[foxy555Participant]

Hello Clare

Sorry to hear about your mom. In a nutshell, my husband Pete aged 57 was diagnosed in April 2012 and returned to work 2 weeks ago! He had 7 months of CDT and then had the stem cell transplant in February 2013.

Yes it was a long road and the 23 days in hospital was not very nice, but eh, he got there!!!! Each patient has their own journey! Pete had a terrible throat, had to go on morphine, could'nt even swallow his own saliva and lost 24lbs in weight. Others suffer from sickness and diahoria plus various other ailments.

Your mom will be fine, she will be in and out of hospital before you know it! We live in Somerset and so know nothing about St Barts, but can only add that the treatment Pete received was second to none.

Why don't you start a new thread and you will get additional advice.

Take care

Ann and Pete
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[foxy555Participant]

Hi Tom

Oh you take care, hope you feel better soon!

Ann and Pete
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[foxy555Participant]

Hello Ann

Sorry to hear your news, but welcome. It is almost a year to the day when I put my first post on this site, when my husband, Pete, also aged 57 was diagnosed with Myeloma. I was made to feel so welcome and really don't know what we would have done without it.

Pete was very active, but it all started with pains in his back and ribs.

In a nutshell, Pete had 7 months on CDT, had his SCT in February 2013, spent 23 days in hospital and then had 4 weeks at home. He went back to work last Monday. He is good at the moment (touching lots of wood!!!) just waiting for his taste buds to come back and his hair to grow back!!!

All in all, it was a blooming long journey, but I hope this will give you some encouragement.

Take care

Ann and Pete

[foxy555Participant]

Hi Jean

Really pleased to hear Frank's results are good and no sign of Myeloma in his blood!! Amazing, well done to Frank. Pete's blood results were also good 2 weeks ago, but he finds out on Friday about the Myeloma levels.

All in all, he has done remarkably well since leaving hospital 4 weeks ago after the SCT! His recovery was very slow at first, but he is now planning to go back to work on Monday. He will obviously take it very easy, perhaps a few hours a day at first! Still underweight, no taste buds and not a hair in sight!!! He is still dreading the 'curly locks' Vicki!!!!

Hi Vicki, sorry to hear Colin is tired at the moment. Like you, I will never get over confident about anything to do with Myeloma because the illness/recovery/remission is so different for everyone!!! But, eh fingers and toes crossed!!!!

Take care all

Ann and Pete

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[foxy555Participant]

Oh Eve and Slim

So sorry to hear this news, Myeloma really is a horrid illness – every story is so very different! I wish you both well. Take care.

Love Ann and Pete
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[foxy555Participant]

Hi Jean

Oh hopefully Frank will get home for a few hours, will do him good to get some fresh air as well. When Pete came home he just kept looking out of the window, taking in the surroundings and was so happy! The sun was actually shining as well on his first few days at home and so that was a bonus. Lovely day here in Somerset, hope its nice where you are!

Pete is ok, still very thin and weak and no taste buds, but we actually went to our local pub this lunchtime, he had a pint and he got a lovely reception from the locals!!!

So Jean, there is light at the end of the tunnel, never thought it whilst Pete was in hospital, every persons treatment/side affects/recovery is so different. Pete never had any sickness or diarrhoea (touch wood), just a very severe throat problem.

Vicki, hope Colin is better and that you are keeping well also.

Take care all

Love Ann and Pete

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[foxy555Participant]

Hi Babs

Well done, lovely encouraging post!

Take care

Ann and Pete
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[foxy555Participant]

Hello Dai

What a story, it really did bring a tear to my eye!

You have been through so much and having to relocate to receive better medical treatment is appalling. Did you report the consultant to the BMC? Based on your experience, he really should have been investigated!

It is perhaps a postcode lottery at times! Here in Taunton Somerset, we cannot fault the GP or the hospital consultant. In a nutshell it a nearly 12 months since Pete was diagnosed and he is at home now after his SCT and so his journey (although it seemed a long time) – was very quick, compared to your awful experience.

