Posts by John Richardson6

Emily Edwards19, my deepest condolences😢
I am so incredibly sorry 🙂🙂

Kate Brooks2, you have no idea how happy I am for all of you!
I told you everything was going to work out 🙂

fadedtrucker5 said:I know how you feel... Just not having to go back to the hospital again... That's what really broke me. If they try to hospitalize me again, I'll lose it. Everything else is just a minor inconvenience compared to that.😍
The chemo will pass too; it’s not that bad. When you're healthy, everything else feels much easier to
handle 😁

And thanks for following the blog, sending love!🙂

Yeah, just not the hospital... It's not that I'm scared of hospitals per se, but going back there means revisiting those early childhood days that should have been spent somewhere much better. No matter how proud I am of them, I never want to relive that, and I wouldn't wish that experience on any child or anyone else.
I truly admire everyone going through this. Most of all, I admire the kids who manage to stay smiling despite everything, walking through life later with their heads held high and full of pride (because they deserve it and they have to be). I also admire the strength of their parents.
I also admire people like Lili and her husband, who take care of her father-in-law and cherish every single day with him, just like how Kate James38 looks after her brother, tetaSlava cares for her dad, and m@m@ cares for her friend... all of you!

I admire you too, fadedtrucker5, because you've accepted your situation, you handle it, and you actually enjoy YOUR life. You're a wonderful woman, seriously. 🙂

I'm so glad that Jane Doe and drhrvoje take some of their time to offer professional advice here on the forum; it means a lot to people. Thank you both!

My heart goes out to everyone for whom this illness has taken their loved ones...

(I've been following the SC Blog for a while now, but I only realized today that I see you here too. The blog is 👍)

fadedtrucker5 said:Honestly, I'm doing great! 😘 Just working, hanging out... living life like anyone else. 😍 Had a headache for a couple of days which made me start panicking a bit, even though it didn't feel like the headaches I used to get. But people around me keep insisting they have headaches too, even without my diagnosis... Of course, I just ignore them. 🙂 I can't wait to get my next MRI just to be sure everything is okay. I think this is how it'll be for the rest of my life—always being on edge and second-guessing myself—wondering if a headache is just a headache or if it's the weather or something I actually need to worry about...

But overall, I'm fine. A little nervous about the new chemo because I know exactly how those first few days go (me and my best friend basically becoming one with the toilet), but that's just part of the deal. 😍

Yeah, that's exactly it. My parents and I have been jumping at every little thing for 15 years now.
Whether it's just slightly swollen lymph nodes or anything else.
Though, in a way, it can almost be a relief to have something to focus on.😁
I just hate that waiting game and having a thousand questions racing through my head—especially the worst one: am I going to have to go through all of this all over again?

I'm just hoping the chemo goes smoothly and I don't get hit with any brutal side effects! 🙂

Here I go again..
Emily Edwards19, I am so incredibly sorry about your friend. It honestly makes me furious when doctors make mistakes like that. 😢
Lily, I’m so relieved to hear everything is under control and that you guys are making progress. 🙂

You’re all in my thoughts and prayers, everyone 🙂

Hey Elizabeth Perez33 😬
I finally finished all my tests yesterday... thankfully, it isn't leukemia. It turns out it's aplastic anemia (which feels almost identical to leukemia at first due to the symptoms).

But I'm sticking around with you guys, since one scary diagnosis is officially behind me now..

Kate Brooks2, glad to see you're making progress 🙂

Emily Edwards19, I am so sorry about your friend 😢😢

(School starts for me soon, so don't worry if I go MIA for a bit)

Kate Brooks2 said:Today has been such a beautiful day. 🙂 My brother-in-law ate sooooo much today, and we’re all just so happy and upbeat because of it. We were out and about all day, and by the time we got back, everything was cleaned up and set perfectly. Today really gave us the strength to keep going. I know the road ahead is rough, but you just have to keep pushing through. Sending hugs and best regards to everyone... I'm feeling so joyful I could hug the whole world 🙂)))))Hooray

Hooray! 🙂 🙂
Kudos to you for your endurance and patience 👋
And of course, kudos to him too 👋 👋
He probably just needed a little time to rest and recharge..

I'm so glad to hear this, I hope it stays this way 🙂 🙂

Thanks for the advice, Angela Wright!
Can I pick this up at a local pharmacy?

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi John Richardson6,

It looks like you're dealing with several different issues at once, which means you really need to get a thorough medical checkup.

Looking at your lab results, I’d say one of the main priorities right now is moderate anemia, based on your hemoglobin levels.

I think it’s crucial to figure out why this anemia is sticking around. Are you losing blood? You should look into your menstrual cycle, and since you mentioned abdominal pain, changes in appetite, and weight loss, we really need to investigate your digestive system thoroughly—along with checking your urine and urinary tract status.

There has to be a reason, and you need to find it!

Regarding the tonsil issue, it could very well be chronic tonsillitis, which typically presents exactly how you described (enlarged tonsils, bad breath, uneven surfaces, debris). It's actually quite common for throat swabs to come back normal even when there's chronic inflammation, so a clear swab doesn't rule out the diagnosis. You should talk to an ENT specialist about whether surgery (a tonsillectomy) might be necessary, as that's often the only permanent fix if it truly is chronic.

