Re:jeanny forest

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanny,

First I want to tell you that I have lost many close loved ones in my life

due to many different traumatic reasons.

For 2 years I cared for my only sister when she was terminally ill and then

passed in 1994 at age 34.

In 1998 I lost my sister in-law at age 27 who was also my best friend. I

adopted 2 of her children and shortly after I was diagnosed with CML. I

didn't understand ..I was very depressed.

Then in 2001 I lost my son at age 19 because he was depressed about his

mother being sick and decided he couldn't live without me.

It was then that I realized that grieving is depressing and depression is

part of grieving. They did try to overmedicate me and I would not let them.

I knew I needed to feel the pain because death is part of life and grieving

is a normal reaction to loosing someone you love. However, I do take xanax

for anxiety which does not make the pain go away but helps when I feel that

everything is too overwhelming for me.

Actually I take it daily now and have been taking it for a few years because

I have to.

It doesn't get me high or make me feel like I don't know what's going on it

just helps me feel mentally stable if that makes any sense.

As for the CML Leukemia - I take 400 mgs of gleevec everyday and I am doing

great. I live pretty normal with the exception of I am a brunette with a

blondes brain:-) thanks for the laugh and I mean no offense to anyone

reading this post. \

Believe me; I sometimes wonder why there aren't more brunette jokes. Because

God knows I can be a real ding bat!

Anyway, what I want to say is that I am sorry you lost your mother. That is

painful for most anyone.

I am also sorry about your daughter's diagnosis but I just celebrated my 7

year anniversary and looking forward to living a long time.

Its scary at first but it will be ok. As time goes by and your daughter and

yourself communicate with people on message boards like this you will soon

find that the both of you are feeling more in control.

I suggest you take your doctor up on the medication offer but ask for

something very mild to help you rest your mind and heart a bit while going

through these difficult times.

ez

[Guest guest]

Jeanny,

My heart goes out to you because you are in the same spot we have all been in.

When my adult daughter was diagnosed, I thought there would never be any

happiness in my life, again. Yes, my life is changed, but richer. Although we

have always been close, it has made us more appreciative of all the times. At

first, getting through each day without thinking about the cancer all day was

impossible. Now, we have learned that life goes on. Family will be born, they

will die, and in between we continue to live.

CML isn't a death sentence anymore, although there is no cure at this point.

But, it can be controlled. The longterm statistics under Gleevec and the drugs

to follow aren't known yet, but we are hopeful for a long future together.

This is a great support group.

Sue

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