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It's been awhile

It seems my cold is finally running it's course [at least I hope]. On Saturday it was a sore throat, Sunday I was congested and had a constantly runny nose, and yesterday was an extreme headache and a mild cough. Today the cough as progressed a little beyond mild. (I even had to resort to taking 1 Tylenol and some Hall's throat lozenges to help ameliorate the discomfort.)

But rather than dwell on my problems any more, I thought this would be a good time to update everyone on Edie's condition, especially since it's been awhile (just about a year) since I last posted anything about Edie.

Since that time, Edie started on maintenance Velcade (infusions every other week). She had also been taking Biaxin on a regular basis, because her doctor told her it had shown some efficacy in treating Multiple Myeloma, but due to some side effects, she went off it to see if that would help.

About that same time, her free light chains started to rise. Whether that was coincidental, a direct effect of the Biaxin, or the maintenance Velcade, is not for certain, but regardless she restarted the Biaxin. She briefly tried [3] subcutaneous injections of Velcade, thinking that might be better than direct infusions, but did not seem to be getting the desired results, so she returned to weekly infusions of Velcade, and is finally starting to seem some positive results. Let's just hope the trend continues!

She's still dealing with neuropathy, and the occasional dizziness, but otherwise isn't doing too badly. (Not sure I'd be doing as well in her condition, but .......)

On a side note, due to some problems with the Kaiser drug formulary, she has gone off Lyrica, which she has been taking for her neuropathy, and has switched to Nortriptyline. Not sure exactly what the problem is with Lyrica, as the Medicare website indicates it is on the Kaiser formulary, but whatever the case, Nortriptyline is considerably cheaper, and if it's just as effective, everyone benefits.

Only time will tell.

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Kim said…
I too hope the trend continues.

Of course you wouldn't be doing as well as she is...

Glad you're getting over your cold and you should be ashamed taking a Tylenol. I take 3 Motrin at once, if I have a headache.
11:20 AM
Becky said…
Glad to see you update us on Edie for a change and glad to hear you are on the mend. You really must have been sick to take a pill, particularly with all these recalls.

Don't get Edie sick!
3:18 PM
What said…
Yes, it was a difficult decision to take a Tylenol, but life is all about making difficult decisions. :) What's really bad is, I'm still taking the Hall's throat lozenges. For some reason that doesn't seem as much like a drug or medicine.

And Becky, getting Edie sick is my biggest concern. The only thing that could make my life more miserable than me being sick, would be Edie getting sick.
9:59 PM
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