I was diagnosed 6/06 and was immediately put on 400mg of Gleevec. There are many side effects, especially the swelling, but I had continuous bone and muscle pain even when I went into complete cytogenic response. Eventually, as of October '07 I stopped responding to Gleevec and was put on Sprycel. Doing much better, less pain and fatigue, but other not so wonderful side effects.
To answer your question about SSD, I finally applied December '07 due to the first drug failing after the first 1 1/2 years. I don't know where you live, but in Missouri, you have a one year waiting period where you can only make up to $900 per month. Again this is Missouri. Other states allow you to make more. After I was first diagnosed, I only worked part time when I felt well enough. Thank God my husband made enough so I could do this otherwise I would not have made it! Anyway, I qualified due to the lack of income over that past year and was immediately approved and paid back pay for one year. Since you are working it will probably take longer for you, but I would definitely look for a less stressful job if possible. I do know there are laws that are suppose to prevent this kind of harassment, I just don't know the details. But I do know the stress makes things "much" worse. If you live in the US, just contact your local Social Security office and they can give you the guidelines or go online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ and look at all the info there. I got better and more immediate answers calling and talking to someone! Also, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a Patient Advocate site you need to look at. It has a co-pay assistance program that will pay you $500 per year for any doctor bills, prescriptions, anything medical. The web address is www.patientadvocate.org or the phone number is 1-800-532-5274 and they also have attorney's that can help with your legal questions. I hope this helps!!! These are really great folks to talk to and are very helpful. You can also go online and look for your local Leukemia Lymphoma Society. They are also a wealth of information and will send you a packet of really informational literature. Good luck, my thoughts are with you. 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
