Current diagnosis is Amyloidosis and multiple myeloma

Hi @jan52241. Welcome to Connect! I'm sorry to hear you have felt alone in this diagnosis thus far, but so glad that you found our community.

I'd like to introduce you to @gaetanche @mvpdda and @tmousetis who also have amyloidosis. Hopefully they will join this discussion thread and share their experiences about treatment and managing symptoms.

You may also want to look at this thread on AL Amyloidosis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diagnosed-with-al-amyloidosis-would-like-to-hear-from-someone-about-what/ and this one on neuropathy: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-pain-in-my-left-foot-and-lower-left-legs/.

In the meantime, can you tell us a bit more about yourself. What, if any, symptoms are you experiencing? What treatments are you trying?

Also, I just wanted to let you know i'm editing the title of the thread to make it more searchable and hopefully get more activity.

Hi Jan, I was diagnosed a year ago with multiple mylenoma. After radiation and chemo I am now in remission, the only downfall is I developed neuropathy in my left leg and fingers along with both feet. I am on a drug called lyrica which seems to help, I have no pain just numbness which makes me very careful when I walk. As I

Hi Jan, I was diagnosed with multiple mylenoma a year ago. I have developed neuropathy in my left leg, Han

Hi Jan, I was diagnosed a year ago with multiple mylenoma! Since then I have gotten neuropathy in my left leg , both feet and fingers on my left hand. They have prescribed lyrica to help and it does to a point, so I guess you could ask about that drug. I hope this will help.

Hello Jan,<br><br>I had a successful SCT at Mayo in Feb., '12 and I am living a fairly normal life. I was lucky to have very little organ involvement but I did suffer from nerve pain so much that I was up to 50 mg of OxyContin twice a day and another 3-4 10 mg oxycodone for break through pain. Needless to say, I was in the fetal position in pain without the narcotics. Lyrica was and is a miracle drug for me. I was able to reduce the oxy by 80%. After the SCT I was eventually able to get off the narcotics completely. After a few years I was still feeling pretty lethargic from the Lyrica and I am now only taking 75 mg 2 to 3 times per day with the help of a very low dose of 50 mg of tramadol once a day.<br><br>Good Luck and know that there are a lot of good stories coming out of the Amy / MM clinics around the country and especially from the Mayo.<br><br>Pete Cannon<br>Seattle<br>

I had neuropathy in my left foot/toes and terrible nerve pain. The mm and amyloidosis were diagnosed by a chance blood test for my neuropathy. How were you diagnosed and how long after did they start chemo? I go every three months for a full body MRI and a full blood panel. My next appointment they will do a blood panel and an MRI on my upper arms. The I will get a bone marrow aspiration to check on my plasma cells. I would like to hear more of your story so I will be prepared at my next visit. Thank you for your info.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is SCT? Hope you are doing well.

What were your symptoms leading up to diagnosis?

SCT = stem cell transplant

I had no symptoms. It was discovered in a blood test for neurological<br>issues. I am in the smoldering stage at the moment.<br><br>

I was just dx a week ago through BMB and fat aspirate, but they have elected to go with the watch and wait approach. No decisions for at least 3 months. This wait is really causing anxiety. I am also a smolderer without symptoms. The DX was made due to finding I carry a germline gene that is linked to amyloidosis and we tested just to make sure I "didn't" have it. Trying to educate myself now.

Welcome to Connect, @jilljohnson61401
I think the watch and wait approach causes anxiety for many. It feels like doing nothing. In actual fact, your medical team is not inactive, but rather actively monitoring you. I prefer the term “active surveillance” rather than “no effort”.

Here’s how the National Cancer Institute defines active surveillance: “Closely watching a patient’s condition but not giving treatment unless symptoms appear or change. Watchful waiting is sometimes used in conditions that progress slowly. It is also used when the risks of treatment are greater than the possible benefits. During watchful waiting, patients may be given certain tests and exams. It is a type of expectant management.”

Good for you for educating yourself. Please ask questions. We've got an experienced and knowledgeable group here to share with.

I'm bringing @jan52241 @debdeb @user_ch1df4426 @gaetanche and @tmousetis into the discussion.

Jill, is your next appointment in 3 months?