Hi everyone,
I am fairly new to the site and would like to introduce myself. I am a 48 year old male and I was diagnosed with CML on September 25, 2004. At the time of dx my wbc was at 425k. My rbc, hematocrit and hemoglobin didn't register due to my high wbc. I guess the way I found out I had CML was pretty uncommon (at least the hospital staff, friends and family think so) so I will share it with you. In August 2004, I purchased a new home. In case something bad happened to me, I went ahead and had my life insurance policy increased. So I had the usual blood test. The blood test showed I had an elevated ALP level. I was rejected for the increase in my life insurance and was told to see my primary care physician. So I made an appointment and went to the doctor. My doctor asked if I was having any serious problems and I told him no. I didn't know that the hard lump on the leftside of my abdomen was my enlarged spleen; that the shortness of breath; the unusual fatigue and that I could no longer walk/run 5 miles per day were symptoms of CML. With the exception of the enlarged spleen (which I didn't know what it was), I thought all the other symptoms were due to the stress of purchasing a new house and my worrying about my business. As a precaution my doctor scheduled an ultrasound to check my liver and gaul bladder. The attendant conducting the ultrasound doesn't find anything wrong with my liver or gaul bladder, but does notice that my spleen is 24cm larger than it should be. My physician then orders a full blood count and liver enzyme test. The next morning (Saturday September 25, 2004), the attending physician from the hospital calls me and tells me to check into the hospital. He tells me what my white blood count is and that it is abnormally high and should he send an ambulance to pick me up. I told him no. (At that time I did not know that due to my high wbc, I shouldn't have been able to walk). He also tells me that I need to have a bone marrow biopsy on the following Monday. Since it was Saturday, I was negotiating with him to come in on Monday to have the BMB performed and that I didn't need to be in the hospital. The doctor got pretty upset with me and told me "Do you know how sick you are?". (What did I know, I just moved into my new home on the 20th. I needed to unpack and get my house in order.) To end the story, the entire weekend at the hospital the nurses and attending physicians were surprised that I was walking around, working on my laptop computer and chatting with them. I guess I should have been in bed comatose or something. I met my oncologist that weekend. He loves to laugh and crack jokes so that helped me through a very confusing weekend and the ultimate diagnosis of CML. I was placed on Hydrea for a week to get my wbc down and the placed on 400mg of Gleevec a day. In December, I had to stop taking the Gleevec because by wbc and platelet count dropped very low. My oncologist had already warned me that he might have to adjust the dosage during the first six months due to the low blood counts. I just started taking the Gleevec a couple of day ago. The nausea and stomach cramping has been more severe this time than in the past three months. My partner, friends, business clients and family have been very supportive and helpful getting through the initial phase of my diagnosis and treatment. I have been lucky to be able to continue working. I am also back exercising 6-7 times a week (helps relieve the side effects from the Gleevec). With the exception of the garage (which is still a mess), I am settled into my new home. Thanks for listening (reading) to my story. I am keeping a positive attitude and I am looking forward to sharing in my and your journey through a very difficult path. Take care and everyone have a Happy New Year. 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