Day Zero

Day zero is the name given to the day of your stem cell transplant. This will happen this afternoon, 48 hours exactly after my chemotherapy took place. The extra day has been to allow my kidney time to flush the Melphalan out of my body, so it won't kill the newly introduced stem cells. I …

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Rolling to the Right

The first manifestation of which I was aware of in Multiple Myeloma was the severe pain in my right shoulder. This became apparent in December. I naturally roll over to my right when I am going to sleep at night and I began to notice that this was becoming increasingly sore and uncomfortable. By February …

Dawn Chorus

The blackbird chirps away behind my window. Gladly greeting the morning. Regret not taking the sleeping tablet. It's been a steroid sleep. Wakeful hours. Toilet trips. Soon the midsummer sun will rise. A new day. An Abingdon day. Here to celebrate. A birthday. Nineteen Years on. Happy Birthday Son!

On ‘yer Bike

Since returning to the UK I have put on weight. This is a combination of the steroids Inhave needed to take, the water retention courtesy of my kidney problems and DVT, richer food and a lack of exercise brought on by the enforced bed rest as an inpatient and the effects of the Myeloma. In …

Drugs War

Progress is being made and I continue to remain  healthy and better than I have been for several months in so many ways. The chemotherapy is working but there is a battle going on, inside a drugs war against my very own mutant cells. The bad guys, Myeloma Cells, are being taken out but there …

Steroids

Part of my treatment for a Myeloma involves the use of a steroid (Dexamethasone). Dexamethasone is a type of corticosteroid called a glucocorticoid. Dexamethasone helps to reduce inflammation and calms an overactive immune system. Dexamethasone mimics the effect of cortisol, a hormone released by the adrenal glands (located on top of the kidneys) that controls …