I am a 76 year old male who is now living with Myelodysplastic syndrome, ringed sidero blasts, multilineage dysplasia (MDS-RS-MLD). Lot's of words...
Although at this point, I am classified as “low risk, but the consequences are that I am anemic as well as immunocompromised.
Currently, I am monitored through monthly blood tests by an excellent hands-on hematologist.
Yet, having been very healthy and quite active all of my life, I am finding this to be quite difficult to live with , and to “wait”. Am told that best treatment is stem cell transplant, but due to my age and beeing immunocompromised, risk of infection makes transpant unfeasable.
Same with blood transfusion, i.e. too risky.
If no infection, I can last for a number of years. But over the last year, I have had three events where infections occured, and required antibiotics.
Thus all is well for me, if I can escape serious infections.
Need to take naps, which I find embarassing. 🙂
I realize that all of us seem to be living with subtle differences within the MDS family, but would there be any suggestions as to what I might be able to do to possibly modify the current situation?
I am ready to go on living with how I stand, but am getting preassure from family to get a second opinion.