Best wishes to you both.

Ann and Pete

[foxy555Participant]

Oh Jean

Do understand what you are going through as the carer, you think – no light at the end of the tunnel, but it will get better! I promise you! I am sure that the people on this site, who have actually gone through it, ie Peter, Phil,Tom, Colin and Chris the Biker – to name a few, will also reassure you.

Is'nt it strange though how each person has different side affects. Pete also had a horrid rash whilst in hospital, but it has now gone. He is now concerned because he has'nt had to shave for 10 days, when will the hair growth come back?????? Tom and co, can you answer that?

Day 6 at home, Pete still has no taste buds and it is driving him mad!! I have been to Sainsburys today looking for inspiration, but I do now realise it is just time. Pete is exhausted just taking a shower!!

I am back at work tomorrow!!!!! I know Pete will be fine, but will be strange leaving him.

He is back at clinic on Friday for blood tests and to see the consultant, but I really don't know what happens next?

Anyway, best wishes to you all.

Love

Ann and Pete
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[foxy555Participant]

Oh thats fabulous Peter, well done.

Take care and best wishes

Ann and Pete
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[foxy555Participant]

Hi all

Well Day 3 at home with Pete and things ok! Will never get cocky or conceited however, because I do realise these are very early days.

Pete has no taste buds, but is managing to get some food down him albeit small portions plus his vitamin drinks. He even had a lovely cold lager last night!!!

We went for a short drive yesterday afternoon as it was such a sunny day. Other than that just relaxing, and yes Dai, getting hooked on day time TV!! Well I am!!!!!!!

Yes Tom, good idea, I will leave Pete a lunch box when I go back to work next week, just some encouragement for him to eat.

Chris and Lena – How are you Chris, hopefully got over your bad dose of flu!!!!

Vicki and Colin, glad to hear Colin still progressing, but how are you? Are you still feeling rough? It is probably a knock on effect from all the worrying and caring you have done for Colin. Finally taken its toll on you!

Jean, not seen a post from you in the last few days, how is Frank?

Peter, yes thanks, I think you are so right, it really is one day at at time!

Well thanks again everyone for all your kind and informative posts.

Speak soon

Ann and Pete
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[foxy555Participant]

Hi Sarah

What an encouraging post! Thank you for that and so pleased that Henry is doing so well.

Good luck with your hand as well!

Take care

Love

Ann
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[foxy555Participant]

Hi all

Well fingers crossed, Pete will be home tomorrow!! I have booked a week off to look after him, although he has said he will be fine! (Typical stubborn man!)

I took him in some soup and he did manage that and has been drinking the vitamin drinks (although he said they taste like wall paper paste!!!

I did say, don't run before you can walk. I have read enough posts to realise that this may only be the beginning!

Well Tom, you are still top of the leader board – Pete has been in 23 days, if I remember you got home in 16?

Don't really know what to expect, but eh, he is coming home and that is all that matters.

Chris and Lena – Lovely to hear from you. Chris, so sorry you have been poorly, hope you get better soon. Oh I forgot to say, when you left the ward on your last visit, 2 of the nurses came into Pete's room and said "Who was your visitor"? we know him!!! Obviously you looked so well, they did'nt recognise you straight away!!!

Jean – How is Frank doing?

Thanks everyone else for your messages, has really been a help.

Speak soon

Love Ann
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[foxy555Participant]

Hi Vicki

You made me laugh about Colin and his poodle look!!!! I won't mention to Pete about the possibility of his hair growing back curly, that certainly would upset him – LOL.

Hi Dai, hope you keep well and don't come down with anything.

Take care all

Ann
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[foxy555Participant]

Hi all

Well Pete came out of isolation on Thursday and off the morphine on Friday. He was quite good yesterday, but today, bad throat has returned. Still not eating or drinking much and looks so thin, but at the end of the day, he has turned the corner!!!! I really never thought he would the way things were progressing.

Jean, glad to hear Frank is good.

Take care all and will keep you posted

Love Ann
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