Since 9th December 2012, Mummy complained of pain and swelling in right
knee and I took her to Orthopedic O-1’s clinic at Hospital No. 4 on the following day. O-1
asked Mom to just rest and recover, he was not interested in putting her on
medication that day. He asked us to visit us next week if rest does not help
mom recover.
On 10th
December 2012, H-2 had also asked us to visit him in his OPD at Hospital No. 4.
After meeting O-1, we made our way upstairs to H-2’s clinic.
Since Mummy and I had
categorically told H-2 the previous week and even that day, that we do not wish
to undertake Bone Marrow Transplant, H-2 was visibly unhappy with us. In
hindsight, I understood why that was so, BMT’s are big business these days,
Hospitals and Doctors make many lakhs in profit by pushing patients to opt for
it.
The reason we did not
opt for it were far too many, cost of the therapy not being one of them.
Reluctantly and disgustingly, H-2 told Mom, “Now that you are not going for
BMT, for maintaining Multiple Myeloma under remission, take this pill for the
next two years, daily once”, and he scribbled the name of the pill and the
number of the Pharma dealer from whom we could procure it on Mummy’s
prescription for that day. The name of the pill was “Lenzest10mg” with the salt
named “Lenalidomide”.
And, off the medicines he had started prior to beginning Mom’s 16 week
course of medication, he asked us to stop taking the tablet named “Acyclovir”,
as it was no longer required.
On 12th December 2012, Mummy contracts Eye Infection and on 19th
December 2012, Viral Conjunctivitis was diagnosed in her Right Eye and she was
advised to put Lubrox and Ciplox Eye Drops four times daily and take Vitamin
C Tablets, once daily for the next 10 days and she recovered post that.
On 21st December 2012, Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration Tests
were performed i.e. samples collected by H-2 on Mom by getting her to lie down
on her stomach on the Bed at his private OPD Clinic itself. These tests were
being done to confirm that Mummy’s Multiple Myeloma had gone into ‘Complete
Remission’.
He charged us Rs.5000 in cash to conduct that test and we had to bring all
syringes (big fat ones), local anaesthetics etc. for H-2 to perform the test;
including his gloves, we got it all. He called for the lab attendants to get
slides and sample collection tubes. The test were performed, my brave mom had
borne the pain yet again and a thick bandage was put over the point in her back
from where that thick Biopsy needle had made its way into her Bone Marrow that
day. I was told by H-2 that I can remove that thick bandage a few days later
when she feels better.
It was the month of December, a month where peak winter sets in in Delhi,
any bone pain hurts more severely in winters and I could not imagine the pain
Mummy was undergoing in those days.
Since 22nd December 2012, Mummy experienced tenderness and pain
in the back, exactly, in the region where her Bone Marrow Biopsy was performed,
and later experiences pain in the left leg and knee region. I took her to O-1’s
clinic on the morning of 25th December 2012 and on his advice, she
started taking Ultracet Tablets on an SOS basis (restricted to 1 or 2 pills
daily) and RutoHeal Tablet twice daily for the next 10 days, which
helped relieve her pain and make her feel better.
The Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspirate Reports were collected by me from
Hospital No. 4 on 31st December 2012.The reports confirmed that my
mom’s Multiple Myeloma is under ‘Complete Remission’, I breathed a sigh of relief and came home joyous.
We decided to celebrate this piece of good news that had come to us as a tough
year came to an end later that night…
We celebrated it the wrong way though, we consumed Palak-paneer i.e.
cooked Indian vegetable dish of Spinach and Cheese. She started experiencing gastric troubles post dinner that night of 31st December
2012. After experiencing prolonged nausea and acidity. Mom finally vomits the Palak-paneer
out and I then gave her Cintapro-the tablet GI-3 had explained to me to
keep handy as it helps relieve gastric acidity. Mom feels better post vomiting
and consuming Cintapro tablet, she sleeps fine that night and wakes up well on
1st January 2013.
The New Year 2013 had begun well or so I hoped.
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