[franm]

Hi Terri:

Jim has been getting his shots in his stomach and now it is so sore and really puffy but I can’t tell him to let the Oncologist know about this because he just won’t tell her anything. He just says I am fine. At least he doesn’t have to go through the Vidaza until the 31st of this month. That will be his 4th round and I hope things stay good.

Fran

[franm]

Hi all Good Friends:

Well Jim finished his 3rd round of Vidaza on Wednesday and Thursday I had my lead replaced. the operation was pretty long. the doc wanted me to stay over-night in the hospital this time. As soon as they found a room for me, I send Jim home. He didn’t come back until the next day to take me home. He is still real tired and now, I can’t do anything because of my surgery.

Things don’t seem to get any better. Still, I pray that they do. We both want to go on a cruise to Mexico but can’t seem to find the time. He either has chemo or another appointment. Or I have appointments. Jim is having a MRI on his spine on the 22nd of this month. I see the doc that did my surgery on the 23rd of this month and Jim see’s the Oncologist on the 29th of this month.

Time sure flys when you are having fun.

Fran

[franm]

Hi Maureen and Susan:

My husband Jim has been on Vidaza for 3 treatments…7 days each time and off for 3 weeks. The first time he had Vidaza he got an infection and had to go to the hospital for a week to be treated. He just finished his 3rd round and the doc. cut the dose after his first treatment 25%. He has been feeling OK, since she cut the dose. He does have pain and soreness in his stomach, becuae that is where they give him the shots.

Since I had to go into the hospital for surgery on Thursday and he took me, he has been really tired but his BT were not bad. I had to stay over-night becuase I had a new lead put into my pacemaker and they wanted to make sure it would stay this time. I feel ok but tired also. Didn’t sleep much in the hospital.

Fran

[franm]

Hi Dennis:

it’s Fran and all I want to say is that we wish you the best of luck and health in the transplant surgery. You are strong and I know you will do good.

We will pray for you as always.

Fran

[franm]

Susi:

My husband who is 74 and myself who is 72 are both on Medicare. Jim get’s his heart drugs as well as anyother drugs he takes from his primary care doc. from the VA. When I found out last year that he had MDS, he got out of the HMO that we were both in and signed up for Medicare plus AARP (Untied Health). He had to pay 204.00 a month plus he signed up for Humana, which cost addtional 20.00 a month. It seems that his Vidaza that he takes 7 days a month, plus his visit to the Oncologist is covered by these insurance.

Check into what I said and see if that will help financially.

Husband and I are both on SS only. We try to get by and we have been married for only 12 years. It is hard but we will make it.

Fran

[franm]

Hi all:

Jim started his 3rd round of Vidaza. I have no idea what his CBC’s were, because he has the chemo at the hospital in there IV Lab. The Nurses won’t give you a copy of his blood test, he can only get it from the Oncologist. He won’t see her until the 29th of this month.

All I know is that this time he has been really sick. Nothing I can put my 2 cents in but he comes home feeling sick to his stomach, his legs give out and he is real tired and doesn’t eat much.

I am hoping that he will feel up to taking me to the out-patient for my Lead replacement surgery, which will be the day after he stops the chemo. My surgery is this Thursday.

My grandson Justin came home from Isreal OK. They gave him a problem at the airport in Isreal, because of his last name, which is Berg. But he finally got on the plan for New York and came home last night at 12 midnight. He feels fine, other then being tired. The time difference is 10 hours, so he just wanted to sleep.

My prayers go out to all the people on this forum.

Fran

Thank you so much for all your concern about the probllems I am having as well as all the things that Jim is going through now.

[franm]

Hi Good People:

Just a note to let you know that Jim had his Port put in on the 31st of July. He also had a CBC blood test and he will be starting Vidaza again for the 3rd cycle. I sure hope he does OK with his chemo, because I post-poned my lead surgery until the 10th. He last day of chemo will be on the 9th. I want him to take me to the out-patient surgery, if he feels good. If not I don’t have a driver to take me home.

I saw the Heart doc. yesterday and he said it is very unusal for the lead to move. This time he will put a screw until the heart muscle with a new lead and hope that that works.

I am at my wit ends and all I do is Pray and hope that this works out.

