I got this email from a friend of mine. He was admitted to the hospital tonight because he is so weak and the nurse noticed an irregular heartbeat.
Dear Family, Friends, and Church Family
Many have inquired about my health, so here is the latest update.
The docs have determined that I have severe osteoporosis (bone loss), which is why three of my vertebrae have fractured for no apparent reason. (Also why I am now 2½ inches shorter than I once was.) They did a bone density scan and ran extensive lab tests this week to try to figure out why my bones are so weak and to develop a strategy to strengthen them.
A second of the fractured vertebras (L-1 for you who know such lingo) has now collapsed and that is likely the reason the pain has intensified so much in the past week. It has been unrelenting and, at its worst, excruciating. So they have moved to some serious pain management using oxycodone (with vicodin for what they call breakthrough pain). The first 48 hours of this new approach has brought a significant reduction in my level of pain.
I have also been fitted with a back brace to keep my spine straight. It is cumbersome and uncomfortable, but they think it will help keep me from doing further damage.
They prescribed a hospital bed, which we have been able to fit into our bedroom alongside our regular bed. Hopefully it will make it easier for me to reposition myself and to get out of bed without so much pain. They also referred me to the Visiting Nurses Association, but I havent heard from them yet.
The good news is that there is a minimally-invasive surgery called kyphoplasty which should completely correct the collapsed vertebrae. In 90% of the cases the problem (and the pain) goes away instantly. But my cardiologist said that I must wait at least six months after the cardiac stent was emplaced before having the surgery. Well, that six months will be up in February, so I am hoping that he will approve going ahead with the kyphoplasty soon.
Thank you for your concern and prayers. Fortunately, having fractured vertebrae is a condition which, eventually, will heal itself. So Im asking you to pray for God to speed up the healing processand for relief from the debilitating pain.
Well, I found out yesterday that while he is in slightly less pain because of a steroid they put him on. They also found out that more of his vertebrae are bad, and they are starting to think that it looks like some kind of multiple myeloma but they won't know until they can get an actual piece of his bone to test. So as of now things aren't looking good, although he was at church yesterday and did actually stand up when we were singing. Almost made me feel bad because sometimes I don't stand up...at least not for the entire song.
Anyways, thanks for the prayers. We are all at this moment praying that it isn't myeloma but something else that just has the same similarities.
And AF thank you for the prayers for me. Thankfully things have been going well so far. I have about 10 weeks and then we will be safe to deliver. Anything before that and they will have to spend time in the NICU
This is an update from my friend: Dear Family, Friends and Church Family Please forgive the impersonal nature of this message. I love receiving calls from so many of you, but sometimes I tire of telling the details one more time.
Since my earlier update, they have now determined that the cause of my osteoporosis is multiple myeloma (bone cancer). Folks at the Groton church will recall that that was what Ben Payne had. In fact, Im using Bens doctor and am pleased with the aggressive approach he is taking to treatment.
I started a round of chemotherapy yesterday, which will continue for about five weekstwo of the drugs (Zometa and Velcade) are by injection and two (Melphalan and Prednisone) are taken by mouth.
The docs think the chemo will produce quick results, including strengthening my back, so they want to delay any back surgery until they see what results we get. In the meantime, I am still groaning and creaking around on a cane, but the pain medication keeps me quite comfortable.
Thanks again for all your prayers. Please keep on praying for God to completely remove the cancer and heal me.
Oh, Shelly - I hope and pray your friend is doing better. My father had multiple myaloma. This was back in 1992. There has been much improvement with medication since then.
More prayers are needed, turns out Dave was taken to the hospital bright and early this morning after becoming unresponsive. I guess by the time the ambulance arrived he was conscious...Please continue to pray for him and his wife. Sometimes I just don't know how on earth she can be so strong.
Oh, Shelly - I hope and pray your friend is doing better. My father had multiple myaloma. This was back in 1992. There has been much improvement with medication since then.
