Dr. Wants me to have an ASCT. I have read a lot of negative reviews on this procedure. Can I recover and go back to work in 30 days? I’m deployment on the Border it’s hard to be off of work that long. I have alredy had test to see if my body can handle this procedure. I also had a Double by/pass 2.5 years ago and had two stents out in last year. Had two sternum. Wires removed. Was on Revlemid 25Mg and DEX for 2 years Now just on 15 MG of Revlemid. Does this increase life? Thank you MSG Espitia

I just joined this group after seeing an email that said to share what helps you because it might help someone else...so here I am to share what helps me most! I have a very active brain and I found after my diagnosis and even now, 2+ years in, I still spend a lot of time thinking about MM especially when I wake in the morning. My tip is: audio books! This has helped me tremendously! I have always been an avid reader but at the beginning of this journey I found it very hard to focus on a book and tried audio books and got hooked. I never thought I'd be a listener but now I am. It's a great way to take your brain away from ruminating and you can start up your book at any time, anywhere! Give it a try, it's great medicine!

I’m here to share just a tiny little something that I have found to improve my outlook, attitude and so, I guess, mental health. It may sound silly, but it has helped me and if it helps someone else, I’ll go for it. When I’m having a good day (we know those come and go) I focus intently on something and I say to myself, “WoW, I got up, got dressed, got to a doctor appointment, did a whole bunch of errands, and I feel really well!!! Remember, when I was in a wheelchair? On a walker? An incoherent post-transplant blob?! Hold onto this day, these moments!!!” This kind of self-talk really reminds me how well treatment has gone and that every single day is a miracle. I need to remind myself and stay positive. Good luck, everyone. You are not alone. Remind yourself.

I have elevated bilirubin 4.0

A friend sent me this article regarding Revlimid and how it is priced. It is an interesting as well as maddening read: https://www.propublica.org/article/revlimid-price-cancer-celgene-drugs-fda-multiple-myeloma

“If you could share one tip for coping, what would it be?” Let's start the conversation. Remember that what you share may help others!

Hello, My husband is getting Zarxio injections and tomorrow he is having his stem cells collected. I was just wondering if anything helps with the bone pain other than Tylenol and Claritin?? Thank you, -Lindsay

Not to stir things up, but this was an interesting read about the price of Revlimid: https://www.propublica.org/article/revlimid-price-cancer-celgene-drugs-fda-multiple-myeloma

I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, Kappa IgG in 2019. I went to the doctor because of extreme rib pain and x-rays showed multiple rib fractures and lesions in over 85% of my bones. After starting my first treatment regimen of dexa, velcade, and Revlimid, I started getting intense discomfort around my ribs, around the diaphragm. It feels like I have pressure pushing up on my chest, almost like when I was 9 months pregnant. Or, like someone has tied a rope around the bottom of my chest and is pulling it really tight. I have tried tracking everything to determine if something triggers it, but I cannot find a correlation to anything, except that it usually gets worse as the day progresses. I know that something in my chest is expanding or swelling, because my bra becomes tighter as the day progresses and I have to take it off for relief. This discomfort in the diaphragm area has continued even after my stem cell transplant, where I achieved partial remission. I have since come out of remission, gone back into treatment and my most recent bone marrow biopsy shows MRD. However, I continue to have this discomfort and nobody can figure out what is causing it or how to relieve the pressure. I do take Lorazepam (Ativan) 0.5 mg which does help somewhat. Has anyone experienced this type of rib discomfort?

Hi, Based on some research from Australia that Curcumin strengthened the response from lenalidomide i have been taking 6 mg per day for many years. The Len lasted 5 years and then the Pom lasted another 5! A new range-of Curcumin called Kurk is available promising s new more powerful delivery method. It seems to have been developed in conjunction with some very credible people again in Australia Anyone know any more? Thank you for your wonderful resource Cheers John Hill