[Calimom]

My mother is 80 and has MDS. She was stable for 3 years and the last two she's been on Procrit/Aranesp injections. In January when they checked her blood count she was at 7.5. She got a transfusion of two unit and a double dose of Aranesp. Three weeks later she was 9.5. Double dose of Aranesp and Friday she's down to 7.5 again. She's scheduled for two more units of blood this week.

How many transfusions until they consider you transfusion dependent?

She's a "snow bird" and lives with me during the winter months. In April she will be headed back to North Dakota and living alone. She doesn't have any symptoms...just really tired some days. I did notice some memory problems last week and a lot of yawning and coughing.

Is it possible for her numbers to crash and her to be unable to get out of bed one morning? Is it time for a more assisted living environment? The fact that she doesn't have symptoms worries my siblings since she doesn't know it's happening. My siblings and I have decided we are going to put a limit on her driving (no driving under 9.0). I'd hate for her to hurt someone while driving.

Thanks.