November 30, 2016.. I finished up with all the tests I was scheduled to have today. We were there just about all day starting at 8 am this morning. I am seeing more things as my test results come in tonight (I can look at them when they are posted to my account at UAMS) to show me the Kyprolis is not working like it was. I just don't know how bad it is at this point. I do expect the doctor to change my treatment regime significantly tomorrow. I would feel so much better if I were seeing my regular doctor here instead of his replacement. By the way, the doctor that is seeing his patients has many years treating myeloma patients so it should be ok to make decisions about me. There are two people from back home I see at KHO and he is their doctor here.

It is so sad to see the destruction at Gatlinburg and surrounding area. It all seems impossible. They are collecting for the Red Cross here in Little Rock to help people in that area. I guess they are doing that all over the country. So very sad.  

November 29, 2016.. I forgot to add to the post last night I had to get a unit of blood. My hemoglobin was too low (8.0). That increased the time we were in infusion so were there for over 6 hours. 
We are sad about hearing about the damage from fire in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. We can see live updates on WBIR and WATE tv in Knoxville. 
I have a PET scan this morning, treatment after that and then an MRI at 4pm. I will update the blog tonight with any information of today.

I got the tests completed I was scheduled for today and we got back to the apartment just a little after dark. Seems like these days at MIRT get real long at times. We got there at 8:45 this morning and have to be there at 8 in the morning. I have the bone marrow biopsy starting then and should finish with all the tests about 5 pm or later tomorrow with an echocardiogram at the end. We are then scheduled to see the doctor on Thursday at 1 pm. 
I think I mentioned my regular doctor will not be here. Another doctor will be seeing his patients while he is gone. I hope I get a future treatment plan from his replacement that I think is the best plan I can be on. I might have to try to make some arrangements to see my doctor when he gets back. That would require us to spend an additional 6 or 7 days here in order to do that. The earliest I could see him would be next Wednesday. Hopefully the doctor replacing him, will give me a treatment plan that I think is adequate. 

November 28, 2016.. I got checked in at MIRT this morning and picked up all my paper work and got my labs drawn and they were sent to the lab. Today, I got my first of two treatments that I will get while I am here this time. When I reviewed my lab tests results tonight, I was disappointed and surprised at the results of the Kappa Free Light Chains in the myeloma markers on the blood test. This is one of the main tests that are looked at to see if treatment is working. Without trying to explain, I will post a screen shot of some of the test results. As you can see, the Kappa Free Light Chains almost tripled during this past month and up almost 8 times since just a few months ago. (Click on the image to enlarge it enough to read)

Another real important part of the test is the Kappa/Lamda ratio. It shows here that it has gone to over 89. This is the highest I have ever had since they have been testing me. It is surprising how fast it went up. I had heard from others that it just takes off in the wrong direction when a treatment stops working. I have told some in my family that my regular specialist will not be here to see me while I am here at MIRT. He will be attending the American Society of Hematology meeting in San Diego so I will have to see another doctor. I wish my doctor was going to be here.  

November 27, 2016.. We made the drive to Little Rock on Saturday November 26. We left home at 7:30am EST and arrived at the Fifth Avenue Lofts apartments where the Little Rock Church has apartments for rent to myeloma patients at about 6:30 pm CST. Traffic on the way here was not particularly heavy as we thought it might be due the Thanksgiving holiday. The big difference was lighter than usual truck traffic. That made driving much easier. Tomorrow, I have a light schedule at UAMS/MIRT so it should be an easy day.