Praying for a speedy recovery @GamecockOperator

Sorry to hear about this. What's going on?

@GamecockOperator

Yes, what has happened?  Hope all is turning out ok.

Any thoughts on a Go-Fund-Me page?

I will likely be having surgery and a brief stay at Baptist soon, but I will be happy to do something to help GCO. Keep us updated.

My thoughts are with him thru this ordeal.

Best of luck to GCO on all that he will be going thru in the next while

I cant thank all of you enough.

The long and short of it is this:

Last fall i hurt my back (thought it was from lifting a mini fridge), and was treating it as directed by a physician using NSAID (motrin ibuprophen etc) thru august and september.  End of september im not getting any better and after 3 er visits 1 urgent care visit and god knows how many visits to my primary care provider i hit the ER one last time and they caught me in stage 4 kidney failure.  At this time they thought it was due to the NSAID's over time.  Early october right after the vegas shooting i was released as my kidneys were getting somewhat better.  Unfortunately my back wasnt, even after 2 lumbar sterroid epidural injections. I was sent home, and as i prepared for a family vacation i broke 2 ribs bending over from my office chair.  the back doctor referred me to an endocrinologist finally after the pain management and back doctor couldnt figure out what was happening (this was now early january of this year)

Endocrinologist finds multiple deficiencies, which included but arent limited to Severe osteoperosis (im 42, and male so this is real odd) and low vitimin D, low Testosterone, severely anemic and what looks like possible Celiacs-Sprew disease(glueten intolerance)  at this time i start on the meds he prescribes and he refered me to a oncologist. the oncologist did more blood work, and at the time i didnt show anything else wrong.  They had performed by this time, MRI's on whole body, on my back, on my head to ensure no pituatary gland tumor, ultrasounds on my thyroid and parathyroids to ensure no issues with them, and CAT scans as well. everything started seeming to get better, even the back some, and at times i was able to walk without a cane.

Mid march of this year, things start going down hill.  my upper body/chest is in pain from strain trying to compensate me walking with the bad back.  it had gotten to the point that i couldnt walk unaided.  coudnt catch a breath because of the chest pain, and essentially became bed ridden early to mid last month. I now use a walker to get around my bedroom and to the bathroom, which is 10-15 feet away from the foot of my bed, takes me a good 30 minutes at this point.  So i had a follow up on april 30th with the endocrinologist and he pretty much called it from the blood work and labs.  but wanted to be sure so sent me back to the oncologist.  Realize now this was last thursday a week ago.  At that visit, the oncologist wanted to do a bone marrow test and because it is such an ordeal and i mean excruciating painful ordeal for me to get to a doctor at all i opted to do it then and there.  Follow up appt was monday where it was confirmed, from the bone marrow test that i indeed have Multiple Myeloma Cancer, and it is also possibly the root cause of my back pain as well.  After that appointment i went right next door for radiology, which confirmed via PET scan that i do have Multiple Myeloma, and the back was hard to tell how much it was effected so ive been ordered to have a bone density scan to see it on the back.  The Pet scan did find that however my chest pain was from a pathological fracture to my sternum due to the multiple myeloma.

My treatment starts tomorrow with Chemotherapy, Steroids, Radiation, and then calcium infusions once a month.  These are to last between 4-6 months.  If all that goes as planned, they will  then refer me to a larger cancer center such as duke, emory, or MUSC or something to do a bone marrow transplant/refresh.  This from what i understand is done with my own existing marrow being extracted, cleaned and then reimplanted. Im assuming its some sort of stem cell therapy type deal.

I dont know what stage it is, I asked yesterday and they said its more like a chronic cancer because it starts in your plasma which circulates everywhere throughout your body so there is no way to like isolate it.
I dont know anything more about prognosis yet, life expectancy, etc, i just dont know.  
I know it is not hereditary.  It just happened.
I'm still in shock from it all.  I partially cant believe it is what i have.
one prescription is 20k per dose cycle. i may need 4-6 dose cycles.  I dont know what my copay is yet, as they have yet to have my insurance approve it. I can only imagine its going to be in the thousands as well. Its a pill chemo that starts with REV something....

the doctors are up beat and seem to think within a week or two ill be back on my feet and able to work / walk without issue during treatment.   I hope so because im a state employee, and even though i dont make much, i make more than the wife, and without my income we will be sunk.  Luckily i have a few more weeks of sick leave still before i have to deal with the fmla stuff i think.

I had no idea that D16 was going to start any of this up, untill he asked my permission.  and I am very thankful for his thoughtfulness and support just as i am to many of you all who ie never even met.  I may or may not be checking here much but D16 knows how to get ahold of me.

thank you all for your friendship, positive thoughts, most of all your prayers for me and my family during this difficult time. I plan to fight it hard, and win, but only God knows what my future holds.

Wishing you the best with your treatments and recovery.

God bless

May God and your care team help you kick cancer's ass.

Hope you get better soon. If you need anything let me or D16 know (I think he has my #) and I'll do my best to help out.

