Side Effects

[Guest guest]

As I have said before, I am a newbie here. Dx 07/05/06. I am a

daily reader, but seldom respond. Like others have mentioned, it is

a whole new world and I am trying to get a grip on whats happening,

whats going to happen, the terminology, etc.

In August, my white counts dropped dangerously low and infection set

in. I was in the hospital for three days. A week later I was back

in the hospital for three weeks. Apparently, my white cells had

been keeping a really bad case of diverticulitis at bay. Now not

only do I have the challenges of CML, but also learning to live with

a colostomy while my colon heals. Luckily, they are going to

reconnect my plumbing after first of the year. I know these aren't

side effects of CML, but I do believe my white count dropping

helped " unmask " the infection.

Now I will get to my question. I started 800mg of Gleevec daily the

last week of July. My side effects were bad but very managable all

the same. After my release from the hospital my onc reduced my

dosage to 600mg daily. I went for a CBC last Tuesday. My WBC was

2.8k but all my other counts were well in line. I was a little

alarmed at 2.8 wbc but my onc said, most of those were " healthy "

cells and wants me back for another CBC in two weeks.

I promise I will get to my question!...haha Since dropping to the

600mg dose, I have no side effects, except loose stool. I feel

great and, after reading some of the post here and the awful side

effects some of you have, feel almost guilty for saying that. My

question is, did anyone start out as I did and later down the road,

the side effects set in with a vengence? Am I an exception to the

norm or is this the calm before the storm?

Everyone on this post is an inspiration to me. Side effects or not,

my life is different than it was the Fourth of July. You all give

me hope in one way or another and I thank you for that! Keep me in

your prayers as I do the same for you.

Take care of yourselves and thanks for " being " here!

Troy