I was diagnosed with MDS in about 2003 at age 63. I am now 72 years old and will be married 52 years in June. I have not taken medication for the last three years. I go to a wonderful doctor at UCLA who is doing research on MDS. I feel fine and I am not excessively tired. My hemoglobin hemoglobin: A protein in the red blood cells. Hemoglobin picks up oxygen in the lungs and brings it to cells in all parts of the body. is only 7.2, but my doctor says that if I feel alright, I don't need to take any medication.
I get up early every morning and walk three to five miles. I play tennis, go clogging and hike. I also go to a gym several times a week and lift weights and take water exercise. In the summer, I swim 100 laps in my pool most days. I think my body has gotten used to my low hemoglobin count, and since I am a very positive person, everything is going great.
I'd be happy to talk to anyone who has the disease, or their family. I believe in living one day at a time and don't consider myself ill.
Update 2014: I am now 75 years old and married 54 years. I have been taking Procrit twice a week. I still go to a wonderful doctor at UCLA who is doing research on MDS. My hemoglobin is slightly higher with Procrit - about 8.0. I still get up early every morning and walk seven to nine miles now. I still play tennis, clogg, square dance and go to the gym and do water exercise and Zumba. I have moved from my four-bedroom home to a two-bedroom apartment. I swim in the pool and go in the Jacuzzi. The rest of the story is the same, I have lots of energy and don’t feel I am ill. Living one day at a time and enjoying life!