Nick's BE Healthy World Tour
I’m so grateful for all the support, attention, follow-up, and love that I’ve received from friends, family, clients, and colleagues. Please know that it’s totally a part of my treatment plan and making all the difference.
To stay connected and in communication, I’m creating a periodic email where I update everyone on all the action that’s taking place on my “BE Healthy World Tour.”
Week of 8/29:
I was admitted into Memorial Sloan on Monday, August 30th.
On September 1st, they performed a kyphoplasty procedure (a spinal procedure that involves injecting bone cement into the vertebrae). They found a total of 5+ bone issues versus the original two from the prior MRI I had done in CT.
As I have shared, one of the consequences of Myeloma is that it weakens one’s bones.
The spine Dr said that he found three compound fractures and two broken bones in my back when he went in to cement the bones. Wow. Five! No wonder I’ve been in excruciating pain with little to no flexibility. Damn.
He also said my bones are incredibly weak and that it will take several months to get my overall structure back to its fullest and healthiest place. Physical therapy will play a role.
For the next couple of months, he doesn’t want me lifting more than a liter of milk or stretching to tie my shoes. I must be incredibly careful since I’m at high risk of another fracture.
As part of my diagnostic testing, I also had a Pet Scan that revealed a compromised femur bone/right hip, so we started radiation. I have not felt any pain or limitations in this area so we can rule out surgery for now and stick with the radiation.
Next, I received my first chemo treatment this past Tuesday. Since I'll be completing radiation this week, we are going to hold off on the second chemo dose until 9/13.
My initial reaction to the chemo brought on a small fever, however, the fever went away after a couple of hours, and I have since been stable, which is great news.
Cardiology gave me a thumbs up as it relates to the atrial fibrillation incident I had earlier in the month, and a thumbs up to proceed with chemo. Whew!
Getting back to the Pet Scan, the good news is that the heart and kidneys are strong, and my calcium levels are healthy which are all important markers for this journey. Overall, my main organs are healthy, which is welcome news.
Lastly, I’ve hired a psychotherapist to support me where I can have intimate conversations as I go through the ups, the scares, the unknowns, the successes, etc. on the BE Healthy journey.
Again, please know that your support, love, energy, and attention leave me feeling like I am part of something much larger. I feel connected versus alone which is key for my health. So, thank you for being here with me … really.
“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” - African Proverb. I will absolutely go very far in my recovery having you by my side …arms locked.
I’m feeling optimistic after all the steps we took this week and happy to be in action.
With love and healing,
Nick
Me at a Spartan Race with my men’s group, The Dudes of Disruption, in 2017. I’ll be back!