Well this sucks.  I wish you well in the treatment and a positive recovery. I am in the Myrtle Beach area and if I am close enough to help with anything, just ask.

Wow, and I thought I have been through a recent rough patch. GCO -thoughts and prayers sent your way. I sincerely hope you make a steady recovery, and that you health insurance (State BCBS I Presume) steps up on your costs.

SOAPBOX RANT: The medical establishment is constrained by the insurance companies, patient overload, and HIPPA from acting on your problem quickly. I got bounced from Endo doc to Nephro doc to Uro doc to get my kidney situation stabilized. It took over 6 months, with a week or two between steps wasted waiting for the next appointment, the next lab test, the next lab test response from the doc, the next referral, etc.  IF YOU ARE IN A WORLD OF HURT. THE FASTEST WAY TO GET MULTIPLE DOCS ON YOUR CASE IS ALSO THE MOST EXPENSIVE, AND THAT IS CHECKNG IN THROUGH THE HOSPITALS ER AND COMPLAIN OF PAIN AND PROBELMS UNTIL THEY KEEP YOU OVERNIGHT AND RUN MULTIPLE DISCIPLINE TESTS. $$$$$expensive$$$ BUT IT COULD BE LIFE SAVING.

GCO - get well soon.

D16..... can you elaborate a bit? Is it going to be an online thing or something at one/both Columbia stores?

D16man thanks for the info, will keep an eye out for further details/entry...........

Big Thanks to PSA for helping GCO out!

Be careful with SC's stupid raffle laws:

http://www.sos.sc.gov/Raffles

Someone link the GD thread in here when it pops up.

Will keep an eye out for it.

Just saw this.  Hoping for the best from another Midlands local.  Will be keeping an eye on the topic for the PSA link.

noice.  How's he doing? Did he make it home as hoped?

Yessir! Mind over matter. If GCO feels that he CAN whip it all, he WILL whip it all. Thanks for all your support d16man--you're a good man.

Thoughts and prayers go out to GCO and his Family.

@GamecockOperator are you up for visitors?

I plan on going after work tomorrow.  My sammich maker is going to be in Chucktown with her sisters.

@d16man

I will be there around the same time.  See y'all then.

i really really appreciate everyones support here regardng my disease and the support for me. those of you ive never even met before supporting me has been wondeerful  thank you so much.

i am trying to heal as fast as i can but its a  slow road, andpainful keep the prayers and thouhts and whatever else coming. i can use all i can get.

thanks yall

You are very welcome.

thanks eriks it was great meeting you. we'll all have to get some shooting done once this is over.

I just wanted to update this and say i've been released to physical therepy on friday, and the location was horrid.  I went near 20 + hours without pain medication, and even longer without my normal medications.   All that to say, the Rehab place is horrid, and after thorough discussion with my family and physician, it was decided id be better off out of there and at home.  So now i'm home.  And it feels great to be here. just gotta get used to it again, and how to manuever while in pain and while not feeling 100%

thanks guys.

Thanks for the update.  It means you are getting better and stronger.  Set attainable goals.  One day say "I am gonna make it to the toilet, the next day, I am gonna make it to the living room, and the next thing you know you are going to CWSE3 next march.

Take care, be strong both physically and mentally.  You are winning this battle.

there is one out there to.  if needed.

thanks so much ErikS,

i was fortunate yesterday to go out with d16 for the day, as he escorted me to my work luncheon.  We were able to have a nice meal at the mellow mushroom downtown columbia, andthen spent some time over at the Fernandina PSA.  Where we met up with Josiah, and other friends that work there.  I am quite exhausted today, being 9/1 i've done much of nothing but rest.  even though i tried to catch the carolina and clemson games it was hard for me to stay awake.  Luckily my wife took care of the house eand cat and my brother larry had time out with his friend.  So i was little to no issue bother for them.

As things go now, the toilet, the living room the upstairs are all things i can do, but it takes me time and effort.  The biggest bother is last tuesday i had to have a bone marrow checkup, and laying on the ct table has probably cracked my left rib again, as its severely painful att times.  so pressure or any form of pressure hurts considerably.  Anyway. I appreciate everyones prayers, thoughts, and conversations.  Please feel free to write me anytime, and i'll respond as i can  / when i can.

thanks guys!

I am glad you got out for a bit and your wife is healing well.

My youngest son started at USC a couple of weeks ago and went to his very first college FB game today.  I have an official Gamecock in the family now.

It sounds like he had a blast.  Rest up, and sleep it off.

Were you able to shoot when you dropped by PSA?

Is there anything I can do to help y'all out?

