had porridge or weetabix for breakfast with dried prunes and apricots scattered on them, mixed nuts, dried figs, and plenty of fruit and veg. When at its worst I also took a…[Read more]

Hello Les and welcome.

All I'm going to add is….keep those dreams of travel well and truly alive because once the drugs and the dialysis have done their jobs, you'll need that passport and will be out and about again before you know it. 😀

Keep with us!
Michele

I'm so sorry to hear this news Gill.

All I can say is that when my father went into hospital for the last time, for 2 weeks my family were there every day sadly watching him fade away as we faced the realization that nothing more could be done for him and we had to let him go.

In the end, as much as we loved him, we knew when he'd had enough…[Read more]

That is a beautiful poem. Thankyou for letting us all read it.
🙂

Hi Jacqui

In answer to your question, yes we did buy things with aspartame in them before we knew any different. Not any more though.

I'm being treated in Poole Hospital which is home to the Dorset Cancer Centre. Wonderful place. I'm so fortunate to live only 3 miles away from it too.

It's strange, but at no point since diagnosis have I…[Read more]

Yes, I spotted someone called "Lanshan". Obviously spam!!

Hi Jacqui

I became aware of how "toxic" aspartame was a few years ago and never buy a product that contains it.
Loads of drinks seem to list it as an ingredient as well as some yogurts.

It seems to accumulate in the body too.

I've never thought of it as a cause of my mm but definitely think it's not a good chemical to be adding to the…[Read more]

Hi Chris

Well let's hope this does the trick and your body responds by releasing millions of stem cells. 🙂

I was as bald as a marble from February to April! My hair started thinning out after I'd had the chemo. for stem cell harvesting in December and finally expired when I was in isolation a coulpe of days after the STC. I woke up one…[Read more]

Vasbyte………What an excellent word!!!

😀

Hi again Pat

I've now had a look at what AL is and can see why you want to stay on this forum. It sounds very similar and so is the treatment for it. Seems to affect the organs rather than bones though, particularly the heart, liver and pancreas.

Good job they did all those tests on you to pinpoint the AL and that they've probably caught it…[Read more]

I'm so pleased for you David. What a rollercoaster ride your emotions have been on!

Take Care of yourself.

Michele x

PS Sorry to be ignorant, but what is this thing called "vasbyte"?
😐

Morning Pat

I won't pretend to know what AL is at the moment but shall go off and have a read about it.

Thank goodness you know what it is now and that treatment can start.

Hope things continue to slot into place now and that you can share your experiences with us.

Take Care
Michele 🙂

Hello Joanne

I'm so glad you "plucked up the courage" to join us. I must admit, I was one of those lurkers for several months before I joined and now find myself chipping in regularly!

I was diagnosed in May 2011 and like your dad was on what we abbreviate to CDT for 6 cycles.
The drugs forced a change of lifestyle on me and my husband.…[Read more]

I had my SCT in February 2012 and was told by my specialist that she would be writing to my doctor in February 2013 regarding vaccinations.

As far as animals are concerned, I did let my husband see to our chickens for a few weeks following SCT but soon started handling them again with no problems.

😀

Kevin

I'm quite surprised by your comment about finding it hard to find anything about "how I can expect to feel when I get through the CTD and STC".

There are plenty of good-news posts on various threads!

Fortunately the general answer to your question seems to be "I feel it was all worthwhile as it's made me feel so good…[Read more]

Hi Tina

I hope you enjoyed the Great Dorset Steam Fair. We went to the Dorset County Show instead this year. A great day out where normality reigned!

I had my hickman line fitted 2 days before my actual SCT and not for priming.

I was given a choice of "being put out" or just having a local anaesthetic. I chose a local so that I could get…[Read more]