Angie,
You have a very interesting story and a great outlook on life. It is strange
how some CMLers have no symptoms before dx and other have very strange ones.
May God bless and keep you as you warrior on!!
Joyce in IL
On May 17, 2014, at 5:31 PM, ANGELYN ESDERS wrote:
> In Dec. 2000 I was teaching full time, doing a 3 hr hike every Saturday, and
> generally being quite active and feeling normal. I was having hot flashes,
> which is exactly what a 53 yr old woman might expect. On 3 occasions I had
> cold flashes. With no explanation at all, I would get so freezing cold I was
> literally shaking. My skin would 'hurt' as though I were standing in a
> freezer, teeth would chatter...and it would pass after a few hours. I told my
> dr. about the chills and he said it was just a confused body thermometer that
> didn't know if it should be hot or cold...hormonal and normal. I was to
> undergo a gynecological procedure and a routine blood test was taken. The
> gynecologist phoned my school and told me that I had "a blood disorder" and I
> was to go for blood work on Friday at the hosp. When I got there...big
> delay...and I was wondering why they didn't just take a few tubes and let me
> go back to school. They informed me that I would have a bone marrow biopsy
> done. I had never even heard of that before. I said that I was just FINE. The
> dr. said in a mournful voice, "Oh no, Mrs. Esders, you are a very sick woman.
> Well, that was news to me! The biopsy was scary (and painful) as I really
> didn't know what to expect. I was released after the whole day in hosp. and
> called shortly thereafter and told to come to the dr's office with a
> "supportive adult".....grim foreboding sets in....
> On Dec. 11, I was informed that I had CML and would be treated at McMaster
> University Medical Centre in Hamilton, Ont. All I could think that day was,
> "HOW on EARTH could all these experts be soooo wrong? I am perfectly FINE!"
> The team at McMaster was a true blessing. I was offered a chance to be on the
> Gleevec study, and accepted it. I was one of the last people in the world
> allowed into the study. It closed a day later. Five patients at McMaster
> qualified. The computer randomized 4 to the traditional treatment of
> interferon and citarabine (sp?) I was the only one randomized to the study
> drug. I was quite nauseous at the beginning on 400 mg of Gleevec, but learned
> to eat a bowl of oatmeal first and take an antinauseant (Bonamine). It no
> longer bothers me. I always take it after a solid breakfast containing
> protein. I have been on Gleevec since Jan. 22, 2001. On July 5, 2001, I
> reached cytological remission, my dose was reduced to 300 mg a day...and life
> went on. Dr. Walker, having had 2 bone marrow biopsies done on himself, is a
> master at it, and I learned to chew bubblegum, listen to music on headphones,
> keep my hands relaxed, and sometimes even whistle through the procedure. I
> experienced dreadful muscle cramping at the beginning (all over my body) but
> that seems to have passed. In 2003 I had 2 mild heart attacks. In 2006 I was
> diagnosed with SLE... Lupus. Lupus has been about 100 times worse to deal
> with than CML!!!
> I gave a kidney to my brother in 1979. Sadly the remaining kidney is pretty
> tired out after all my drugs and oral chemo over 35 yr, and now I am having
> to pay close attention to my diet and take insulin in order to prolong the
> life of the kidney.
> I am still way too active, loving the blessings that life brings. I volunteer
> a lot, travel a lot, and sing.
> Who knows what will land on me next? I'll just do my best to step over it and
> continue...
> Angie In Canada.
>
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