merry's Journey with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

After 3 years of being tired and blood levels being too low to donate blood, my Doctor finally referred me to an Oncologist/Hematologist . The first visit to the new Doctor he knew what was wrong. It started with a Bone Marrow Biopsy. I was scared to death, but he assured me I would be asleep for the procedure. And he was right. Nothing to be scared of. After getting results of the bone marrow biopsy I was diagnosed with MDS. This was all new to me. Never heard of it. Nobody in my family had it or had any knowledge of it. Now this usually happens to MEN in their 60's. Well, I never did follow the rules... lol.

4 years after diagnosis I'm still doing well. Thankfully it has not progressed into Leukemia or needing Chemo / Bone Marrow Transplant

In 2009 I was referred to an Oncologist after 3 years of low blood count/anemia. Nothing helped. I had a BMB and it was discovered that I had MDS. So sad to me. I was completely off the wall. Dr gave me a lot of info & books to read. I still pull them out from time to time. Early on in my Illness I was having blood drawn every week. I never knew if it was going to be low and Have to get a Procrit shot. Or good enough to skip a week. It has been very erratic since that time. But in the last 12 months have done great!