That said, I'm not sure if tonsil problems that started a year ago are linked to the other symptoms you're mentioning (specifically the anemia, stomach pains, and weight loss).

Right now, though, the priority should be finding the cause of the anemia and getting to the bottom of those digestive issues and the weight loss.

As soon as your doctor gets back from vacation, go see them with all these results in hand!

Best regards. 🙂

Hi Felix the Cat, can I ask one more thing?
Should I get liver function tests done? And is it possible that this could be mononucleosis? 🤷

Kate Brooks2 said:Just stay by our side so we can support each other through this.
Right now, things are just up and down here... his temperature drops, then it spikes again... he's still barely eating, though he drinks plenty of healthy stuff; solid food is almost non-existent. Just a bite or two here and there. I can't tell if he physically can't eat or if he just doesn't have the energy to get up and go out to the yard or something. When I ask if he can move, he just says he doesn't want to, but when I start nagging him, he just says he feels too weak.

Ah, the treatment just wears him out, so the appetite goes out the window. On top of being eaten alive by the illness itself, the therapy takes a massive toll on your mental state—he just doesn't care about anything right now. My mom used to tell me I was a great kid growing up, I wasn't even a huge brat in the hospital (maybe just a little on the first day), but once I started chemo, I became incredibly irritable, fussy, and just totally out of sorts. I didn't want to eat a single thing; nothing sounded good.

Just stay strong and hang in there. Don't push him; let him rest. Spend time with him, watch movies, or do whatever he enjoys. But if he's not feeling it, let him just rest.

Fingers crossed for you! 🙂

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear John Richardson6,

It looks like you're dealing with several different issues here, so you're definitely going to need a thorough medical checkup.

Based on your lab results, I’d say one of the main priorities right now is moderate anemia, which is pretty clear from your hemoglobin levels.

I think you really need to figure out why this anemia is sticking around. Are you losing blood? You should look closely at your menstrual cycle and see if anything is going on with your digestive system—especially given those stomach pains, appetite changes, and weight loss. That needs a thorough investigation. Also, what does your urine analysis show? You need to check if there's an issue with your urinary tract too...

There has to be a reason, and we're going to find it!

Regarding that tonsil issue, you might be dealing with chronic tonsillitis. Everything you described—enlarged tonsils, bad breath, pitted surfaces, and debris—points directly in that direction. Even if a throat swab comes back clear, it doesn't rule out the diagnosis; chronic inflammation can be tricky like that. You really need to go see an ENT specialist. They’ll help you figure out if you’re a candidate for a tonsillectomy, which is often the only permanent fix if this truly is chronic tonsillitis...

Nadalje, I'm really not convinced that tonsil issues—which you've been dealing with for over a year now—would be linked to the other symptoms you mentioned (specifically the anemia, stomach pains, and weight loss)...

Honestly, I think it's way more important to nail down the actual cause of the anemia first, and then deal with those digestive issues and the weight loss...

As soon as your doctor gets back from vacation, get yourself in for an appointment and show them these results!

Hello there. 🙂

Periods aren't heavy for me; sometimes they actually end up being pretty light.
Digestion isn't really an issue for me—I usually have a pretty fast metabolism anyway—but when I was taking Ferrum Lek, everything just went haywire. I was only going once every two days, and as soon as I stopped the supplement, things went back to normal. Right now, though, I'm dealing with intense stomach pain. It feels like there's a stone stuck in there, just pressing against everything...
The full urinalysis came back clean; everything looks good with the kidney.

I'll definitely do some more thorough digging once my doctor gets back from vacation, and I'm going to ask for a referral to an ENT.

Thanks so much!
Hey there! 🙂

Kate Brooks2 said:That’s exactly the right mindset. Just focus on boosting your immune system and your blood; that's really the key to everything. Let me try to brighten your day a bit with a little story, just in case it actually turns out to be leukemia (though I truly hope it isn't). There's a 10-year-old kid in our neighborhood who fought a long, grueling battle and finally beat leukemia. A disease like that eats away at your mental state and makes you feel weak, so please try to stay strong... you know, do things you love that bring you joy, eat healthy, and stick to plenty of fresh foods.
Fight on. I believe you can do this. 🙂🙂

Thank you so much for those kind words! 🙂

If (God willing 🙂) it's not leu, I'll be right here with all of you, praying for you.
I'm not sure how much my advice from my own past illness can help—since I beat it over 10 years ago and honestly can't recall many details anymore—but I hope my prayers and my support at least mean something to you! 🙂 🙂

Olivia Hayes89 said:Your leukocyte count isn't high enough to be worrying about leukemia!
You mentioned your tonsils and lymph nodes are swollen, plus the leukocytes are up, so it's most likely just some kind of inflammation!
Did they check your CRP?

And are you sure your hemoglobin is 12? Normal ranges are usually 120 - 150, so that seems a bit low to me....

