[towncarlady]

Neil,

Thank you for the post. I began research on the internet almost immediately on diagnosis. My research continues. I find that for me being an informed patient helps me as well as my physician. I am very pro-active in my care. In fact, it is a result of my own persistence that I finally got answers to why I was staying sick constantly and staying anemic. On top of that, all test results were coming normal. It was then that I asked my allergist about seeing a hemotologist. Bingo! It was not what I expected to hear.

One of the hardest areas to accept was the disruption or possibly cessation of my Christian music concerts. How can a concert be booked in advance when my medical condition is so unpredictable? I have been able to play for a church which helps fill in the gap.

My family and friends are very supportive, but acceptance on their part is just as hard. Coping with a serious illness does change one's life.

To those who may read this post, please feel free to ask questions. We who are MDS patients do not have as much information as we would like. I have found that the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society is a great source of information.