Re: Getting back into regular life, socially Chris-

[Guest guest]

Chris-

I think all of us have gone through what you are describing. This was life

altering for all of us and it takes awhile to come to grips, and get used to

the new you. It, for me, was not only the diagnoses and the side effects of

the medication but a huge physical change in my appearance. I look " sickly " ,

I am ghostly white and have lost the pigmentation in my hair. As far as

being an active, beautiful 33 year old who enjoyed going out dancing and

looking

great, the physical changes have been the worst part of it. I miss my old

'self. " I was a RN who worked full time hours running a large home health

agency in Las Vegas with a lot of employees under me. I have learned that I

cant due that anymore. Physically it was too much. Kept me in the hospital

much

too often. I was neither a good mother nor a wife to my hubby. I had to

learn that throwing myself into my work was not the answer. It was making it

that much harder on my physically. I had to learn to let go which was NO easy

task. I had to let others help and learn to let go of my job/career. At

least for now. So over the last 3 months. We relocated to the mid-west, and I

have become a very healthy, happy wife and wonderful stay at home mom to 3

beautiful children. I haven't been healthier in 2 years. Its good that you

and your wife got away to stop and enjoy one another and life.

In the last 3 months I have really come to accept CML (and its been 2

years). I have been feeling stronger, physically and emotionally stronger and

I

have even let me hair grow and feel good about it finally. I have learned to

accept that this is me, my life and with the " gold " pills, I have been given

a new outlook. One that is much bigger and brighter then just 2 years ago.

My family, friends and I have really learned what life is all about and

wouldn't take anything back. Weird how something like CML can really make you

think about each day and not take anything for granted. Its truly opened our

eyes.

I have stopped wondering why me because we as a family have decided that if

someone was to get this, is should be me. I am the fighter, the strong

personality. I am glad that no one else whom I love had to take this on. It

has

made us all stop and smell the roses and maybe that is what we all needed. A

slap in the face telling us to slow down and enjoy life. You only get one

go around with this so enjoy it. Life is precious and we all know, its too

short. Make the best of everyday. If you enjoyed the things you used to do,

go do them. You might not be able to play as hard or as long as you once did,

but hell, get in the game. Take a nap if you need one. Rest when you

aren't feeling well but when you feel good, get up and live life. Keep your

friend and family close. Keep smiling, life is going on!

Hugs-

35

CML 5/13/05

Gleevec 800mg PCRU

Wife and mother of 3 (11,8,6)

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

Thanks , I do think things will be fine once I get used to the new

me, I hope my friends and family like him. I can tell everyone this, this

exercise has been great. Tab has been reading the post along side me and

taking

them in. Then we talk about them. She sees places for both of us to make

adjustments.

I was a little shy to ask this question on the open forum, so glad I did.

Peace,

Chris

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

, I could not agree more. AND, I will tell you all this, while in the

hospital, in front of friends I told the Dr I was so glad this was me and not

my wife or son, which also is back on what was saying. I am the

fighter, but I was also the go to guy and fix it guy. I am just not used to

being fixed. So, another adjustment, I will make it.

I will tell you all my first question to the Dr was could I give this to

anyone? I remember one of my friends crying, saying that is just like me to

worry for them, first. But, that really is me and who I am, way beyond, the

best grill cooker, most beer drinker and loudest at karaoke! haha

Chris

************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

[Guest guest]

I cannot agree more with this post - life is awesome and beautiful and

whatever challenges we are faced with are meant to be learning experiences

to strengthen us. Some days it is hard to see it that way, especially when

you have something like CML. I am 35 years old. I lost my mother to cancer

(she was 50, I was 20), my father to cancer (he was 65, I was 30), and my

older brother to a heart attack (he was 41, I was 30). And last year when my

husband was diagnosed with CML (he was 34), and at the same time...a blood

clot in his brain resulting in a full stroke on the left side of his body,

all of this just 2.5 months after our first child was born....it was hard

not to think this diagnosis was yet another " death sentence " . For a couple

days I thought " Why me? Why ? Why now? " But then (with the support of

friends and family) and I both fell back on our beliefs that everything

happens for a reason, use these experiences as a learning tool, and remember

how much we still have to be thankful for. God works in mysterious ways! We

have both grown as individuals, as a couple, and as a mother and father due

to this CML diagnosis. And finally we have fully grasped what life is all

about...slowing down, reducing stress, spending more time with loved ones,

telling people what they mean to you, giving thanks for every breath, and

smiling...just cuz we are alive!

Cervera

>From: vegasrnjen@...

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: [ ] Getting back into regular life, socially Chris-

>Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 10:43:53 EDT

>

>Chris-

>

>I think all of us have gone through what you are describing. This was

>life

>altering for all of us and it takes awhile to come to grips, and get used

>to

>the new you. It, for me, was not only the diagnoses and the side effects

>of

>the medication but a huge physical change in my appearance. I look

> " sickly " ,

>I am ghostly white and have lost the pigmentation in my hair. As far as

>being an active, beautiful 33 year old who enjoyed going out dancing and

>looking

>great, the physical changes have been the worst part of it. I miss my old

>'self. " I was a RN who worked full time hours running a large home health

>agency in Las Vegas with a lot of employees under me. I have learned that

>I

>cant due that anymore. Physically it was too much. Kept me in the

>hospital much

>too often. I was neither a good mother nor a wife to my hubby. I had to

>learn that throwing myself into my work was not the answer. It was making

>it

>that much harder on my physically. I had to learn to let go which was NO

>easy

>task. I had to let others help and learn to let go of my job/career. At

>least for now. So over the last 3 months. We relocated to the mid-west,

>and I

>have become a very healthy, happy wife and wonderful stay at home mom to 3

>beautiful children. I haven't been healthier in 2 years. Its good that

>you

>and your wife got away to stop and enjoy one another and life.

>

>In the last 3 months I have really come to accept CML (and its been 2

>years). I have been feeling stronger, physically and emotionally stronger

>and I

>have even let me hair grow and feel good about it finally. I have

>learned to

>accept that this is me, my life and with the " gold " pills, I have been

>given

>a new outlook. One that is much bigger and brighter then just 2 years

>ago.

>My family, friends and I have really learned what life is all about and

>wouldn't take anything back. Weird how something like CML can really make

>you

>think about each day and not take anything for granted. Its truly opened

>our

>eyes.

>

>I have stopped wondering why me because we as a family have decided that if

>someone was to get this, is should be me. I am the fighter, the strong

>personality. I am glad that no one else whom I love had to take this on.

>It has

>made us all stop and smell the roses and maybe that is what we all needed.

> A

>slap in the face telling us to slow down and enjoy life. You only get one

>go around with this so enjoy it. Life is precious and we all know, its

>too

>short. Make the best of everyday. If you enjoyed the things you used to

>do,

>go do them. You might not be able to play as hard or as long as you once

>did,

>but hell, get in the game. Take a nap if you need one. Rest when you

>aren't feeling well but when you feel good, get up and live life. Keep

>your

>friend and family close. Keep smiling, life is going on!

>

>Hugs-

> 35

>CML 5/13/05

>Gleevec 800mg PCRU

>Wife and mother of 3 (11,8,6)

>

>

>

>

>

>************************************** See what's free at

>http://www.aol.com.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have to tell you as we both know what its like to be the fix it person.

The first words out of my mouth when I was dx'd was what can I do to fix

this?

The doctor looked at me like I was crazy and I probably was insane at the

moment.

The hardest part was not being in control.

ez