My Primary care doc. said that I should see a Psychiatrist, because I won’t take any pills but the Cardiologist said I should see someone also.

Since both doc’s said I should I will, I guess.

I think I told you that my 16 year old grandson has been in Isreal for 4 1/2 weeks. He is hoping to come home this Sunday. He went with his confirmation class for 5 weeks. So, on top of everything else I have been worried about him also.

Please Pray for Jim, Me and Justin.

Thanks

Fran

[franm]

Hi:

Husband is starting his 3rd round of Vidaza and I think his counts have been going up. He will be having a Port put in tomorrow so he can get IV if needed through the Port instead of the veins.

As of the 24 of July his:

WBC 7.2
RBC 3.89
Hgb 12.9
HCT 37.5
RDW 15.5
EOS 0.6

Hoping he will not get an infection again.

He starts his Vidaza on the 3-4 of August for 7 days.

Thanks to everyone for your support and prayers.

Fran

[franm]

Patti:

I have a feeling I understand what you are going through. Husband who is 74 is having a Port put in Monday. He had a Picc and he did get an infection.

We hope and pray for you MIL as well as my Husband Jim.

Fran

[franm]

Hi Caroline:

Thanks for your concern regarding my pacemaker. I called pacemaker person up and she said that I will have the operation again but this time he will put a screw in the lead leading to my heart muscle. It should never dislodge again but the idea of surgery for me again is bad.

Jim is having his port put in Monday, Tuesday is my appointment with primary are dr. and Wednesday I see the Carido doc. regarding my pacemaker

Jim will start his 3rd round of Vidasa on Thursday for 7 days.

So far that is all the news for now.

Fran

[franm]

My husband who is 74 this month has a CBC count every Monday. If the counts are bad the hospital, where he has the Vidaza reports it to the Oncologist and they call him to come in. He has had 2 rounds of Vidaza. The first round was eally bad and he ended up in the hospital right after he finished that round. He had 102 fever and an infection. Was in the hospital for 6 days.

If everything is OK with his CBC on Monday the 24th, he will start the 3rd round of Vidaza on the 3rd of August.

One thing different that the Oncologist did was lower the intake of the Vidaza and so far he is feeling a little better.

Hope things go well with you.

Fran

[franm]

Hi Dennis:

Good luck with getting a transplant. Jim started his Vidaza last Friday and he is not feeling that great. It seems his bones and back hurt when he is on Vidaza. He will take a blood test tomorrow and have the results on Tuesday. We should know more this Tuesday. He is also on Coumaden. since it is so hot here, we have not gone out of the house if we can help it. I do the shopping and cooking…that is about all.

Jim has an appointment with Dr. Wang for a port to be put in, so when he needs a transfusion in the future he can have it in the port instead of a vein.

Ours prayers are for all the people on this web site that are going through the mess e are going through.

Good luck to you all.

Fran

[franm]

Hi Chuck:

Sorry to hear that you might hve MDS.

My husband is 74 years old and was told, by blood test that he had MDS over a year ago. I think it was in 04. He was on a HMO at the time and his primary care doc. told him to get off that and go for a Medicare plus plan. So, now he is on Medicare plus AARP. It takes a long time for them to pay, since he got off the HMO in October of last year. They are finally paying now. It is not a cheap plan. It cost him over 200.00 a month for AARP, which is United Health and he also has Humana for prescription drugs.

It seems when you are on Medicare you have to be ready for anything.

Jim is starting on his 2nd treatment of Vidaza today for 7 days and then he will have 3 weeks off. I hope it doesn’t lower his white cells to much. He has been in the hospital for infections and last time it was a blood clot, so now he is on Coumaden and chemo.

We are taking one day at a time.

We wish you the best of luck.

Fran

[franm]

Hi Sandy:

He will be seeing the surgeon on the 11th. I hope to go with him and see what he says. I think Jim would rather have the port put in just in case he needs IV’s. Right now he will be just on Vidaza and because of the holiday he will not start that until Friday. He has that done in the hospital near where we live. That is good because I don’t have to go with him, unless he needs me to for some reason.

Good luck with Joe.

Fran

[franm]

Thanks Barb, you really are a life saver.

I haven’t been well myself, so it is getting harder to be by Jim and also take care of myself.

Fran

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