Myeloma Forum | RonCantrill | Activity

RonCantrill replied to the topic Travel Insurance in the forum General

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 14:24:40 +0000

Hi Graeme,
My wife is now 5 years full remission so it is not quite the same but we took advantage of the Nationwide free insurance offer. It doesn’t cover the Myeloma but it is possible to purchase the top up cover which cost us about £100 for a full year of European travel. There is a delay from opening the account to eligibility but it’s only…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic getting ready for stem cell harvest in the forum General

Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:55:48 +0000

Hi Alan,
There seems to be little in common with your experience and ours. Pauline had only one biopsy – without anesthetic and 5 doses of CDT broken for a month after a severe toxic reaction to the antibiotic which sent her blood pressure down to 55 over 30, turned her bright purple all over and put her in isolation for a fortnight during which…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Shingles in the forum General

Wed, 11 Feb 2015 10:59:51 +0000

Thanks Andy and Helen,
We’re on day 3 of medication and the pain has subsided considerably and Pauline just complains of feeling “Rubbish” and loss of appetite/nausea. The rash has now all joined up and beginning to weep, covering most of he left chest, shoulder, upper arm and neck but causing no discomfort.
The 111 call was handled efficiently…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic getting ready for stem cell harvest in the forum General

Tue, 10 Feb 2015 10:48:54 +0000

Hi Alan,
Your post takes me back about 5 years. Pauline, my wife had problems with producing enough stem cells and had to have 4 goes to get barely enough but I believe things have improved since then. The next bit, in March, is the biggie and, as you’ve probably read, everyone’s experience is different. Pauline’s started with the discovery that…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Shingles in the forum General

Sun, 08 Feb 2015 21:42:45 +0000

Thanks Jean,
We’ve never had occasion to call the helpline and, until today we’ve been very fortunate to have nearly 5 years of relative normality as all of our major problems occurred in the first 12 months. In that time the response and support from all of the N.H.S. personnel at the old Q.E in Birmingham and those at Worcester were brilliant.…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Shingles in the forum General

Sun, 08 Feb 2015 19:36:34 +0000

Hi Jean,
Thanks for the reply and good wishes. I can understand why there is a reluctance to give the vaccine but when there is an almost certainty that it will develop anyway I should have thought that there was some room for a reasoned response. I suppose that with the present pressure to run away from making risky decisions there is a…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Shingles in the forum General

Sun, 08 Feb 2015 14:37:11 +0000

Thanks Stanley,
It does seem that Shingles is one of the free extras that come with Myeloma. It would be nice to pick and choose or maybe negotiate a discount as an alternative but for the moment we are more than happy with the 5 years post SCT remission. Pauline is approaching 71 now and her GP is brilliant so I think we should wait the few…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Shingles in the forum General

Sun, 08 Feb 2015 13:50:25 +0000

Thanks Annette,
We have some experience with shingles from relatives etc. and self diagnosed this a few hours ago. Unfortunately, she has calcification in he shoulder joints and we assumed that the pain was from that but when the rash started to spread up her neck and the violent headache started we worked it out. The problem is to decide between…[Read more]

RonCantrill started the topic Shingles in the forum General

Sun, 08 Feb 2015 11:08:43 +0000

I haven’t visited for a long time because Pauline, my wife, has been in full remission for 5 years and we have been distracted with other problems. However, she is now displaying almost certain symptoms of Shingles which have developed over the weekend and based on past experience this seemed the best place for good advice. It is possible that…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Website trouble shooting / getting help in the forum General

Sun, 08 Feb 2015 10:39:09 +0000

Hi Laura,
I haven’t been here for some time as my wife has been in remission for 5 years and we have been otherwise distracted with other problems. I am now trying to find any topics specifically discussing Shingles and it seems that the search system specifically targets posts rather than topics. This makes it necessary to scan laboriously…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Posting Problems in the forum General

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:12:53 +0000

Thanks Stuart, I don't really have a problem but you have explained what the spelling warning is. At least it is not too troublesome, unlike some of the 'helpful' accessories we get lumbered with a lot of modern software. Ron.

RonCantrill replied to the topic Posting Problems in the forum General

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 11:54:23 +0000

Hi Keith,
This explains why I had problems the other night. Fortunately, I used the windows copy and paste to save it and try again. David, I think there is a spell checker on here as I get the occasional warning. It just doesn't make any suggestions. If I can't guess what it's looking for I just reword things to avoid the problem word. That's…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic NHS Reform Total Mess in the forum General

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 08:15:49 +0000

Hi Keith, I very much share your fears for the future of the NHS as the track record for politicians messing about with this, schools and other similar institutions is not good. I also agree with all of your other points. Unfortunately, politicians are a necessary integral part of democracy and must never be left unattended. 🙂 That is something…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic NHS Reform Total Mess in the forum General

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:53:07 +0000

Hi Keith and all,
This is certainly a hot topic and I think regional differences are going to be amplified when the cuts and changes start. Our local GP practice is superb and very well run and I have no real concerns about their ability to cope with the changes but, from reading the experiences of others, I can understand their fears. Pauline…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in the forum Off topic

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 21:18:29 +0000

Hi Bridget, As they say in the Readers Digest "Laughter is the best medicine." It works for me but how are you at the moment?
Ron.

