← Return to Living with MDS (Myelodyplastic Syndromes)

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@brendamarlene

I am in the early stages of MDS and and looking for any help I can get. My blood word k has been stable for a year and a half and I am not taking meds. Prognosis is it won’t get better but worse. I am 75 and laughingly say I have been tired all my life but no one diagnosed it. Now I really am. I am looking for things like diet and anything I can do to live as normal life as possible.
In January in Victoria BC I walked 10,000 steps a day. Blew my doctor away. Took my time and listened to my body. Now back in western Canada it is too dangerous to walk in the ice and snow. Spring is still a while away. Any tips to help be living a live ni can manage would be appreciated. Do beets really work?

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Replies to "I am in the early stages of MDS and and looking for any help I can..."

Hi @brendamarlene! As I’m watching the snow fall in huge flakes right now, I can so empathize with your comment about being too dangerous to walk outside in the ice and snow! We spent the winter in FL and now back home in northern Wisconsin. I miss the ‘non-eventful’ walks on the beach!
Walking is great exercise and for those of us with blood cancers it’s vital to stay as healthy and fit as possible. When I can’t get outside, I actually walk at a brisk pace around the inside of my house, up and down stairs for an hour. Amazing how the steps add up, plus the stairs add in a goodly amount of aerobic segments. Just a thought…until you can get back outside in the glorious Canadian scenery!

It’s encouraging that you have stable blood work and no meds for your MDS at this point. If the time comes when things change, there are medications which may help keep the disease from progressing. But for right now you’re doing great. Keeping up with a healthy diet such as the Mediterranean Diet of fresh fruits, Veggies, lean meats, healthy oils and good sources of protein is beneficial.

Not sure what you mean about beets? They are an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals along with antioxidants. I had AML and there were no veggies or fruits singled out as the most helpful. I have taken beet supplements in the past but really didn’t feel they contributed to my overall health any more than my already healthy diet.

Honestly, whatever you're doing at this point is working well for you so I’d just stay on track! You’re happy, healthy, enjoying life and have a wonderful attitude! Can’t beat that!

How often do you have followup labs?