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← Return to Hydroxyurea and ankle ulcer
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Sounds like you found a great place! The psychological side of illness so often gets ignored. In 10 years since diagnosis, I have had exactly one health care provider, a nurse, ask how I was coping. Poor woman! She got to hear about my parents final illnesses and death, dealing with clearing out and selling my mom's hoarder house, my retirement, husband's heart attack, son's wacky girlfriend, death of my closest friend, never mind the cat with seizures. I keep myself on a pretty tight leash, but it was nice to hear somebody make a few sympathetic noises and offer a couple suggestions for self care.
Replies to "Sounds like you found a great place! The psychological side of illness so often gets ignored...."
I have been on HU for almost 19 years. I did develop slow healing wounds at different locations on my leg (mostly ankle area) while on this therapy. It just takes time for them to heal. I was advised I could switch treatments but being on this for this long, it made no sense to switch. My platelets are well controlled on this and I feel like aside from that side effect my body and mind have adapted to this medication.
I think you should write a book! You sound like the next Erma Bombeck!
My dog takes the brunt of my complaints and listens like the trooper he is, and no psych degree. And, the best part of this “therapy” is that he doesn’t comment or tell me Im wrong or whining. And, he never repeats what he hears. I think the professionals call this “self talk” if you don’t have a dog.
But, I decided years ago to limit my complaints to no more than 15 minutes a day because it’s exhausting and can get boring (for both me and the dog).
I honestly don’t know if this technique works with cats😉
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How are you coping today? I mean it. I had a therapist at my family NP office to help me cope with the first hemotologist. Does your insurance offer free telehealth visits? I have used those visits in the past with a mental health professional. If not, feel free to dump all over me. I took my grandkids to Storytime today so I can take it.