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My Multiple Myeloma Story: 1st Symptoms & Diagnosis | Marti (1 of 4) | The Patient Story

The Patient Story・26 minutes read

Marty shared her challenging myeloma journey, emphasizing the importance of advocating for oneself in healthcare settings and receiving timely specialized care. Despite facing persistent symptoms and a misdiagnosis, Marty's hospital experience underscored the critical role of attentive medical attention in severe health crises.

Insights

  • Marty's journey emphasizes the critical role of timely medical intervention and specialized care in severe health crises, showcasing the importance of attentive medical attention during critical moments.
  • Advocating for oneself in healthcare settings, especially when faced with persistent and escalating symptoms requiring urgent medical attention, is a crucial takeaway from Marty's experience, underscoring the significance of proactive engagement in managing one's health journey.

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Recent questions

  • What symptoms did Marty experience?

    Dizziness, fogginess, vomiting, extreme fatigue, racing heart, coughing, shortness of breath, hives.

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Summary

00:00

Marty's Myeloma Journey: A Tale of Advocacy

  • Marty, a guest on The Patient Story, shares her myeloma journey, highlighting her life beyond cancer as a wife and mother of two daughters with seven grandchildren.
  • Marty experienced symptoms like dizziness, fogginess, vomiting, and extreme fatigue from January 2020, leading to numerous doctor appointments.
  • Initially diagnosed with a slightly off thyroid, Marty later developed hives, leading to allergist visits and steroid treatments.
  • Additional symptoms like racing heart, coughing, and shortness of breath emerged in September, following hives, leading to ER visits and virtual doctor consultations.
  • Marty's symptoms persisted, leading to a misdiagnosis of bronchitis and later pneumonia, necessitating multiple rounds of antibiotics and inhalers.
  • Despite virtual and in-person doctor visits, Marty's health deteriorated, leading to anemia diagnosis and three ER visits before being admitted to the hospital in November.
  • Marty's husband's intervention with a doctor friend led to prompt hospital admission, where she received immediate attention, including blood transfusions due to severe anemia.
  • Marty's hemoglobin levels dropped to 5.8, prompting multiple blood transfusions throughout the day, alongside heart monitoring and chest x-rays.
  • Marty's hospital experience highlighted the importance of timely intervention and specialized care, emphasizing the critical role of attentive medical attention in severe health crises.
  • Marty's journey underscores the significance of advocating for oneself in healthcare settings, especially when faced with persistent and escalating symptoms that require urgent medical attention.

16:56

"Family's Cancer Diagnosis Journey Through COVID"

  • The process involved a sonogram, ultrasound, bone marrow biopsy, and CT scan to diagnose cancer.
  • Cancer suspicions arose after an ultrasound showed no stomach issues but led to a bone marrow biopsy.
  • Due to COVID restrictions, conversations about the diagnosis were held over the phone with family members.
  • The initial conversation about cancer with the oldest daughter, a nurse, was prompted by concerns about symptoms.
  • The husband's reaction to the cancer diagnosis was initially anger due to the challenging circumstances.
  • The diagnosis of multiple myeloma was delivered after a bone marrow biopsy, causing emotional distress.
  • Social media was used to inform friends and family about the hospitalization and diagnosis.
  • The patient's physical symptoms, like dizziness and anemia, made it challenging to process and ask questions about the diagnosis.
  • The daughter played a crucial role in asking questions and recording them for later discussions with healthcare providers.
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