Sorry about your diagnosis and the loss of your Dad. You've had a rough few months, but it will get better. Try to be kind to yourself as you adjust to all these changes. I was also dx'd in the ER--I went for stomach pain, which I guess was actually pain in my spleen from cml. I am almost 3 yrs into this. The side effects were hard at first, but most have leveled off. The swelling is normal, or was for me. About the time I was ready to buy a larger sized shoe, my feet got better. That was probably 2-3 months into treatment. The eye swelling continues to annoy me, although it has improved. I tried cortisone cream, even Preparation H. The only thing that has helped with the eyes is drinking lots of water and reducing my sodium intake dramatically(I think that's good for my health in general, and it really has helpled the swelling) My fatigue and the joint/bone/muscle pain all improved as the gleevec brought the cml under control. Sorry I don't know about SSD, but you have every reason to feel overwhelmed. Good luck, hope you get some relief soon.
On Feb 19, 7:24 am, kellyelise <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I went to the ER in October for chest pain. They found an elevated > white count. After several bumblings with my PCP, I was referred to an > heme/onc specialist. Bloodwork Nov 14. Bone marrow bx Dec 14. > Treatment started Feb 8 - with Gleevec. Okay, I feel terrible. My > eyelids are swollen as well as my hands, feet, legs, everything! I am > so tired and I hurt all over. Is this normal? Do these symptoms start > to dissipate? I must mention that my abnormal white count was detected > at the same time I was living with my parents helping care for my > father with pancreatic Ca. My father died Nov 27. I was told there is > no connection whatsoever to the pancreatic Ca and the CML. Prior to my > parent's generation - there was absolutely no evidence of cancer in my > family. Two uncles on maternal side with colon Ca (both uncles are in > their 80s and faring reasonably well having beat the Ca) and then my > father. > > As of last Friday - I went to a psychiatrist as I was having trouble > functioning emotionally (anxiety/depression). I can only attribute > this to a delayed response to what I have been through the last few > months. > > I have a very demanding, stressful job. When I finish work, I have > nothing left. I am completely wiped out. The psychiatrist put me on 8 > weeks of medical leave. My disability insurance WILL NOT keep the > wolves from the door. But, I refuse to worry about it. My employer has > already called me and "threatened" my job. > > My question - with a diagnosis of CML - can you qualify for SSD > (social security disability)? I already feel as though my quality of > life is crap as I can't even go to the grocery store without being > totally wiped out. > > Can anyone offer some advice, facts, reference sites? I would greatly > appreciate it. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ [CMLHope] A support group of http://cmlhope.com ------------------------------------------------- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CMLHope" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/CMLHope -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
