Home         Forums  

Go Back   Marrowforums > Community > Tell Your Story
Register FAQ Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Tell Your Story Say hello or share your experiences

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old Mon Aug 17, 2009, 03:25 AM
ann ann is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Burleson, TX
Posts: 77
Husband Diagnosed With Mds 6/30/2009

In Nov. 2008, my husband had a stint put in behind his knee and the cardiologist kept him in the hospital for a blood transfusion. In Jan. 2009, he had an upper GI because our family doctor and the gastroentlogist thought he had an ulcer, he did. 2 more units of blood. We left on a trip to celebrate our 53rd anniversary. We went to Big Bend National Park and my husband could not get out of the car to walk or do anything except look at the scenry from the car. We went on our planned vacation but had to cut it short because he could not breathe. When we got home our familly doctor sent him to a hemotologist/oncologist. He was diagnosed on 6/30/09 with MDS, and was told that the longest he would live would be 2 years or less.

He is doing the Vidaza treatments. Has had one series and gets a shot of Procrit that makes him feel lousy for a day or two. He has received 4 more blood transfusions since Jan. Has no energy and stays in his chair with a book, his remote and the Sudoko puzzle book. Has to have help drying off after his shower and is "worn out". How does this end?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old Mon Aug 17, 2009, 04:22 AM
Birgitta-A Birgitta-A is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 1,918
Husband with MDS

Hi Ann,
Too sad with your husbands MDS diagnose and symptoms that made you cut your 53rd anniversary short!

You know nobody knows how long a person will live - I have never understood how doctors can tell patients that they will live 2 years or less.

Do you know anything about how your husbands MDS is staged?

Vidaza is supposed to be the best drug for many patients with MDS but the counts (the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelets) can decrease during the first four cycles before the patients improve.
Kind regards
Birgitta-A
70 yo, dx MDS Interm-1 May 2006, transfusion dependent from dx, have now received 96 units of red blood cells, Neupogen injections 2 times/week for low white blood cells, Desferal for iron overload, asymptomatic
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old Mon Aug 17, 2009, 10:01 AM
Dick S Dick S is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 189
Quote:
Originally Posted by ann View Post
He was diagnosed on 6/30/09 with MDS, and was told that the longest he would live would be 2 years or less.
Has no energy and stays in his chair with a book, his remote and the Sudoko puzzle book. Has to have help drying off after his shower and is "worn out". How does this end?
Hang in there Ann, I don't see how they can possibly predict 2 years. I was told in Feb. 2006 that I had 4-6 years and I am still going after 3 1/2 years. They simply don't know.
I can relate to the second part, I am tired and listless all the time 'cause I have the slow progressive kind and have to "watch and wait" a lot as it gets worse each day.
Encourage him to try and do as much as he can. We can never give up and neither can you.
What is your husbands name so we can pray for him?
__________________
Dick S, diagnosed Feb. 2008 with MDS. Last BMB April 2016. New diagnosis is CMML stage 1.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old Mon Aug 17, 2009, 10:55 AM
launch launch is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 193
Please see my Husband's Progress posted under clinical trials

Ann,
My husband was very very run down and barely able to climb our stairs at our home. All he did in the first few months is stare out the window in our front room. He was very depressed at times. Reading all of the literature on MDS will depress anyone. Remember, the IPPS scores were established BEFORE they had the currently available treatments for MDS, such as Vidaza.

My husband was dx 2/17/09 and entered clinical trial e1905 on 4/01/09. He's been on it for 5 complete cycles. The treatment is Vidaza by injection for 10 days in a row, then, 18 days off to complete the total (28-Day cycle). Although the trial e1905 was to really test the MS-275 pill that they give to a patient, along with the low dose of Vidaza. It was a randomn selection by computer, and my husband is in the group that does not receive MS-275 but he does still receive 10-Days of Vidaza.

Please go to my posts under the clinical trial e1905. This string was started by the "FlowerLady", but, I've posted Ron's progress and we Praise God everyday for his improvement. And, remember, no body can tell someone how long they have, because, no body really knows.... Everyone is different. And just because your husband is not feeling good right now, doesn't mean he won't improve. My husband, Ron, has improved wonderfully! My husband is 65 yrs old. And, he is a cardiac patient. He had a stint in his heart back in 2001. He feels really good right now! We're just trying to enjoy every single day at this point....

Good Luck & God Bless you and your husband... Hang in there!
Cindy
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old Sat Sep 5, 2009, 02:09 AM
ann ann is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Burleson, TX
Posts: 77
Cool

Thanks to all who have responded with encouraging words. We have had a wonderful week. Last week was not so great. Went to see the Oncologist and she admitted my husband to hospital. He received 4 units of blood in 3 days time and 1 unit of platelets and a Procrit shot. His counts were finally up and he was back to feeling good. Has had lots of vistors and phone calls from longtime friends wishing him the best and putting him on prayer lists. We are praying for remission. He goes for a CT scan ordered by the pulmonary doctor Tues. and back to see the oncologist that day also. Hope everything is good.

My husband is 72 years old and also has COPD and is on oxygen full time because of heart problems and the COPD. He was diagnosed at Intermediate 2 MDS on June 30, 2009.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
MDS - VA assigns diagnostic code 7725 Tommy Daniels MDS 4 Sun Jan 22, 2017 03:51 PM
New Tool: MDS Classification Marrowforums Site Announcements 7 Tue Jan 4, 2011 05:12 AM
Battle with MDS - A successful story informer Alternative Treatments 4 Sat May 22, 2010 08:26 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Forum sites may contain non-authoritative and unverified information.
Medical decisions should be made in consultation with qualified medical professionals.
Site contents exclusive of member posts Copyright © 2006-2020 Marrowforums.org