Eric, thanks again so much sir.  that is awesome about being an official gamecock I wish him luck in his studies and college career.  
We did have a blast.  I was not able to shoot, and hadnt planned on it.  I was more for window shopping, and the sort of purchases if something i needed was just unable to be passed up.  
Right now there is not much that anyone can do.  I've had some setbacks in my treatment, and weve had to have my physician reach out to the lead researcher in the southeast on multiple myeloma to see if he/she has any suggestions on treatment to make my chemo more effective.  as it sits right now, we're planning on changing one medicine to another, which will go from  a shot to an IV which will take me and hour and a half to absorb each week.  The issue is when i  first was being seen my bone marrow registered 90% myeloma and now after 6 months of treatment on this one medicine while its being somewhat effective its now at 60 %.  It is not as fast  a progression as my physician would like it to be.  I'm also having to be referred to charleston once im in remission for a bone marrow transplant with my own bone marrow that had been cleansed to 0% meyloma cells... so we'll see.  Things are progressing just slowly.  Financially thanks to the raffle i am ok right now, although i do not know how it will be / go in the future.  I have a lot of anxiety about the charleston marrow transplant, and the new chemo meds, but i hope i'll be alright there too.

thanks again to allwhos reading this, as well as you Eric, and i cannot thank everyoen else who's helped out enough. You guys here on ArfCom area  godsend.

Is your disease something they have treated via marrow transplants from other people?  If so and needed, count me in.

I have gone down the road of donating my health to others and will do it again if needed.

I am A+ and have passed all blood work for organ donation in the last 2 years (standard screening stuff).  I am missing a kidney but that should not stop me from being a marrow donor if needed.

Hang on for this storm.

Eric,
in the past i believe it was. That said, modern treatments i think have changed and they prefer to take my existing and treat it, then reinject it.  This is what i understand at this time.  I do so appreciate the offer, and if it comes to the point that i need to screen and vette for new donors i'll let you and all of arfcom know.  I think i recall your story about donating your health.  you are a true hero sir. especially in my book.  thank you so much.
we share the A+ blood type as well!  I do thank you again.

in other news, I'm currently typing this from my office chair in my second day back to work. I'm trying to get healthy enough and to do work like usual, as i've depleeted my sick/short term disability.  No more work = no more money so back to work if possible.  Its been mildly successful so far, but i'm not totally feeling 100% either. We'll see how things go.

Take care sir.

I am happy to learn you are back at work.  That is GREAT NEWS!

Thank you sir.  it is a intermittant thing. i go in and can leave as necessary ifi  feel weak or ill. so they are really helping me any way they can.

hey guys, just wantd to do a quick update here.

I cant thank everyone enough for the support you guys have shown me in the past.  you have no idea how much you all helped me in the past, and how much it meant to me.

My health is what id say at this time to be "stable" . my last bone marrow biopsy was done 3 weeks ago and showed my cancer percentage down in my bone marrow from 65% to 20% roughly.  While this is great it is not enough for musc to want to move forward with the bone marrow transfusion yet.  They are upping my chemo game on Dec 27th.  I have to go into Lexington Hospital again on the 27th as inpatient for one day. needless to . say after my last experience there im freakin out. its not cause they were bad folk, but rather cause i was in there for so long. I ttruly hope that it is in fact just the quick 24 hour stay that they are telling me it should be.  The reason for this is the chemo treatment im getting is an 8 hour drip administration time.  MUSC does theirs as out patient butt that is because they have their clinic open for 10 hours a day, where Lexington is only open 8 roughly, so i have to be inpatient. After that, i will be back to being outpatient once a week for the chemo treatment.  and instead of it taking 8 hours each time they say it should only take 4-5 hours each time.  (Yay!) lol.. anyways, after 8 weeks i will go down to charleston for the bone marrow transplant.  as long as the cancer % in my body is as close to zero as posssible.  Once in charleston they pull my marrow out, put it on ice for 2 weeks, i then go home recouperate and as they put it "put my affairs in order" (which scares the shit out of me to say the least) and then after that i go back for the 1 month period of the bone marrow transplant.  They basically will zap me hard with chemo and kill everything they can.  then give me back the stem cells they took out in the 2 week thing, and that should jump start me. during this 1 month i cant be any further away from the hospital than 20 min because if i were to spike a fever of 100.2 or anything like that i could die.  The bills are piliing up, and will continue to do so, like a mother. and after the first of the year i get to deal with another deductable to satisfy as well so yay me.  I had some nice folks setup a go fund me, and you guys here were great at donating to me in the past via paypal.  if you guys want to continue to do so please feel free. my paypal is my screen name here @gmail.com.

anyways thats pretty much where we stand. i'm trying to work as much as i can but it is hard to do as i even right now have a broken rib and 2 broken vertibrae and i get fatigued and nasueas pretty easily.  I'm trying to keep my positiveity up and my head up and fight this bastard but damned if it isnt taking a long time. I just want to beat it and put it behind me.  Anyways yall are great, and all support for me in the past has been greatly appreciated to the point of me being in tears cause i sure as heck dont deserve it from such a great group of folks. Just know you guys have made a large impact in my life and for that i am forever thankful.

I know your treatment uses your marrow but if you need some clean A+ let me know.  I will gladly hook you up.