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HelenSpeedwell
Comments
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Thanks Michelleanne, It's nice to feel understood. Big hug Helen
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Thanks Dave, wishing us all just what we need, when we need it. That would be great. Helen
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Hi Michelleanne Thanks for asking, not so well. Feel like im underwater and very painful ankles sclerosis and skin gvhd. Suffering a bit. A week today ecp again. Nice to have a week without it. My appetite seems to be picking up, I'm forcing myself to eat more. I can't really call it appetite but something tells me to eat.…
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Hi Steve and Dave, Just a quicky, my skin on my ankles is very tight, skin breaks and hurts, is very thick and flakey. My feet are numb but at points very sore and painful. I'm on number 20 of ecp, so at the start still really. I recently got painkillers for the polyneuropathie in my feet and painful skin, which allows me…
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Hi Michelleanne, Sorry to hear that about your blood values. I had a sticky patch with iron. I was prescribed it and it interacted badly with something else I was taking. It made me extremely depressed for a day or two so I stopped taking it (without Dr's consent) and things were instantly better. The docs agreed for me to…
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Hello Audrey, Dave and Michelleanne, Really sorry you've had such a bumpy ride recently Audrey. I'm so pleased your daughter has a medical team and facilities where she's in good hands and they can offer her what she needs. How far is the journey from home to the clinic? Must be hard for the children that she's back in.…
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Happy new year to you all, and all your loved ones. Helen
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Hello Michelle and Audrey, I hope we are able to enjoy our blessings in the next few days. They are so few but all the more special for it. I seem to be taking steps back at the moment. I can only be in the now because everything else just annoys me. You are blessings to me and for that I'm very grateful, I wish you…
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Hi Dave I feel just the same about portioning my access to the different gvhd forums. It impacts me too. I'm lying here and need to sleep for a very early eyeclinic appointment tomorrow , but cant cos of the skin ankle sclerosis gvhd. Painful, and the gvhd seems to make it more painful, but i think the ecp does help me…
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Hi Liam, And hallo Michelleanne and Audrey, thank you very much for getting in touch Liam. I live abroad so the Hotline number doesn't work for me. I've given the number to my mum but she said it's all a bit too much for her at the moment and she'll be in touch when she's ready. She was grateful to get the number though…
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Thank you so much Michelleanne, I have a feeling that you really understand me which I'm deeply grateful for. I'm glad I reached out. It helps so much to know you're there, thank you. Much love, and strength to you too. Helen
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Hi Audrey, Michelleanne, I can't agree with you Michelleanne about our recovery - it's as good as our treatment. I have an excellent university clinic only 8 miles away. They can offer me great treatments and I have a super doctor and team. I have chronic gvhd in many organs and it can last for years. There are treatments…
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Thanks for getting back Dave. I'm pleased your transport is part of the ecp treatment deal. Sounds well organised. Glad you are being kind to yourself too, that gives me a clear message about myself. I'm finding after midday is when my day starts and at the moment I'm just trying to accept it which is difficult. I spend…
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Hi Dave Tuesday today, I'm thinking of you on your long trips and wearing treatment. Hope it brings you a plus, even if only in the long run. Does someone drive you? I'm not doing well myself, emotionally low and physically missing the ecp... flakey ankles are painful so not sleeping well. I can't get out at all cos it's…
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Hi Dave Thanks. I find knowing when to 'push myself' or just go easy and be kind to myself a difficult line. Thank god I have recently got a therapist paid for by the health service who seems to be taking me seriously. He's not very experienced and doesn't do much, but I make the most of it and try to see it as a win. When…
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Thanks Dave, It sounds very plausibld what you say, I've had plenty of covid jabs and along with the ecp it probably protected me from symptoms. I'm finding it mentally challenging ... to be isolated on top of social isolation. I can't even sit in same room as hubby cos he can't afford to get it. The ankles and feet are…
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Hi all, I was sent home without ecp this week because I tested positive for covid. The gvhd is already getting stronger. Has anyone else had to have a break from the ecp? Should I ask to increase my jakavi just to see me through this week or two? Thanks, Helen
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Hi Dave, that sounds rotten with the secondary cancer. Hope it's under control. It sounds like you're doing the best you can under the circumstances. I'm amazed how well you were doing... 2 steps at a time...I can only dream of that. Thanks for sharing and I think you have plenty to be proud of. It's an up and down with me…
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Hi Dave, tingling, numbness, burning, I know all these sensations that you describe. My ankle joints are hard inside too which makes walking hard and nerve damage in the feet too and the skin is broken and hard and thick. With massaging, lots of moisturiser, at least I get a feeling I'm helping, but I don't think it has…
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Hello Dave, Michelleanne, Audrey, When I arrived home in Feb this year I was still losing weight and now I'm managing to maintain, and trying to increase. I could hardly do the stairs, but now I can with one hand on the banister and something in my other hand. I can make my food without a low blood sugar emotional break…
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Thanks Dave, I hope you can build up a bit of strength, maybe walking round the front room and extending number of circles... or the stairs. Thanks for being with me in spirit, feels supportive, I'm with you. Helen
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Hello all, I'm in the week between ECP treatments and at last feeling emotionally a bit better which gave me the energy to eat something and get out and go for a walk in the cold. I was out with my granny walker, got briefly chatting to a couple of people too, only a few words, but it lifted me, the walk and nature too.…
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Hi Dave Not ethically ok about the jakavi, more about money than health :(. (Just for info.. I pay a fortune every month for my state health insurance here in Germany, but I don't think I'm average case. ) Hope ECP continues to bring you positives. Helen
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It's nice to get some sort of positive news Dave, thanks for sharing. Thanks for the info about flare ups coming quick. I'm off steroids now. Have Myfortic and jakavi and valaciclovir or whatever it's called. Sounds like a good plan for you from your doctor. Best Helen
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Hello Audrey, Please remember what a fantastic job you are doing to help your daughter. Maybe she'll do what I've done and block a lot of it out of my memory. I was in nappies for months with acute bowel gvhd, kept nothing in, no control. It is a haze now which is a relief. Big hug to you and your daughter, Helen
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I just hope you start feeling better soon Dave, me too. I reckon too much info is not always emotionally helpful... the other patient with the increased steroids. None of us know what's round the corner. It's nice to know we had our sct about the same time, both ecp, both gvhd..... almost enough for a club... LOL. ... I'm…
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Hi Auds, Just hold on, it's such early days. It sounds you are the best compliment to her sct team. So challenging, no one else can imagine it. You and your daughter are a super team together. Yes Michelleanne is right, and it also helped me from this app (this chat) to hear that I need to tell them everything too. Helen
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They find it hard to lay the needle for me too. Remind me again please Dave, when was your sct? Mine, june 21.
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Thanks Dave, I just said to hubby , if they'd told me before they hooked me up to the stem cells' "this is going to make you suffer for years, but there's a chance you'll get through it, and there's no other way' " , I would still, even with this terrible endless suffering, have said, yes please, I'll do it. I'm really…
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Hi Dave, yes, uncontrolled muscle Spasms with jerks. But it feels like a little bit of electricity sets them off. It's much worse after, and an hour or two into, the ECP, and the day or two after. It's also noticably worse with stress and tiredness. When I look at my ankles, the skin looks like it's rotting, the big toe…