I had my blog post for this week all mapped out and ready to go, and then something happened which changed all that. Permit me to explain - I know you like a good story (or you wouldn't be here in the first place).
When I last saw Dr. S during my monthly infusion session on August 21 (a rare crossing of paths for a Saturday), he explained that he was seeing a "sawtooth" pattern of rising and falling kappa free light chain numbers associated with the presence of myeloma cells in my system - the key marker that they monitor for me. He suggested, in passing, that he was considering altering my cocktail by adding another pill that I could be taking at home (along with others) that would address the issue. He didn't seem too concerned, I didn't seem too concerned - so we planned to go over the details on my next scheduled 4-month visit with him which coincidentally was coming right up. As in this past Friday.
Other than the circuitous route I needed to follow (thank you GPS) in order to get to the clinic while driving around the adjacent flooded highway - remnants of the ravages of Hurricane Ida - it all seemed pretty normal. They checked my vitals, ushered me into an exam room, and I waited for my turn with Dr S. I was still not too worried (I honestly don't do 'worried' and Dr S seemed to have it under control), so the wait was not a nail-biter. He eventually entered the room, followed by another doctor, presumably one of the new faces that he was offering for my consideration as his replacement when he retires in one year (see Post of 8/22). And then Dr S did what he does best.
He proceeded to explain that the bloodwork from my recent clinic visit (they take blood from me every chance they get), had revealed that the pattern he had been observing was actually not a concerning indicator, but rather: a random series of a few ups and then more consistent regulars; that some of the interim results had been a bit of an anomaly; and that in fact there was no issue and therefore no need to adjust my maintenance regimen at this point. Any time we can avoid adding in a new chemical to the mix, the more we can continue the manageable and tolerable side effects that I do currently have under control.
Some may have been skeptical or annoyed by the whole incident. But I was reassured that he is VERY carefully reviewing all of my lab results, taking them all into consideration alone and in concert, and that if there is nothing wrong he is the first to acknowledge it and move on - continuing to keep a close eye on the "numbers." A mistake? Not at all. An ongoing assessment of my ever-changing medical situation - mindful of any need to fine-tune my treatment at any moment? Yes. The awareness to see a problem. The confidence to rely on the science. And the wisdom to know when to stop or when to go. Sometimes in medicine, as in life, it takes more brains and courage to do nothing . . . to be certain about a prognosis before acting upon it. To measure twice (even though you just did that) before you get your one chance to cut.
