Hi Vicki & Colin
When I went into hospital on mon am , I was in great pain & could hardly walk
So I said to my friend the surgeon , don't mess with me , sort it or else, I find a friendly pre op chat always helps !
The aneathatist asked if I wanted sedation for the procedure but I knew my wife Carole would not fancy driving across Manchester in…[Read more]

Hi Vicki
I have had an epidural around the L5 vertebrae today
This is a much repaired area of my spine , started when I was 20 , forth bridge job !
Since onset of MM I have started with severe nerve pains in both legs which badly affected my walking
Much improved & only four hours since the injection
But my Orthopeadic specialist gave out one…[Read more]

Hi Anne & Pete
I had by stem cells removed last mon & tues, all 7 mill of the little devils , totally painless , your left hand is connected up & your right inner elbow or vica versa , then the " washing machine" pumps it round & round , extracting cells via a centifuge?
You just have to sit still for best part of five hours, so don't drink a…[Read more]

Hi Tom
Cheers to you & your cells , hope they are in good enough nick to get you to her Maj 's telegram
Looking at your pic ,
I guess after three years your hair ain't going to grow anymore, although. I am resigned to being a bald as the proverbial
Then I will post a bald pic
All the best
Peter

Hi Tom
Never mind the water , I believe we have a pint on this when i get over the SCT, you are only just over the hill from me !
To my great surprise the stem cells flew out of my old body, on the first two days the harvested 6.5 mill of the little devils, so enough for three SCT's or flog some on E Bay
Amazing how we all seem to differ re…[Read more]

I am about to have cells harvested, first SCT 17 th Jan
I went through CDT with little or no problems
Specialist said as I am in " good condition" SCT will add at least 18 months to my statistical survival
Not sure if this applies to a second SCT, are you likewise in " good condition"
Well worth asking
All the best
Peter

Hi Karen
Finished & passed all my medical tests on Fri. Have you had all yours ?
Been at Christies nearly all day , they started off the chemo with a big dose of cyclo what's it , sorry cannot be bothered to check out the full name
Given a goody bag to take home , pills & needles to self inject for the next week to tempt out the 4 mill little…[Read more]

Hi Karen
I finished my sixth cycle of CDT on 7 th Nov
I had been on 4 thalidomide / day & 20 x 2 mg/day steroids on the dex days
After little more than two weeks my eyesight is pretty much back to normal ,shakes & unsteadyness gone , brain has come back,wife disagrees on that point ! Feet still a bit itchy , all in all ,considering all the…[Read more]

Hi Stewart
I finished my six cycles of CDT on nov 7 th, pp down from 42 to 3 , so a good result for me , also little or no side effects from all the poison I swallowed
Steroids my me hyper & very hungery, mind you I always eat too much,settled on a curry & carrot cake diet, no surprise that I put on 1.5 stone , fattening up for SCT
You & your…[Read more]

Hi Karen
Treatment , I have a monthly infusion of Zometa , started last week
Also had my first appointment at Christies today re the SCT which I hoped to start in Jan
Had long chat with the clinical director , we both threw questions at each other
I have had a very good result from the CDT with little or no problems
Then he asked outright if…[Read more]

Hi Kes
I have just finished last week my 6 cycles of CTD
Yes there are side effects which increase as time goes on, steroids made me hyper & very weak
After each four days,over time my eyesight went very hazy, feet cold , dithery & head was away somewhere else
My senior nurse at the clinic said it would take some weeks for all the drugs to…[Read more]

Hi Pat
Tomorrow is my last day of six CTD cycles, on to SCT in Jan
Side effects .As time has gone on over the last 18 weeks, the steroids have made my arms & legs very weak
My feet feel cold , so I wear stocks all the time
My eyesight has got very poor, hearing , I wear two hearing aids , is down & my hands have got very shaky
Sleeping is not…[Read more]

Hi Vicki & Colin
I follow all your excellent posts & will be very interested to see how Colin goes on with his SCT
I am one week off finishing my CTD , compared to Colin , I hate to say but I have had a very easy ride, my SCT inJan
As others have said , all fingers & toes crossed
Best wishes
Peter

Hi Gill & Dave
Welcome to this very exclusive club you really did not want to join, membership is free !
I have just one week of my 18 weeks of CTD chemo, not had to many problems
As I am a lot older than you the steroids get rid of arthritus & give me a big lift , others have different or worse side effects
My feet are cold & a bit pins &…[Read more]

Hi
I am on my last week of 18 on the CTD treatment
The only pain I had was the initial bone marrow sample taken from my hip
The drugs can be a bit mind altering, steroids effect people differently, even the daily injecting is painless
Unless your Dad was in pain from bone damage when he was diagnosed the chemo. is pain free !
Has your Dad…[Read more]

Hi Kerry
I am half way through my final 6 th cycle of CTD
I take dex , for four days at 40mg/ day twice per three week cycle
They make me very hyper, get rid of all my arthritic bits, so I do my jobs on these four days
But the day after I stop dex, I become very weak , arms & legs particularly don't want to work , lots of leg pains
As time…[Read more]

Hi David
Very interesting to read your post SCT regime
I think I will set up an American style sealed prison visitor screen with phone contact only !
Did you go out just the two of you for a walk or car trip
How long before you felt well enough to take a holiday
Now on my final 6th. cycle od CTD, but I have been very cautious where I have…[Read more]

Hi Nettie
I was diagnosed with MM at the end of May this year, just stating my final cycle od CTD
I was told to avoid swimming pools like the plague , like you i enjoy swimmimg , also all public transport, boats & planes . Ie all crowded places
We Go early to quite resturants, I chance the Trafford Centre as its very large, avoiding it at…[Read more]

Hi Pat
I also cannot find a DVLA single sheet
Macmillan did not offer me one , gave me local authority number to call
My Daughter works at the Ribble Valley Council offices , the do not have Henry Blue Badge forms , she gave me an 0845 number to call , probably same number as Macmillan
My next stop will be to see my Doc & call at local…[Read more]