Re: Low counts, ProCrit, and Dosage-Kathie

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathie,

I was reading your post, and started thinking about what Moms and

women do when dealing with illness. I was sad to hear about all the

expectations that you put on yourself, when you are not feeling

good.

While it's great that your family wants to come and visit you, why

put so much pressure on yourself to " perform " , and put on the nice

dinner and entertain? I realize that " Moms " are most often the hub

of the family. Families rely on Mom doing the " stuff " ie,, cooking,

cleaning, entertainment, etc. Taking into consideration how bad you

feel, and what you have going on in your life right now, I think that

your family should be taking care of YOU. Period.

Is there any way that you can suggest that you are not feeling up to

having visitors at the present time? It's not that you don't love

them. It's that you are sick, and need to get well. Wellness should

be the priority. Why put yourself through that, when you are not even

looking forward to it? Remember the saying,, " When Momma's not

happy, nobody is happy? " Well, Mom's need to stop being everything

to everyone, and let someone else take care of you for a change.

I read a really interesting book lately, and I'm trying to remember

the name,, something like, " Cereal for Dinner " .. It's about women

dealing with chronic illnesses and their families, and shares the

stories of many women who have faced and still face chronic

illnesses, and how they coped with family and the expectations that

are put them. They learn how to reevaluate their roll as a mother,

wife, and caretaker and learn how to readjust priorities when the

illness takes over.

I got this book from the library, but I'm going to look up the

offical name and author and re-post it. It's very good reading for

Moms with CML or any life-altering trauma/surgery.

Please don't think I'm lecturing you. I just feel like you are

trying to do too much, and not taking care of #1. I wish you health

and wellness!

Sincerely, Lynn

DX 12/10/03

305,000 white count at DX

PCRU -400 mg

Zavie #692

>

> Dear Friends,

>

> Thanks for all of the responses to my Hello post. I had a CBC

today

> and my counts were further surpressed. WBC at 1.9, Hemoglobin 8.8

> and Gran at .9. So my Fl. onc decided to take me off arnesp and

but

> me back on ProCrit. Then tonight the sharp pain I have

occasionally

> gotten in my stomach returned and then I read about the possiblity

of

> ulcers and the comments about lowering the Gleevec dose. So I

think

> I will call my onc on Monday and fess up to the stomach pain and

see

> if he thinks I might have an ulcer. In any case, something has to

> give.

>

> And I just get so mad. I do fine with a Hemo of 9.5 or so, but

when

> it gets this low I just feel like I am moving through jello. Today

I

> had to cancel a family dinner I was looking forward to cooking

> because I just didn't have the energy to shop and then cook. We

are

> in the midst of having our kids visit. Our daughter and her

husband

> are here now, and our son, daughter-in-law and three grands are

> scheduled week after next. At the moment I can't really fathom I

> will get through that week (twins who are a year and a three year

> old! And it just makes me so mad.

>

> Excuse the pity party, I've been having it all day. I promise to

get

> off soon and to return to my usual up beat self. I really just

> wanted to say that I really appreciate the help. Once again you

all

> have given me things to think about.

>

> Cheers,

> Kathie in Kentucky (Florida)