It's no wonder that I haven't won the Mega Billions Lottery ever, because I don't seem to be the kind of guy who gets the good side of statistics. Or maybe that's the very reason that I should play the lottery, because I seem to fall into the "least likely" category of things. Permit me to explain.
Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a relatively uncommon cancer. In the United States, the lifetime risk of getting MM is 1 in 132 (0.76%). So somehow, I squeezed into that rather exclusive club. And MM is also twice as common in African Americans, so once again I am going against the odds.
Earlier this week, I tested positive for Covid - AGAIN. I'm not even sure why I did test. I had a tiny, tiny sniffle so I followed the advice (pressure) of Dr. Mom and checked it out. Lo and behold (what? and what?) I tested positive - just 8 days after completion of my 5-day course of Paxlovid from my previous first-ever bout of the coronavirus. Once again beating the statistical odds, coming right at the tail end of what is now being identified as the 2-to-8 day possible window for Paxlovid Rebound (we seem to be running out of names for illnesses). If I hadn't seen the two pink lines for myself, I wouldn't have ever believed that it was even true. So, I tested again later in the day - shocker: positively positive. Here again, 3 - 5% of Paxlovid takers experience rebound. To paraphrase Groucho Marx, "I wouldn't want to be a part of any club that would have me as a member!”
The current protocol is to NOT repeat the course of Paxlovid (I checked with my Onc Team), and to do 5 days of isolation followed by 5 more days of mask wearing. Good thing I WFH - in a 4-bedroom house (with an office). I'm up to Day 8, and fortunately I have not had any symptoms or outward signs of any illness the entire time. I'm not sure how rare that kind of Paxlovid Rebound experience is, but if it's unusual - I am both glad and not surprised. Red hair occurs in 1 - 2% of the American population, so this has been a lifetime situation. Just call me: Mr Anomaly.
