Lance Carter: When we last left our hero...

I've added Lance Carter's blog into the Patient's Blogs section. His blog, entitled "Lance Carter: When we last left our hero...", details his struggle with amyloidosis and multiple myeloma.

His wife, Lisa, has done a great job detailing how he discovered the disease, and her description of amyloidosis (and treatment) is very informative.

We are all rooting for you Lance! You have a rocky road ahead of you, but if you keep your head up high, you will defeat this. In preparation for your stem-cell transplant, I would offer you the advice I gave to Beth before she had her transplant about a month ago.

• Learn to accept that during your treatment, things may occur unpredictably and out of your control. Your gains, your setbacks -- none of these things will be on any schedule. If you're a control freak like me, this will be all very frustrating. Treatment and recovery is a long process. Clear your calendar, and let your body pace your recovery. Let go of your outside worries and focus on you and your health... it will make things go smoother.
• Never underestimate the power of a positive mental state in your recovery. It is more powerful than any drug or doctor could ever be.
• While you are in the hospital, seek and befriend other amyloid patients. Speaking with others in our condition is very enabling and will give you strength.
• Record all your experiences -- even the bad and horrible ones.
• The drug Ativan will be your friend. Use it often. Whenever you are feeling bad, take one and go to sleep. Repeat as necessary.
• Be sure to keep a paper journal. Record things such as what drugs you took and at what time. You need this because you will forget sometimes. Keep track of which doctors and specialists you saw. This is necessary to because you will see a lot of them, and when the bills come you'll want to remember on what days you saw which people. Record stuff such as weight and how you feel each day. This is necessary to remind yourself of the progress you are making with your recovery.
  
• Draw on your friends in your support network -- don't be shy to ask for help or favors when you are in need. They will want to help you, and you will need to be helped during this process.
• Learn to like hospital food. In the end, everything will taste like chicken.
  
• Never, ever give up. Fight the good fight.