| I haven't been sick since I got sick
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As some of you may know, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in October of '09. It is a blood disorder which has been attacking the bones of my spine. I have had reinforcement surgery (kyphoplasty) and am a bit better.
I have been in treatment at the U of M Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, MI. I have been taking tons of pills and get infusions of drugs there 2x a week to get my blood 'numbers' better. I'll find out by the end of the summer if I will face real chemotherapy.
I am in severe pain, but I decided to get the hell off the couch and go back to work. My sightreading has also improved quite a bit too and I hope to have the strength to gig again by Memorial Day. I plan on going back to my bass teacher to learn as much as I can. It's just difficult all around as the pain never ever goes away. It lurks, sometimes it's just 'nerve shots' that almost crumple my legs.
Anyhow, the Docs warned me about my diminished immune system, but in spite of colds, flu, and assorted other contaigious things floating around the house thanks to school age children, I have not gotten any of them. Weird I suppose.
Since my first post a few months back, I have received several PM's here and have found, I am not alone. Misery may love company, but at the same time, it hurts to see so many stricken. Stricken not by any uniform illness, but by a personalized disease as cancer is. There's no one cure...even for those with the same diagnosis. The waiting room at the U of M Cancer Center is always full, as is the Infusion Area, where I get some of my treatment. Most of these folks look to have it worse than I do, so I am going for it, in spite of the pain.
Attitude is everything, and one has to go forward. Whether its just to know I can still earn an income, (also because I want a Fender Precision V) but the silliest wants are still motivating factors.
Don't let anything get you too down. Only after everything got difficult for me do I realize how good I still have it.
PS: IF you are in a similar medical situation, watch out for those appetite enhancing drugs. You can gain weight in a New York minute 'cause that stuff can make you hellishly hungry...ALL THE TIME. I have to curtail my chocolate donut addiction...which may be a tougher battle.
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Only red lights are forever.
Don't act your disease, defy it.
Fender Precision club member #63. LDS Cabinet Owner #17, Hartke Club Member #86
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