Gayle,

I am adding to the three things I hate about America, i.e. George W Bush, Grits and Hamburgers; three times cheaters. But anyway congratulations, and I'll copy your example for 350, 400, 450 and 500, if I get that far.

Go, go , go to Hawaii. Your dog will be fine, and just tell Lou, that if he doesn't stop back peddling, you'll buy him a back peddling bike, and get on the plane on your own.

Behave yourself LOU.! The only thing you have to fear is fear itself, and with MDS what is the point of fearing other less permanent things. Go Lou, GO!

p.s. Maybe your dog would like a holiday away from you. Yes very likely, though we all think our pets cannot do without us. They can!
Love Chris.

Well!!! Snooze, you lose. I never had a chance to hit 300, apparently.

Gayle, tell Lou this: If you don't ever leave your dog, how can she miss you? GO TO HAWAII. Remember, the dog may outlive you, & it's all about living life to the fullest, as Chris is doing.

It's nice to get some of that blood back once in a while. I wonder sometimes why it takes 2 or 3 vials to run the tests, especially when they don't run the full versions.

Now, Chris, I understand GWB and grits, but what's to hate about a hamburger?

Hi everyone - sorry about hijacking #300...but we both had so much fun...we were laughing histerically.

I added a photo of Mocha to my profile...I hope you'll go check it when you have time...she's simply adorable and makes us both so happy.

Enjoy each day...

Gayle

I'm a dork...I tried to change our profile photo to that of our dog Mocha. When I didn't think I succeeded...I added her photo to our profile. Now it's in both places. Oh well, I change it back to the other soon.

TTFN

Gayle & Lou

Sharon,
Hamburgers are not ham, they are misnamed as they are supposed to be beef. But beef should be roasted as a joint in the oven and served with Yorkshire Pudding. Hamburgers are fast food, like hot dogs and Kentucky fried chicken, and a few more fast food items.
Food should be cooked slowly, with loving care, well seasoned, and be what is supposed to be, and look as it is supposed to look. Bit like us old cronies.!
I am a traditional conservative, hadn't you noticed???
Chris.

Gayle, your doggie is so cute. I once had a miniature dachshund, a 6-lb female. My cats terrorized her.

Chris, hamburgers are named after Hamburg, Germany. Apparently the custom of mincing meat into patties began on ships from there. My Aussie husband would agree with you on cooking meat, however. Strange habits you British have. I hope Judith likes to slave for hours making your dinners.

So how is everyone doing? I've been wondering just how many times I can have blood taken from veins in my inner arms before I run into problems with scar tissue. Any ideas?

Hello, I was dignosed a year ago because of the fatigue...very active and athletic with bike riding, hiking and exploring then unable to walk to the mail box. I am much better now. Today the weather's bad, but I feel good, so I am going out and enjoying it by walking. I am glad I found the group finally. I hope to be an active member.

Welcome Leotazz....we're a fun support group. It's reassuring to know you have a quick and simple place to go to have your questions answered. My husband is the one who was diagnosed with MDS and he's in the Intermediate-2 group...2.5-3 years...but we're hoping for more. Do you know what type of MDS and at what stage you are? What type of treatments are you receiving.

Pace yourself and stay tuned here for amazing input...especially from our crazy Chris from the UK.

Gayle & Lou

I'd like to add my welcome to Leotazz. We're all in the same boat here, so feel free to ask questions, offer your experience, etc.

I'm lucky enough to be in the second-best subgroup, so we'd be interested in what yours is. Mine stands now about 5-7 years, and our resident comedian, Chris, has acute leukemia but is fighting valiantly. So you can see that we're in all stages.

Please let us know what's happening with you. Fatigue is an ongoing problem, but in my own experience, it varies considerably. Right now, I can take on the world!

Hey - I was just thinking...we don't have a way to check up on each other in any manner besides this support group. If anyone is willing to share their address...I'd like to log them. I'll start with sharing our contact info....

Lou & Gayle Najera
2603 NW Loggan Ct
Bend, OR 97701
541-382-3221
gnajera@uci.net

Just a thought...don't feel obligated to share!

:)

Good idea \Gayle,

Christopher Barr
4, Langton Place
Storrington
West Sussex
RH20 4ET
United Kingdom

email
Telephones - House 44-1903-740160
Mobile 44-7870-643331.

Feel free, all of you to contact, but I am dead serious on the phone, and please remember the time difference.

Regards
Chris.

I'd like to give everyone my info, but it might not be wise to post it for all to see/use. If you'd like mine, email me at birdmom@sti.net.

Dear the world!

On 7th August 2009 I saw my Haematologist at Worthing Hospital, West Sussex and he gave me 3 to 6 months to live. On 8th August 2009 I saw my Haematologist at Kings College London, and he gave me the identical news.

Today is the 9th February 2010, (so the 6 months limits have both passed)and I am happy to record that I am still alive and kicking, being difficult and occasionally impossible, enjoying life, laughing, cracking jokes, smoking, seeing and talking to my children from time to time, drinking wine occasionally, lossing weight, having far too many blood tests, and taking a whole handful of pills every day.



But I am alive. Yippee! Yippee! Yippee! And many many thanks to God and all who care for me and pray for me.



So if you are given a prognosis, by your Doctor, remember, that is an average, for all sufferers and none of us are average, we are all special cases, different, individuals and may it always be so.
Christopher J Barr.

Didn't you know, Chris, that only the good die young? Smoking is a no-no (so naturally I do that), and drinking occasional wine? How about daily? I've heard that it builds red blood cells.

At any rate, congratulations on beating the numbers. (I'll drink to that!)

I went for my latest blood draw & Aranesp shot today. I'd hoped for better hemoglobin numbers, but it was at least up a couple of tenths, rather than down, from 3 weeks ago. What does it mean when your eosinophils are high? Mine is 9.9%. I tried to research that, but it's too confusing.

One of the people waiting for treatment at the clinic was a woman in her 90s. She too was getting an Aranesp shot. Of course, she didn't know what was happening to her, sigh. That's okay, neither do I.

Hi Birdmom, Chris and anyone else reading our posts,

Lou saw his vampire last Friday and the news wasn't good. His Hemoglobin was down to 9.6 (his lowest reading since we started tracking it in 2006).

We're moving forward with plans for a trip to Hawaii. Tentatively leaving late April for two weeks. We're getting a sitter for our dog and that gives us the reassurance that she will be safe during our absence.

Birdmom...what was your reading this month? You didnt' post it. Doctor may change Lou to Aransep if his numbers don't improve this month. We've got to get him stronger before our trip...we'll have more fun.

More later...

Lou & Gayle