Sprycel and Fatigue

Every month the drug company calls me on the phone.
Voice: "It's time to renew your Sprycel. Would you like to do that?" and I tell them yes.

Voice: "Do you have any changes in symptoms to report?"

Me: "Yes... I am soooo exhausted and fatigued!!!!"

Voice: "Okay. I will note that. Would you like to speak to the pharmacist?"

Me: "Sure... what the heck..."

Sometimes all I can do is rest.
Pretty Kitty is my girl Queen Bambi

The pharmacist gets on the phone. I tell him my symptoms. We discuss red blood cells which are a little low on me, but it doesn't quite add up to anything serious. Because other factors are not off.

Then he says: "Ten to twenty-five percent of all patients taking Sprycel report the same symptoms. That is considered to be a significant percentage and is therefore a side effect to watch for."

The oncologist I have been seeing categorically denies that my fatigue has anything to do with the Sprycel. It's pretty sad that she doesn't know that the company who makes Sprycel considers it to be a normally expected side effect.

I have already made a second opinion appointment with a new oncologist not connected to the one I have been seeing. I will see him June 17.

Catching a Cold from Cats and Cataract Surgery

I am told my Leukemia is technically in remission as long as I keep taking the Dasatinib.

I have issues with the chemo in that it keeps me nauseated much of the time. That can be quite debilitating and annoying.  It is hard to get adequate balanced nutrition when all I can eat is crackers. Though at least I do have some good days.

This is Ozzie who lives in Lee Vining, California
I met him the week I was diagnosed with CML in 2011.

Recently I have caught a cold from my five cats. Yes, according to the Vet it is not only quite possible but now proven. We can also give our cats the flu, too! The cats are all well now, but I keep dragging on with exhaustion and needing frequent time out's from daily activities to lie down. I don't know if it is residual from the cold alone though.

I also have a mild form of anemia, low lymphocytes (white blood cells) and not enough protein in my blood, as well as a chronic pancreatitis flare up, all of which could be related to my extreme fatigue. Urgh!!!

On Wednesday, I'm scheduled for a cataract removal surgery and lens implant. The lens will be for distance in one eye. Later, the other lens will be for close up. I'm very apprehensive about the idea of someone messing with my eye! Thank heavens I will be sedated for this procedure.

Though I am told there is no contraindication to having the surgery while I have leukemia, (and getting over a cold) it still concerns me. But, I will chalk that up to being overly cautious and maybe a tiny bit of fear.

My boy friend will be taking me for the surgery, bringing me back and staying with me a couple days. A friend will come on Friday. Then my son will be here for Mother's day. So I won't be alone in my healing process. And.... so that I wont bend over or pick up items weighing more than ten pounds.

Four out of my five cats are at least that weight so it will be a good idea that others will be here to "hoist" them about for me and do the bending over to feed them!

Me and My Comforter

Not feeling very well today. Wasted. Get up to do something and in a short time I am forced to go lie down. Made up my mind I was going to get things done anyway. Not a good idea. Good thing my friend was here helping with the laundry! So I rested with a cold wet wash cloth on my head while she put the folded laundry away.

Mom, used to do that... give me a cold wet wash cloth. It was always comforting. Another thing that is comforting when all I can do is lay about, is Buffy, da Bampire Flayer. She's comforting me in the picture I took by holding the camera above us and guessing which direction to aim the camera. After about a dozen takes, I finally got this one.

She's better than an old wet wash cloth any day of the week!!!