New Member Saying Hi

[rpenrod1]

I have spent the last few hours reading posts and I am so thankful to have found this spot. For the past few months I have been doing research on the web and it is all confusing to me. My mother has MDS. We are meeting with the doctors on Monday to find out what type and the options available. Her story is a little different and I want to share , since it might help one person who has the symptoms of MDS. My mom was tired all the time, she is 68 and very active. She got a bug bite, (later found to be a tick, dear tick ) it wouldn't heal, so she went to the dr. put her on antibiotics. 10 days later still not healed. Took blood tests, results came back, sent us to a specialist. Bone marrow Biopsy performed. Her blood levels were so low, put her in the hospital and did a transfusion. Thought acute Leukemia . Luckily they did a test which looks for traces of Erclickia.(spelling I am sure is wrong) Came back positive. This is a disease which mimics MSD. Gave her the treatment. Back in more blood tests. The Erlickia was gone from her system. The doctors even asked if they could do an article on her case. Too soon..Cell levels checked for the next 2 months. Conclusive MSD. Had she not gotten the Erclickia she probably would not have gone to the doctor. I am grateful we at least have a name for what is going on and treatment is available. I know we have a long road ahead of us and we are going to travel that road together. Just wanted to give a heads up, if you live in an area with woods, have your doctor perform this test. We live in St. louis and there have been 40 cases reported this year with the Erlickia. The blood results again mimic MDS. Maybe, one just one person may have this treatable disease instead of the MDS.
Thanks for letting me share.