Got it! Thanks!
My hemoglobin is actually 102; I probably missed a zero while typing.
My left tonsil and lymph node have been constantly swollen for the last year (they shrink a little then swell up again), and I actually had a lymph node biopsy.
I used to struggle with strep throat all the time, but not anymore. However, I noticed these little pits on my left tonsil where white plugs form (not like the usual pus from strep, but hard plugs inside those pits that look like cottage cheese) which eventually come out and have a really nasty smell. My doctor said it’s normal, but since I kept pushing, she did a throat swab, though they didn't find any bacteria.
She didn't want to refer me for a tonsillectomy because she thinks it's unnecessary.

I'm wondering, could this be related to everything else?

Thanks!

Olivia Hayes89 said:What are the leukocyte and platelet counts?

Leukocytes: 13.4
Platelets: 156

Hi there!

At the end of June, I went in for my routine kidney checkup (had my left one removed 15 years ago due to a Wilms tumor).
Blood count looks okay, but Iron is at 6. I had all the iron-related tests done, and my Ferritin was 14.7.
In mid-July, I started taking Ferrum Lek. I finished a whole box (30 tablets, a month's worth), took a five-day break, and then got my blood drawn for Ferritin levels.
Now my Ferritin is down to 9.8! :/
Iron is still stuck at 6... Hemoglobin is 12...
Leukocytes are high.

I’m feeling exhausted. My hands and feet are always freezing. I've lost my period, and I'm losing weight too. I have broken capillaries on my thighs (I'm 17), and bruises just keep popping up everywhere on my body. My tonsils and lymph nodes are swollen. Plus, my stomach hurts constantly.

Some of these symptoms sound like they could point toward leukemia, but is that actually possible?

My doctor is on vacation until September 1st, so if anyone can offer some insight before I see her...
Thanks!

Kate Brooks2 said:If this were a different topic, I’d probably say, "the more of us there are, the better," but unfortunately, that's just not the case here. Still, it's good you reached out so we can tackle this together...🙂
Stay strong and give it everything you've got. Keep us posted on how things are going. Don't lose hope—leukemia is being treated really successfully these days.

I was debating whether or not to chime in here, but I finally decided to go for it. I think hearing everyone else's takes, advice, and perspectives is going to be incredibly helpful... 🙂
I’m going to keep showing up and I'm going to keep fighting. No giving up... 🙂
So, it’s not officially confirmed whether it's leukemia or not yet, but I'm starting the fight anyway...
Sipping on some homemade beet, carrot, and lemon juice... 🙂
And thank you. 😍 🙂

fadedtrucker5, I really admire you.
You're a wonderful woman, truly... 🙂 🙂

Hi there!
So, I'm back...
My one-year-old daughter just fought her way through a kidney tumor...
Now, it looks like leukemia might be next on the list (we're praying it isn't before the start of September)... Hopefully, she can fight through this too.
Basically, it all started with anemia... her ferritin levels are barely producing anything now. Her white blood cell count is up...
About 80% of the symptoms are present...
But we're still holding onto hope...

I have both the 50mg and 100mg doses. I only reach for the 100mg when the pain gets absolutely unbearable and I just can't take it anymore, but I try my best not to exceed 100mg total per day. Thank God I have a pretty high pain tolerance, so I aim to push through as much as I possibly can.
I heard those drops are actually decent, so I'll be sure to ask her about them regardless...

driftingsurfer3 said:It really depends on how you usually handle meds. Thank God I don't have any issues, but whenever I give my dad some Advil, he's stuck on the toilet for three days straight.😬
I'm guessing you aren't paying for them because you're under 18? How does that even work?

Fine, I take my meds, but it seems weird that doctors won't prescribe anything for my stomach.
Actually, they wouldn't even let me take certain things because of my kidneys—I had a tumor, so now I only have one working kidney that I really need to protect. Because of that, I only take a pill when I absolutely can't stand the pain anymore, and I try not to exceed one tablet a day, though that's often impossible...
And yeah, that's probably why I'm not paying...

Well, here I am joining the club!
For the first three years, I didn't have any pain at all, and then suddenly—Lord help me—everything changed. It hurts, it pulls, it cramps... I don't even know how to describe it...
My doctor prescribed me Ketoral (she gave me the Forte ones for when the pain is unbearable, and the milder ones for the duller moments), and since it was a prescription, it didn't cost me a dime.
I should mention that, just like Benjamin Robinson3, I’m still technically a kid (only 16), but even so, nobody ever warned me that this stuff would wreck my stomach. If anything, she actually recommended them (though, to be fair, I showed up to her office half-conscious from the pain and everything else -.-')

I just want to reach out and offer some support to everyone here. It’s the very least I can do to show my gratitude for the patience and love my parents showed me. They were right there by my side every single day at the oncology ward at Mount Sinai, never losing hope—just like the doctors and nurses there. I want to honor everyone who didn't make it through this journey. I was diagnosed with a kidney tumor when I was only a year old. As you can see, neither I nor my parents ever gave up. Just hang in there and stay patient!
(Igor, R.I.P... please know I still think about your bedtime stories all the time. I still can't believe how quietly you slipped away that night... Even though I was only three, I remember you, and I always will. My first friend...)