Re: Quick Check In

[Guest guest]

At 11:03 PM 9/21/05 -0500, you wrote:

>I started graduate school part time after Labor Day, and it's turning

>out to be a big challenge while also working full time.

Hi ,

Thanks for the update.....it is nice to know how our 'old friends and companion

warriors' are doing. Maybe others will also do a check in......including me

when I

get some more recent test results.

You are always a BUSY lady.....are you sure you have CML? You have more

things on your plate than anyone else I know. What have you decided to

study? are you doing this to enhance your field

of work in some way.....or change work directions?

Glad to hear that most of your clot issues are resolving........sorry about

the diet issues to deal with with the additional drug.

Take care..........and enjoy your new dog pal!

C.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had to go take a nap after reading about your busy life! Good for

you. Glad you have a new pooch friend to keep you company -- the

greyhound part will be needed to keep up with you.

Sorry your leg is still troublesome & that you have more side effects

with the additional medication -- hopefully, the leg will continue to

improve and the side effects will subside some in time.

Good to hear from you!

love,

Kathy

> Hi all,

>

> I am sorry that I don't keep in better touch with my CML friends. I

> don't remember there being a day yet that I forget about having

CML, but

> I guess I'm just putting it on the back burner right now.

>

> I started graduate school part time after Labor Day, and it's

turning

> out to be a big challenge while also working full time. I'm probably

> spending about 15 to 18 hours a week on studying and homework,

which is

> typical for taking 6 credits (estimate 3 hours of work per credit

per

> week). Biostatistics is a tough one! But I like having those " ah-ha "

> moments where something actually crosses the Gleevec-brain barrier.

I do

> find that I have to re-read my texts a lot and take my practice

tests a

> lot to remember things, which only adds to the workload.

>

> I recently adopted a shelter dog again. Some of you may remember

that I

> had to euthanize my last dog last summer at age 14 and a half. This

new

> one is part lab perhaps mixed with greyhound, as she's got very long

> legs (making her very tall) and an enormously deep chest. She's 70

> pounds and underweight. She's a sweetheart but needs some work on

> housetraining and separation anxiety!

>

> I also continue to work with Team In Training. I am scheduled to

head to

> Phoenix in January for the marathon/half-marathon, but I'm not sure

I

> can get the time off to do that. Are any of you going out there for

the

> races? If so, that may be incentive for me to go.

>

> As for CML, I guess I am doing OK. My last PCR test was positive

and the

> FISH was ever so slightly positive. But they re-ran the PCR and it

was

> negative the next time. I don't understand that. Any thoughts? So

we've

> just decided to watch and wait for now, with another bone marrow

likely

> in December or January and some bloods in the meantime.

>

> I am still having some trouble in my leg from the DVT (blood clot)

I had

> in late May. But my breathing problems have essentially gone away

in the

> wake of the clots to my lungs. I have a host of new side effects to

> contend with thanks to the addition of warfarin (Coumadin) to the

> medication mix. I am a naughty patient and totally disregard my

warfarin

> diet, which means I need to just get my blood checked more often

and my

> meds adjusted more frequently. But it's less stress for me. :-)

>

> I try to keep up with you all, but that damn continues to

> periodically bounce me, which means I don't get the emails - and

don't

> realize it.

>

> Anyway, I think of all you 'old-timers " frequently, and hello to the

> newbies. One of these days, I hope to work on the Web site again,

but

> unfortunately it's too large for me to effectively maintain by

myself

> anymore, especially given my schedule. I'm sorry about that.

>

> jennifer g.

> www.cmlsupport.com

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/22/2005 12:04:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

jenniferg@... writes:

typical for taking 6 credits (estimate 3 hours of work per credit per

week). Biostatistics is a tough one! But I like having those " ah-ha "

moments where something actually crosses the Gleevec-brain barrier. I do

find that I have to re-read my texts a lot and take my practice tests a

lot to remember things, which only adds to the workload.

, I was wondering how you were, after reading about your blood clot

scare last time I saw you post. I am relieved to hear that you are doing

much better. I, too, had lung problems the beginning of the summer that took a

very long time to get rid of, along with a darned broken rib that still gives

me some discomfort if I do something strenuous.

About the classes, I really give you credit for doing that. I audit some,

not believing in my ability to do just what you are talking about

here.....actually remembering things I read the day before, so I try not to sign

up for

anything that costs me $$$

I find it quite challenging myself. I read too much though, and I guess it

is natural to forget because I jump from one subject to another. I try very

hard just to keep my writing attempts going these days because I tend to forget

my ideas before I write them down, and " get lost " sometimes, but I have a

very patient writing professor and writing group, thankfully.

You asked for thoughts on the PCR testing and results. I think I have the

same questions as to their accuracy. Last spring I was supposedly out of

remission (MR) and yet held my CCR. They said I jumped up a few logs, then, a

few

months later, I had no detectable signs of disease. Crazy, how one PCR test

says I am positive and the next totally " negative. " Yes, they used the word

negative, and that was questioned so we repeated the PCR test and again it came

up " no signs of CML. " I figure the next test I get I'll be out of MR and

I'll be going through it all over again. (I took another break....you think

you're naughty?) I just don't know...many people ride the same roller coaster

ride. It drives me nuts, but as long as I am in CCR I guess I am happy.

Good luck with your new dog. It sounds like you do have your work cut out

for you, but I think the dog is in good hands!

I have finally gotten my Elkhound out of the puppy stage and now he has a

tumor! It is growing on his back, and I cannot imagine how a year old dog has

this problem. We don't think it is cancer, but it has to be biopsied. I hope

not, because he is the best dog I've ever owned...very laid back and sweet.

Glad that you posted....Lynne A.