Different Doctor in charge

I didn't post on Feb.20 because it was an unexpectedly long session and the only thing of interest was that I had been given an Aredia infusion taking 4 hours and it was the first one in 3 months. I had forgotten that I was due for the infusion so wasn't prepared for such a long session. I had to trail the the equipment tower out to the reception room to find something to read during the infusion. Then, too, I knew that I would be returning on the 23rd for the cycle ending tests and thought I would post that day, but there was nothing particlarly interesting about the tests except the MRI took much longer than I had been told it would take; it was scheduled late in the afternoon and I didn't feel up to posting after I got home. And I was scheduled to see Dr. Zambari at 2:00 PM yesterday so again decided to postpone the posting until after that visit. I am always told to arrive 30 minutes early for visits with the doctor and in the past when I was due to see Dr. Tricot I found that the early arrival resulted in seeing the doctor well before the scheduled time, but not so yesterday.

It was an entertaining and enlightening visit. I had seen Dr. Zangari a few times before but never for an evaluation of my treatment or medication and the effects of these on me. He told us (Emma and Nancy both accompanied me) a couple of humorous stories about visits by himself and/or his wife to relatives in Italy and made us feel quite at ease. He told me that I should stop taking thalidomide for a month to see if the neuropathy in my feet and hands might subside. A blood test on the first day of each 28-day cycle will show whether this stoppage has a negative effect on my progress in fighting the multiple myeloma, which he says is going very well. The Velcade that I get every week also contributes to the neuropathy so there may be little or no effect in stopping thalidomide. He said that all the chemo drugs that I take can cntribute to the dizzy spells that I sometimes suffer. It is quite possible that the Velcade shot I had around 4:00 PM yesterday and the cyclophosphamide that I took shortly after getting home caused the dizzy spell that came upon me just as we were getting ready to have dinner with Joanna Netelbeek who had come to spend the night with us. I was so dizzy that I found my way with the aid of a cane to the sofa to lie down. Emma covered me with an afgan and I slept until nearly 9:00 PM. Emma insisted the dizzyness was due to the martinis that I had fixed for the 3 of us, but I have never been affected by alcohol with my medication before. So this morning I checked the instructions for taking those 2 medications as well as several others and none that I checked cautioned against alcohol while taking the drugs. Some do, however, so about 2 years ago I asked Dr. Tricot about drinking wine and he responded "one glass." If he were still here I would ask about other alcoholic beverages and amounts.

Yesterday I asked the head nurse about a permanent replacement for Dr. Tricot and she said that the hospital administration is seriously considering a cancer doctor who was trained in Germany, but she dosen't know when or if he will he appointed. In the meantime I expect I will continue to see Dr. Zangari, but Dr. Tricot told me shortly before leaving that he expects Dr. Zangari to follow himself to Iowa City. I liked my session with Dr. Zangari yesterday.