The Wrong Direction

I just reviewed my blog post of September 13.  I wrote about a Free Lambda reading of 2752 being a new record.  Well a reading of 4879 on 9/24 sure put that to shame.  Luckily, the next reading on 10/1 was 2076 lower at 2803.  That gave an indication that the Elotuzumab was finally kicking in and having an effect.  But the latest on 10/15 was 2970, an increase of 167 and going in the wrong direction.  I wonder if the Elotuzumab has lost its effectiveness.

Here is the latest graph of the last year:

Whereas in the spring 2 doses of Elotuzumab brought the Free Lambda right down, the latest behavior is not so promising.  The big spike to 4879 happened after 3 doses of Elotuzumab.  Then it came back down dramatically, but it has just gone up to what would once have been a record.  I wonder if the 5 doses of Elotuzumab in the spring gave my Multiple Myeloma enough exposure to Elotuzumab to figure out a way around it.

Two and a half weeks ago, in spite of the high numbers I was feeling very good.  I took a brisk walk in the neighborhood using my walker, and I actually felt as if I was power-walking.  So I went out back and attacked some vines that overgrow the cedar trees in our pasture.  Well I overdid it trying to uproot the vines, and I think I broke a high rib or bruised my sternum.  At any rate, ever since my chest has been hurting.  I have been taking pain killers, but coughing or sneezing really exacerbates the pain.  My upper back is very bent so I can no longer do exercises on a mat on the floor, as my upper back hurts and does not straighten out.  A certain wife points out that I have nobody to blame except myself for this.  Sigh.

I did ask Dr. Nahas recently if 4800 is an unusually high reading.  She said she has seen readings of 30 – 40,000, but by that time you are in the hospital on dialysis because otherwise the Free Lambda would overwhelm your kidneys.  So where I am now is concerning, but not an emergency.  My next appointment is this coming Tuesday, and I wonder what the tactical response will be.  More to come soon, but I thought I’d keep you up to date on what has just happened.