RonCantrill replied to the topic Ron Cantrill and everyone else :-) in the forum General

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 21:12:43 +0000

And all this because I offered to forward a naughty email!!!!! 😀
Seriously, good news is always good news:-S It just seems that when everything is going well we forget to say so, maybe because we feel a bit guilty about those who are less fortunate. Is there anyone else out there with good news? Perhaps it would be better to start a new topic…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Bogus Email? in the forum General

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 10:06:49 +0000

Hi Tom, To fit in with 'Onwards and upwards' we're rolling along on the plateau of good remission just 12 months post SCT at the moment with a few bumps from the usual crushed vertebrae and other related problems and hoping the next review is neutral. Pauline is still a good bit below what she was just 4 months ago but picking up again after a…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Bogus Email? in the forum General

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:15:01 +0000

Hi Tom, Don't feel too bad. If you feel left out, I'll send you a copy of mine.8-)

RonCantrill replied to the topic LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in the forum Off topic

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:11:41 +0000

Thanks Bridget and Elizabeth, I reckon I (We) just need the will power to make a decision, Which brings us nicely back on topic.:-D

RonCantrill replied to the topic LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in the forum Off topic

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:16:40 +0000

Thanks Bridget, Pauline is getting there I think. It has been nearly a month now but she's just left with an irritating dry cough now and beginning to talk holidays….Aaaagghh. Every time I book something it goes wrong and she won't make a decision. Guess who gets the blame. 🙂

RonCantrill replied to the topic Anaemia and Blood Transfusion in the forum Treatment

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:53:02 +0000

Hi Ron, I hope that Christine soon gets the treatment balanced. The early days always seem to be the most difficult. We just focused on getting to know as much as possible about treatment and possible outcomes and making sure that we followed the treatment regime as closely as possible. I have followed a lot of stories on this site and found most…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Bogus Email? in the forum General

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 17:44:53 +0000

Hi all, I am not at all sure about this. I was puzzled at first because my e-mail handler displayed all of the header information but everything that is there points back to this forum apart from the references to opaltelecom.net and smithmicrosystems.com neither of which seem to exist. Andy, if you are there, help please.

Return-Path:…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Bogus Email? in the forum General

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 12:24:09 +0000

Hi Jean, I nearly answered it. It may still be genuine. As far as I know, the worst that can happen is that whoever sent it now knows you are active at that e-mail address and you may get other apparently unrelated nasties so just be careful and don't open anything from an unknown source. I don't think you should lose sleep. In 10 years of…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! in the forum Off topic

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 10:59:56 +0000

Hi Bridget, I don't think that you should worry too much. Your will power seems to have joined forces with your sense of humour and together they are a formidable force. I am sure that together they will pull you through anything that the dreaded M can throw up.
It is certainly a great help to the rest of us. Ron.

RonCantrill replied to the topic Bogus Email? in the forum General

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 10:53:00 +0000

Hello Dai, I got one too. It certainly seemed to be an odd format and I think you are right to bring it to our attention. Certainly, there are some sad people out there and I should be very surprised if this site did not get their attention. I have always worried about this problem because of the very easy going nature of everyone here. Perhaps…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Anaemia and Blood Transfusion in the forum Treatment

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:08:46 +0000

Hi Ron, First, hello and welcome. I guess you are beginning to get the feel of this little community now. Like you, it is my wife Pauline who was diagnosed,out of the blue, nearly 2 years ago just before her 65th birthday. Nothing that you have experienced so far is in any way unusual. Pauline had all of that and more, but she was very unlucky and…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Remission and risk of infections in the forum General

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:04:17 +0000

Time to start mothering….
Hope it's not too bad.
Ron.

RonCantrill replied to the topic Remission and risk of infections in the forum General

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:02:15 +0000

Hi Eva, Agreed on all points. I offered the bits and pieces as discussion points. As I said, we have always trusted aspirin and were aware of its problems with warfarin and clexaine etc. but wondered if there were any problems with using while having nothing more than the bone strengthening drugs. It is encouraging to find that aspirin is being…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic hair already? in the forum General

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:50:48 +0000

Hi David, Good news. That has got to be a sign that normality, whatever that is, is returning. We heard that it can come back in a different form but were surprised when Pauline's came back with less grey and nicely wavy. She has had a full head of hair for six months now and only been the the hairdresser once for a cut. She thinks it's great to…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Remission and risk of infections in the forum General

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:40:50 +0000

Hi Bridget, I dropped onto a report somewhere recently that If Revlimid is supplemented with about 100mg Aspirin daily it can add as much as 25 – 50% to the benefit timespan. I just can't remember where! More to the point of Amelie's topic, I also found a report on the results of a test which showed that paracetamol can impede the body's response…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Remission and risk of infections in the forum General

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:34:19 +0000

Hi Bridget,
We asked about the pneumonia jab after Pauline's SCT and were surprised to be told that it could be dangerous to have it for a second time. Pauline had it about 3 months before her SCT and they were concerned that it may be partially still effective, even after the transplant. Nothing is straightforward with this damned disease is…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Remission and risk of infections in the forum General

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 19:21:34 +0000

Hi Amelie, Great news about the remission and long may it last. Pauline had her SCT in January and got the same news in August so we are about 6 months ahead of you. I think it has to be accepted that the immunity is an ongoing problem and seasonal flu jabs are essential. I believe that, if the blood counts are good then the response to new…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Can mm be diagnosed by a simple blood test? in the forum General

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 22:20:30 +0000

Hi Amelie,

Anything that helps to focus attention on the need for early diagnosis of this horrible disease has go to be good and I hope your efforts are well received. Like Gaye, my wife Pauline was diagnosed after a blood test looking for diabetes. I think that anemia is probably the most common early test indicator coupled with the usual…[Read more]

RonCantrill replied to the topic Musings from Ward 9 in the forum Treatment

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:53:49 +0000

H David,
It sounds like you have it made in there. it's got to be a lot better than being out and about at the moment. All being well you should be well on the way back to normal in the spring. Pauline had hers in late January and was just picking up nicely for the late spring and hasn't looked back since so I hope it all continues to go well for…[Read more]