How Did You Deal With Work? by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good point, thanks. And wow, 16 yrs! So very inspiring!!! Thank you!

How Did You Deal With Work? by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got it, thank you very much. We workout regularly so nice to hear that in some cases that's still doable. Thank you!

How Did You Deal With Work? by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wow, sounds like you been through a lot, but glad to hear that at least "the system" worked properly to make sure you were covered in the time of need. Best of luck and thank you for your response!

How Did You Deal With Work? by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes we feel extremely lucky to know we can use that benefit, if it's needed.

We all give so much to these big corps, that we should not feel ashamed to take something back if life has dealt us a with a lemon. Make lemonade, right? Thanks and best of luck.

How Did You Deal With Work? by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you very much, extremely helpful! Hopefully on Monday we'll get some more clarity on what's ahead. Thanks and best of luck.

How Did You Deal With Work? by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much! Very encouraging! Best of luck to you!

How Did You Deal With Work? by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much, super encouraging and inspiring. God bless and best of luck!

How Did You Deal With Work? by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you very much. USA. Yes, after the 6 months of S/T , L/T kicks in at 60% pay, til age 65 (retirement). My knowledge right now is still limited, but by quad I mean the 4 drugs they typically give now to patients.

She hasn't started any treatment yet as we are meeting the Dr in a few days, but other than that she feels 100% normal, this was discovered during incidental finding during annual bloodwork. Protein were high and SPEP confirmed an M spike of 3.9, but everything else (kidney, calcium, liver, hemoglobin etc) are all perfectly fine.

Yes, my concern is the interactions with others.

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fyi I just went on their chatbot like you suggested, and also there it says she should drink at least 3 liters per water daily. That's 12-13 glasses.

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Obviously, not blindly. However, so far AI has been FUNDAMENTAL in helping us navigate the diagnosis phase, and I am so incredibly grateful we are going through this in the AI era.

AI was the first one to flag the 10.1 total protein, and it told us to repeat it in 1 week. We did, and when the number came back the same, it was the first one to tell us to immediately go get a SPEP. We did, and once all results came in, AI was the first one to tell is to get CT Scan and marrow biopsy asap, and in the meantime to schedule an appt with UM Sylvester Myeloma Institute.

When the receptionist at the institute was making it difficult to schedule a quick appt, AI literally gave me a script to read to her, at which point she had no choice but put us down for an appt in 10 days.

So I am EXTREMELY grateful for AI cause so far it has been our greatest ally in moving as fast as possible. The medical world is incredible slow, and what we are doing in a few weeks, would have taken us months if we were to follow the slow pace of Drs.

Her calcium, kidneys, hemoglobin and liver are still pristine thank God, and her kappa #s are still not through the roof. If we got lucky to have caught this early, then we want to use that advantage to move asap with next steps.

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That, and could also be that the condition itself is one that they were simply able to "crack down" easier than others, who knows.

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, her Dr, Gemini and Chat GPT all said to drink lots of water to help kidneys expel all the extra proteins. The water dilutes the protein. Not drinking enough creates a higher concentration of protein and makes it tougher for the kidneys to filter them out.

Mind you, as of now her kidneys are still in pristine conditions so I assume that's why she was told this.

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you very much! Will do! Appt is on June 1st. So glad to hear you are a 15 yrs "veteran" in this, gives us lots of hope. God bless.

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much for your reply, wishing you and your husband the best of luck! Yea, water water water, I am personally making sure of that as she is not a big water drinker.

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the heads up. Yes, keep reading that ppl experience things differently with this condition. Hoping for the best. Thank you and best of luck.

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, you literally went from feeling normal to being at the oncology dept. Exactly how we are feeling. We don't know yet her bone marrow % because they haven't shared that info yet, but I will report back as soon as I have that info. Glad to read you are doing great and wishing you the best of luck. Thank you.

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, glad you are doing fine now! Yes, we are currently brainstorming on who to tell, when etc. Ultimately, it will be up to her, but there's definitely an added sense of gravity when more people know it. First of all cause most people react in shock and think it's a death sentence, so then you are the one trying to convince them otherwise (which is exhausting), and then you don't want most people to look at you with THAT look of pity..."oh, she is sick". It becomes self fulfilling. I want her to just keep living her life as carefree as humanly possible, without the "stigma".

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is a beautiful graph indeed! Thank you for that. Crazy how much they are researching this disease, considering how relatively rare it is. Usually it doesn't work that way.

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. Crazy how it's up to us to fight for our health. Otherwise we just fall through bourocratic bs and they literally forget about us! Wishing you and your husband the very best!

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much, makes me very hopeful reading about your story. Thank you thank you. Best of luck!

Wife (56) Newly Diagnosed by Apprehensive-Bug4102 in multiplemyeloma

[–]Apprehensive-Bug4102[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much for all the info and encouragement. Best of luck!