[Caroltri]

Hi everyone:

I have been lurking on the site for a couple of weeks and now have officially registered. I was dx last month with MDS as I was preparing for Total Hip Replacement in May. It was cancelled the day before because my blood levels were all over the place. I was insisting they were low because I had donated blood for myself prior to the surgery and I had a really bad swimmer's ear infection the month before. No one was buying the story that I was spouting. So after more blood tests and a BMB I was dx with MDS. I was promptly sent to a specialist to see if I could be a canidate for a sibling stem cell transplant. After the appt I was deemed a "perfect candidate" for transplant. Considering that I'm "healthy"and have no symptons outside the fact that I need a new hip and have can have my 2nd cataract surgery when ever I want, and glaucoma stemming from steroid use 25 years ago to treat RA and Graves Disease. At the initial appt my sister and I were tested to see if she was a match and lo and behold on Tuesday of this week found out she is a "perfect match". I thought I had time but I have now jumped on the transplant train and had pre-transplant test yesterday to submit for insurance approval.
I was planning on doing a charity swim in the SF bay for cancer research on September 25 but told I shouldn't plan on it. I have my next appt on July 19 to address the transplant the doctor told me we should move quickly because of my complex chromosones.