I had a fall at work which I did not consider serious but eventually saw my GP about as I was always tired - sleeping for hours- and had pain in my ribs and left leg; the latter I put down to the fall. The GP misdiagnosed the pain as nerve damage and prescribed a large dose of anti-inflammatories which shut down my kidneys (already damaged by the myeloma) and nearly killed me. Blood tests revealed the myeloma and the fact that my kidneys were functioning at about 10%. I have had several courses of chemo (Velcade) and I am, at the moment, stable with about 26% kidney function. I also have lumbar plexoplathy and have suffered a heart attack. So it is sometimes difficult to know which of my ailments is responsible for which symptoms.

Prognosis means, ultimately, "how long do I have?" But that question is not a valid use of survival statistics, which should be used primarily in assessing the best treatment for the stage that is presenting. This is because it is based on dead people. You are not dead, so you are not included. I was diagnosed with Stage III-B MM, type lambda, (- B means with kidney damage)with 90% marrow plasma cells, in March of 1993. I had a three-year remission with my first chemo of intermittent high-dose dexamethasone. After three years, when a small amount of Bence-Jones protein was found, I enrolled in a clinical trial "Intensification of Stem Cell Transplantation," in November of 1996, and have had no detectable disease since that time. I still monitor, but now at six-month intervals. Prognosis? Anything is possible, even for late stage MM like mine. When people ask me what I do, I tell them that I "rewrite medical statistics."

I'm 45 years old and found out two months ago that I have multiple myeloma. I went to the hospital for neck pains and my c-2 vertebra was fractured. I have been doing radiation and chemotherapy. I'm at stage 3 and they have me scheduled to have a stem cell and a bone marrow transplant. To be honest I'm very scared about this because it has not been a very comfortable ride so far. I'm a single father and really hate for my kids to see me weak and down.

After leaving MD Anderson I continued chemo and developed a urinary tract infection which affected my ability to think and remember things. I was admitted to a local hospital and transferred to MN Anderson. They treated the UTI and put me on a strong chemo medication. I had to spend awhile in rehab to regain my strength. I had another bout of pneumonia due to anemia which required 2 units of blood. It is good to tell you I have been in remission for 4 months, have been able to have kyphoplasty yesterday which we ate hopeful will ease the pain from the fractured vertebrae. I am a happy person today!

My father is 75 and started feeling backaches. He consulted with an orthopedic doctor who started giving him pain killers, but the pain kept increasing. Another orthopedic doctor was consulted, but no treatment was given. The pain continued to increase for three months. A new doctor advised to go for some tests and a bone scan, which immediately diagnosed multiple myeloma. Accordingly treatment was started and now it is totally under control. I advise that when pain in your body persists for more than two weeks to get it investigated.

I was a Caucasian 42 year old female when diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I have had 2 stem cell transplants I have been in remission for 13 years chemo and stem cell saved my life I am in Stage 3 kidney disease which does not seem to be progressing. I do exercise in the water 2 days weekly I do have osteoarthritis in much of my body. I have had 9 broken bones from hips, to ribs to arms, I also have flagrant fibromyalgia, I was diagnosed with stage 3 in 1998 but I'm still here recently my oncologist has stopped all preventive treatment for MM and feels that I have a good chance at even a longer remission there are survivors out here I wish I had known that 13 years ago when I was looking for hope.

Disease was found Feb. 12, 2010, with Multiple Myeloma of the spin. He was on maintenance medication called Thalomid but now cannot tolerate the medication given. Pain is over a 10 in both legs. He was taking 200 mg of Thalomid then it was changed to 100 mg. His doctor has taken him off the thalomid to see if the pain in his legs goes away.

I was diagnosed in Sept, 2010 and have been going thru with a regimen of doxil infusions, revlimid for 28 days a month and dexamethasone. I now have to decide on having bone marrow transplant.

I am on the edge between smothered myeloma and multiple myeloma. The doctor wants to monitor blood tests and X-rays every three months without any drug treatment yet.