MRI Results = Ride Ahead?
I saw the neurosurgeons yesterday, Dr. Pollack (main) and Dr. Kelley (resident). Dr. Pollack had not had the final analysis from, I guess the radiologist, or whoever gives the final reading of the MRI. She said from what she could tell and on her computer, which does not have near the quality resolution as what the radioloist’s does, that it appeared the “spot” had faded a bit. Also, Dr. Kelley told me that there had actually been a little shading on the T7 & T9 area, where I’d thought it was only at the T8. So what does this mean? It means that it may not be “spinal necrosis” after all–which would be damage from the radiation. Dr. P. thinks it may be a sign that it is the cancer, the MM, and that the steroids helped it. E.G. taking the steroids caused the spots to fade meaning it was/is the MM.
Next Thursday I see Dr. D. (oncologist) and I’ll know the final results of not only the MRI but also of the labwork I had done yesterday. If my m-spike and other numbers have increased, well, that will be another good sign that the trouble in my back is the cancer acting up and not spinal cord damage after all. NOW, I hope that means that once I get treatment, assuming the treatment does its job, that I will regain my feeling back from the waist down. Oh could it be that easy?
I also had 99.? degree fever yesteday and I’d had a bit of blood in my urine so I suspect another UTI. I’ve been having them since April. This would be my 3rd since April. I think it’s from not being able to eliminate as well. I need to drink more water and that may help. Dr. K. and Dr. P. wants me to see a urologist immediately. Dr. K. said I may have to do self-catheterization in order to preserve my kidneys.
I had to see an Internal Medicine (IM) doctor first, in which I did today. Then the IM doctor will refer me to a urologist. I couldn’t get into an IM from KU staff immediately. (KU=Kansas University Hospital–the affiliation where my oncologist works.) Dr. Kelley referred me to a Dr. Pioli whom I saw today and just love! She will now be my new Primary Care Physician. I did not care for the way my previous one acted last time I saw him; he basically told me my 15 minutes with him were up and we can set up another appointment if I needed one. Dr. Pioli was awesome, just awesome. She also either went to school or something with Dr. K. and is his personal physician-or maybe she let him intern with her…I think that was it. He saw me when I was in KU and he’s going to be a fabulous doctor. He already is a fabulous doctor.
Anyway, it ends up I just can’t get into a urologist until July 7th. If I stop eliminating between now and then, I’ll just have to go to the emergency room. It seems the doctors in urology will all be out of the office next week. I don’t understand that, but I can’t argue with it. I had thought about trying to get into my old urologist who is wonderful and saved my life and kidney when another doctor punctured my left kidney and ureter when trying to poke a kidney stone back up in my kidney!! But this urologist does not work at KU Hospital. Given what MM can do to kidneys, I want a doctor will work out of KU hospital.
So, in a nutshell, next Thursday will be the final say: MRI results, labwork=is my MM acting up. If the labwork shows my MM markers are up, we’re going to assume that my back-thing is due to the MM.
Also, in the meantime, will be having my bladder checked as to whether I’m eliminating properly.
Dr. Pollack suggested Fiber One cereal and first trying natural remedies as much as possible. She said if I needed to use stimulants every 3 to 4 days that she didn’t think I’d get reliant on them, but to try natural first and to drink plenty of water. “Drinking plenty of water” is something I need to do both for my bowels and kidneys. Dr. Pioli today suggested Senna tea and warned me to drink just a little at first! I’ve seen on the ACOR website where others used Senna tea and I think I’ve received a comment about it as well. So, for sure I will be buying Senna Tea and Fiber One cereal next grocery run.
Filed under: Regular News and
Cindy,
I have been reading your blogs for quite a while, but have never posted a comment. My dad has mm. was first diagnosed because his regular doctor found an unusual amount of protein in his urine. We have been everywhere.. boston, family clinics etc, plus his usual doctors here in syracuse. I wanted to share this site with him, but my mom thought that perhaps that may make him worry more about things such as pain that he has and what not. Finally, i decided that i have learned so much about the disease from reading your blogs that I printed it and gave it to him to read through. I hope it was the right thing to do as he is a very high strung man and already has very high anxiety. He does not have the positive outlook like you do and I’m hoping by reading this it will rub off a little. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with so many of us. You have no idea how much it has helped me and hopefullly it will do the same for my dad
Drink cranberry juice - not the kind with lots of sugar in, natural stuf.! It helps move the urine and stops it stinging. It works!
I hope you get the right help at the right time. Sometimes too much choice is worse than none at all - I wouldn’t know where to begin if I had to “find” a doctor for each aspect of my husband’s care. But you are definitely doing the right thing ditching the one who only had 15 minutes on his alarm clock - grrr.