Good news in the press yesterday

My friend told me to go to the Mail Online website. There is an article about Multiple Myeloma. I was straight on it.
The article said that they have identified a gene that they say causes MM. Thats great news for us all now that they have found the gene hopefully a cure wont be far away. Good news all round.
I am a happy little bunny and have to say had shed some tears of happiness yesterday. I have put the link below hope you get a chance to read it.


www.dailymail.co.uk/home


in the search box type Myeloma


i hope it helps you      

Easy Peasy

I had a Consultant appointment yesterday, as usual I was a little anxious. I got into see the consultant fairly quickly it was one of his registrars as he was taking a holiday. I got asked the usual questions, I filled in any blanks by saying that I have had no aches and pains or any infections since my last appointment. All the time that I was talking she kept saying Easy Peasy.
 I jokingly said that I had decided already that I was well and just needed the official word. She said she wished everyone would decide that before they had got to the clinic. All the same she told me that my white and red cells have stayed the same. My Neutraphils (immune system) are still low she said it was 1.3. 
The most important one my Paraprotien levels still remained un-detectable Easy Peasy she said. Then she said I think we will extend the time you next come to see us to ten weeks instead of eight.... Yay!!!! 
As we left my friend and I both beamed at each other. A special start to a special day.


Easy Peasy!

Nothing To Tell You But I will Tell You Anyway

Like the title says, I have nothing to tell you, but I will tell you anyway. I have been doing well recently no more new pain, except the problem with my elbow. 
I had a couple of days when I had a wobble, one or two patches of emotion when I cried for no reason about nothing. 
All in all nothing has happened no bad things. The good thing is I am having some really good days and that is fantastic for me to say. As you know I used to write about bad stuff that has happened and today there is none of that, just me saying everything is fine 'A OK' on top of the world and no problem. Bring on my next challenge or my next mountain to climb. I am stronger physically and mentally than I have been for ages.  
So like I said earlier I have nothing to say and as my friend says I waffle sometimes, so I will love you and leave you and hope this helps you in your own journey. 

All Is Well

What can I say, the consultants first words as I sat down on Thursday were. "Your Paraprotien remains untraceable". They are the best words ever, it didn't matter that my Immune system still hasn't come back up. The consultant seemed happy with where it was. I still have to be careful about infections but I that's fine by me, my other levels he said are fine. 
My friend and I both floated out of his room again not hiding our delight. Off  we went to have our celebratory apple pie as usual, this time we decided to have a picnic at one of our favourite places too. It didn't matter that it rained and we couldn't get out of the car, It's such a beautiful place to be.
We had a fantastic weekend together last weekend, we laughed and joked had a lovely meal and visited our favourite places. We even drove to a pub and asked for a cup of tea, we were surprised that we were the only people in, in the middle of the afternoon. 
On Sunday We went to Weardale for some Apple Pie and then off to our place by the river we love to sit. A special weekend with lots of happy smiles. 

Stess! What stress?

 I am enjoying life I feel happy and having a lot of laughs lately. I don't have anything to worry about and I won't worry about anything. I feel good, I feel happy and most of all I feel well.
I have felt well for a long time but I did let the little things get to me, all of the little things have gone now and they have no place in my head any more.

Happy! Happy! Happy! Bouncy! Bouncy! Bouncy! That's me.

Sunday Fun

I picked my friend up and we set off for our favourite Farm Shop of all in Weardale. This is the place that sells the Apple Pie that I mentioned in my last consultant post. They serve the best apple pie in Weardale.
After we had our fill of yummy pie, my friend and I drove to a little park and decided to take some exercise. Or should I say have some Frisbie fun, we played Frisbie for about 10 minutes. I got out of breath, did some stretching and jumping but we laughed so much. I even managed to run a few paces. How good is that!
I feel so much better now than I have done for a long time, things are looking up for me in many ways now; including my health. I have more energy than I have had for ages and I am laughing more and more.

My Saturday

I went out for a drive this weekend with my friend. We decided to go up the coast to a little place called Seahouses, it's the first time I have been there and wasn't sure how to get there. But off we went. We drove through what seemed like 2 different weather zones, it was sunny then it was rain, big a splashy bouncy rain, then it was sunny again. We found a nice farm shop called The Country Barn farm and coffee shop, where we stopped for tea and cake.
When we got to Seahouses the sun was shining from on high. We started to walk around the small seaside town and then down to the small quay where the boats were moored and looked out to sea toward the Farne islands.
My friend and I decided to go for a little walk but to do that I had to climb a hill, I walked up it so fast not only was I out of breath at the top but so was my friend. When we got there (only about 100yds top to bottom but it was steep), my friend suggested we should have a game of Crazy Golf we laughed all the way round the crazy golf course, we both had holes in one. We both took a lot of strokes to get into holes but we laughed and laughed.
When we went back to the car we decided to go for a little drive up the coast about 2 or 3 mile to see Bamburgh Castle. What a magnificent building it is so imposing it domineers the area. Our Drive back was again through some bad bouncy rain but both my friend and I had  massive smiles on our faces.

