Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Support Group
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), also known as acute myeloid leukemia, is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells. Patients with AML usually present with symptoms such as fatigue, bleeding, infection, prompting medical attention. An abnormal blood test reading will then result in further testing in a hospital with a hematologist to determine AML.
I am desperate for help....my friend had a heart attack in mid novermber....4 way emergency by pass...and then a stroke during the surgery...it was touch and go but finally he pulled through and went into a physical therapy rehab for 4 weeks...he came home on december the 18th to live with me.
New yeear's ever i noticed his hand was shaking and he wasn't "Right". I took him to the neurologist who ordered an mri and it was fine...it wasn't another stroke.
The symptoms came and went up until the 14th of January when his leg was giving out and he was struggling for words. I took him to the er where i would have bet he was having a stroke....his cat scan was fine but his blood work was horrible....platelets were 12...hemoglobin at 7...they thought he was having a reaction from one of his medications...they admitted him...gave him blood and stopped all medications.
The bone marrow biopsy showed aml. in the meantime this past week he has had 4 blood transfusions and 2 platelet transfusions. They are trying to get me to bring him home today and follow up on an outpatient next week to set up his treatment plan...HOW EVER...we are having a major blizzard here tonight and if i bring him home i wont be able to get him back to a dr or hospital if he gets sick till at least the end of next week...i am scared to bring him home and they wont keep him saying it's not medically necessary. and can't...they said they see these counts all the time and he will be fine till i can get him back next week.
Also what IS the prognosis for this...he just turned 70.
New yeear's ever i noticed his hand was shaking and he wasn't "Right". I took him to the neurologist who ordered an mri and it was fine...it wasn't another stroke.
The symptoms came and went up until the 14th of January when his leg was giving out and he was struggling for words. I took him to the er where i would have bet he was having a stroke....his cat scan was fine but his blood work was horrible....platelets were 12...hemoglobin at 7...they thought he was having a reaction from one of his medications...they admitted him...gave him blood and stopped all medications.
The bone marrow biopsy showed aml. in the meantime this past week he has had 4 blood transfusions and 2 platelet transfusions. They are trying to get me to bring him home today and follow up on an outpatient next week to set up his treatment plan...HOW EVER...we are having a major blizzard here tonight and if i bring him home i wont be able to get him back to a dr or hospital if he gets sick till at least the end of next week...i am scared to bring him home and they wont keep him saying it's not medically necessary. and can't...they said they see these counts all the time and he will be fine till i can get him back next week.
Also what IS the prognosis for this...he just turned 70.
DO NOT TAKE HIM HOME...PLEASE.
You will get more answers here....soon.
As his caregiver, please find the strength and fortitude to be diplomatic and insistent, that your friend needs Treatment right away.
Most if us here have faced challenges like this...you are your friends
Eyes, ears and mouth right now.
Please keep us posted......love, strength and hope to you....God Bless,
Sandra
Maybe you can have his records sent to a hospital that specializes in leukemia if there is one close to you and they could transfer him to that facility instead of sending him home. Seems like they would want him to start treatment soon. May be worth a try.
Prayers for you and your friend!
Debbie
Right now i have no choice and will be going to get him later this afternoon...this is an emotional issue for me also because he is VERY aware of whats going on and i can't just leave him there when he was told he was coming home today.....SO ironic...we made it through a heart surgery ..a stroke and 4 weeks of rehab to have this less then a month later.
Bloodwork.
If you can arrange for an ambulance to pick you both up on Monday,
or even a Taxi....the weather will most probably have cleared a little.
Take one step at a time. Your friend has survived so much.....trust things will be ok.
Keeping you in prayer......hug from Sandra
please tell me this is a treatable disease...i know all of you have your own problems but i am absolutely heart broken