This is the way it's going to be....

Another overnight stay in the hospital, over the weekend. All Fentanyl patches have now been removed, and the only pain meds are the 6 mg of Dilaudid for "break through" pain (not sure how it breaks through, since it never really leaves!).
Just had to love the latest doctor's fatalistic approach to the pain ......"He has Multiple Myeloma, this is how it's going to be. If he wants to control the pain, then he has to deal with the pink elephants, on the wall."

His PCP has now prescribed Cymbalta, to help with  the depression, anxiety, and pain. Really sounds like a miracle drug, doesn't it!

Last week Bob met a man, in his age group, that has been living with MM for almost 6 years - with no SCT. He soon will have to make this same decision - should he, or not? I have asked family members (children, siblings, etc.) to keep their SCT opinions to themselves. I want him to be able to make his own decision without regard to what everyone else thinks. After all, it's his body that will have to experience this procedure, this pain, this success or failure.

We've had lots of company/visitors over the past few weeks, and it helps to keep his mind occupied rather than just focusing on his cancer. My brother, who has been cancer free for 6 years, is a great source of information for Bob. Although he didn't have the same kind of cancer, it was still cancer, with many of the same pains, issues, etc. It helps to talk to someone who has been where you are. Someone who can listen and just say "I know how you feel".

Our family (children, siblings, cousins) have been so supportive and "in the wings" whenever we needed them. Friends, and neighbors, call and stop by - and these are the things that help us to get by. It's a journey that will continue, and it's wonderful that we aren't travelling alone.  MLK's birthday weekend allowed daughter Robbie to come home from TX, and bring her great sense of humor, along with Bob's brother Mike and sister-in-law Genann from NC.  Laughter is always good for the soul, and we had plenty of that.

His lab numbers continue to be good - if the pain will just go away - things would be back to normal. (Now, I'm dreaming!)
Tomorrow, is the last treatment of Cycle 5. I expect his M-Spike to be zero........since it was 0.3 one month ago. Hopefully, he'll be in complete remission! How wonderful it would be if remission came with no pain, but that's not the way it works. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Cymbalta really is a miracle drug! How great if a pill, taken to make the doldrums go away, also makes the pain go away!

Thanks for reading......thanks for prayers......thanks for being on this journey with us!