Hospital Appointment

I had my consultant appointment at clinic yesterday, I was anxious as usual. My tummy was churning my head was full thoughts. I feel good I know there isn't anything that feels wrong or bad. But all the same it's the same every time I go to clinic.
I booked in as usual and sat down with my friend, within minutes my name was called to get my bloods taken. So far so good, though I had put 2.5kilo on. Not sure how that happened (well maybe I do). It's now my tummy churns most, the time between bloods and seeing the consultant.
Within just a few minutes my name is called, my consultant is standing up, not looking at my notes and shook my hand when I went in. I get worried when he does that it's usually bad news.
'How have you been feeling.' he asked, I told him I felt good just my elbow to complain about. He said that was good and started by saying. My red cells are up, my white cells are up. The best news is that My Paraprotein remains undetectable and my Light Chains are within the usual band.
All in all I think we were in the department 15mins that must be a record. My friend and I once again floated out of the department with another appointment for 8 weeks from now. How good is that.
Now where's that apple pie!!!!

Feeling Good

My health is good, my back hasn't been painful for a while. Cod liver oil tablets have done the trick, I haven't had much pain since I started taking them a few weeks ago now. my walking is quite good and not long ago i managed a fair distance too.

It feels good knowing my aches and pains are not worrying me for now and long may it continue. Forever looking forward, forever looking upward and most of all forever being positive.

I'm not sure how many people out there are reading my blog, but I hope that it helps some one who is fighting their own battle.

For me next thing I have on the horizon is another consultant appointment on the 7th of July 2011. They still make me feel anxious but I feel good and have no need to worry. It will be another good result I am sure

Quite A Good Week

This week I have been to see one of my customers who told me that I was looking well and in good health. Then on Thursday I went to my GP surgery to be given my suppliment injection of B12. The nurse who was giving it to me and one other who seemed to be there for just a chat both told me I was looking well.

How do I feel? Bloomin fantastic, how good is the feeling of being told you look good. It's priceless I am walking on air. Long may it continue.

Cold In The Nose

I have had a cold for about 10days now, it hasn't been heavy, mainly a runny nose and a fuzzy feeling behind the eyes and at the top of my nose.

It seems like I have been eating paracetamol and drinking beechams for ages now. Today I feel better than I have for 10 days. Thankfully at last it seems to be lifting.

When I called my Nurse she said a lot of patients have complained of colds not lifting for 2 weeks and a little more. But advised me to keep taking the tablets and if it doesn't clear go to see my GP.

Thanfully I don't have to do that and today I feel 100% better and bouncy again.

Clinic Day

I went to my clinic today. I wasn't as nervous but still anxious as I usually am. My results last week were good, so surely today couldn't be any different. Still my friend had to hold my hand to calm me down and keep me from tapping my feet and shuffling around.  

I was right, the good news is My bloods are fine and my Paraprotein is still untraceable. All my levels are still going in the right direction, so all is good there. I asked about the pain in my arm, he said. 'My x-ray had come back clear and that it can only be soft tissue damage similar to Tendinitis or tennis elbow'. It made my friend and me laugh inside as that's what she had said it was a few weeks ago. 

So apart from taking Cocodamol and resting it, there isn't much to do, as it can take up to eight weeks to put itself right.  Before we left he gave me another appointment eight weeks from now. Everything is rosy as they say.

No News

I know it has only been Three days since I was at hospital getting checked out. I would have thought that if there had have been something showing on my x-ray the Doctor would have rang me by now.

So I am working on the principle of no news is good news. However, I will take the question with me to my consultant on Thursday. My arm still aches and still when I pick something up the sharp pain is deep inside my elbow.

Pains

My elbow hurts deep inside when I pick something up, it can be anything from a calculator, a cup of tea or a kettle with only a little bit water in. It seems to be anything that puts a strain on my elbow. I have had the pain in my elbow for nearly 3 weeks now.

I contacted my specialist nurse the other day, who suggested I pop in to hospital for a check up. I rolled up to the day unit as arranged and had my blood taken as usual. The results came back good so there is no problem with them. It took 2 hours for the doctor to come around and see me then prescribed a visit to x-ray and brought my clinic appointment forward 2 weeks to discuss the results, that is if there isn't anything  she needs to ring me and talk about before hand.

Just What The Doctor Ordered

On the 24th of March I went to see my consultant, I waited anxiously in the waiting area. I had my bloods taken and was weighed (my weight has gone up). In the few minutes that pass between bloods and seeing the Consultant. I watch people coming in and going out and try to guage how soon my turn will come about. My tummy is churning, my heart is racing I hate coming here. My friend turned to me and smiled and gave a squeeze of my hand. I smiled back and all is well again.

My turn does come around and I follow the nurse to my consultants room. He asks the usual question. How have you been? I tell him fine no problems and wish he would just get on with it. He looks at the computor and turns to me and says. 'Your white cell count is up, your red cell count is up. Your light chains are within the normal band, but you Neutrophils are still low. However, they are at the highest level I have seen in you so I am not too worried just be careful around infection'. My hand was stretched out searching for my friends but I couldn't find it. 

I remember thinking just get on with it tell me the bit i am here for. 'Your paraprotein levels remain not detected so all of that is good'. He said. Once again we floated out of his room. In the lift i gave my friend the biggest tightest hug I could. We both are so happy now.

Two Years On

AT 11.30 on the 4th of March 2009 I recieved my Stem Cell Transplant. Two years on at my last appointment my consultant said that my paraprotien was still untraceable. I know that at my next appointment in two weeks time he WILL Say the same thing.
Though I still get nervous when I go to see my consultant I take comfort in the fact that he is looking after me and that he only has my best interest at heart. Its only when he says the words 'Paraprotien is untraceable' that I begin to relax again and float out of his consulting room.