Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheryl C
Part of the process of being diagnosed with MDS for me included a CT (or MRI?) scan of my body from the top of my head to the tops of my legs. I'm assuming that this was to eliminate diseases like multiple myeloma. Severe bone pain can be related to MM so my strong advice is to have that symptom checked out ASAP.
When I had excess blasts I used to get some niggling pain in my ribs, shoulder and shins but it wasn't severe. Others on this forum have also reported bone pain symptoms.
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They gave him an MRI last year, but only of his brain. This was to rule out MS, which runs heavily in his family. This was around the same time they gave him his 3rd colonoscopy to rule out internal bleeding as a cause of his anemia.
Lung cancer also runs heavily in his family -- yesterday we attended the funeral of his uncle, who died of it. I got a lot of detail about his family history yesterday: several cases of lung cancer; brain cancer; several MS; polymytosis & lymphoma (not sure if Non-hodgkins or other); skin cancer (several cases); breast cancer. Some of these cancers were very rare types. Some of his relatives had multiple forms of distinct cancers (i.e., one relative had lung, brain and skin cancer and none of the three were related/metastic).
Hubby does not have a cough but he does have a lot of SOB lately, which we've assumed was from the anemia. And now this rib pain. He has had pain which he describes as "deep in the long bones" as well -- but it comes and goes. He's a non-smoker but grew up in a household of heavy smokers.
I don't think his rib pain is niggling. He seems to be okay walking around/standing upright, but he's wincing and acting gingerly every time he gets in and out of bed. About 18 months ago he broke his rib (he was in a bicycle accident). He says he feels like he's re-broken it. But he wasn't doing anything strenuous at the time to break it -- I was there -- he had just leaned over to pick something up off the ground, then he was walking to put it away, took a few steps, and doubled over in pain, nearly losing his balance because it hurt so much. It's the right side lowest rib, if that means anything?
His next doctor's appointment is in two weeks. I have made him promise if his rib still hurts tomorrow, he'll go in earlier.
Hubby is very frustrated. I am frustrated too. The doctor seems not so concerned, since his numbers -- while continuing to drop -- are still not low enough for an MDS diagnosis, though doctor thinks it's headed in that direction. We are frustrated because despite the numbers hubby just keeps feeling worse and worse.
Something IS wrong with him. The weight loss is particularly alarming to me. He's always been slim but this is ridiculous. He's losing muscle mass, not fat (there was very little fat to lose to begin with).
I think it's time for a second opinion, no?