Living with MDS
Watch this story that explains MDS to all:
How are you dealing with your Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)?
The impact of having MDS can be significant, affecting both your body and your emotional state.
Each person with MDS will cope in their own unique way, so not everything will apply to you. But as you watch the videos of other patients and read other MDS patient stories you might find that many of the emotions they experience are familiar to you.
Here we will go through some of these common thoughts and emotions you may possibly experience and suggest some ways in which you could help yourself. We will also give you some advice on eating well, fighting fatigue and adjusting your life priorities. We hope these will help you to keep positive.
Your healthcare team is there to help you with your feelings, as well as your physical needs. Talk to them or contact us if you feel you need support. You can also share your feelings in our MDS UK forum and find people who have faced similar issues.
Have you read our Patient Handbook?
New Edition! Learn more about MDS with our MDS Patient Handbook
Learning more about the disease might help you to gain control. Our booklet has been written to help you understand more about MDS and the feelings you might go through (See Chapter 8). It also provides advice on how to deal with certain issues, such as sexuality in Chapter 9 and provides useful references in Chapter 10.
Blood cancer: supporting mind and body
Surabhi Chaturvedi, Psychotherapist at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Haematology Department, blogs about the emotional impact of being diagnosed with a blood cancer and the importance of supporting people’s mental wellbeing throughout the course of their illness.
23 Tips to Improve Your Quality of Life
Have a look at our Top Tips List!
We hope you try some of these tips, those that suit you best.
Haematology Patient Support
Hear this advice from clinical staff with a great summary of the range of services that are available and some really helpful tips to help you cope.
Coping with Anxiety by Anne Crook
It is absolutely normal to feel anxious, we all do at times. However, anxiety in itself can worsen our quality of life significantly, as it can cause muscle tension, difficulty in breathing and tension headaches among other symptoms. In this presentation you'll learn how anxiety works and some useful coping strategies.
Making Adjustments
MDS and Quality of Life by Geke Ong
Quality of life is the gap between one's life expectations and life experiences. The physical impact of MDS will affect your Quality of life. In this presentation you'll learn how to make adjustments on your expectations and regain QOL by focusing on those things that are truly important to you.
Diet and Nutrition
Nutrition Information and advice & neutropenic diets
Factsheet for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) Patients
The Neutropenic Diet by Natasha Jones
Natasha Jones Specialist Dietitian – Haematology & Palliative Care
Join our MDS UK Forum and share Nutrition and Health Supplements experiences
Dealing with Fatigue
Fatigue Factsheet: Effects &self-management tips
Fatigue factsheet for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) Patients
Practical Advice
Join our MDS UK Forum and share your Travel Tips
Quality of Life Questionnaire
You can use this questionnaire to assess how you are coping with aspects of MDS and to what extent the condition affects you. Bring it to your doctor to help discuss your care. You might find it helpful to fill this out at every consultation to notice any positive or negative changes in time – and share it with clinical staff.
This questionnaire has been developed and validated by an MDS specialist and is being used in many European countries for the purpose of assessing Quality of Life in MDS patients specifically.
If you are using this questionnaire, and are happy to share your responses with us, please post or email your completed questionnaires to us – as this will help with information we collect on Quality of Life data.
All questionnaires will be anonymous.
Useful Links
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Macmillan Benefits National Helpline 0800 500 800 (we recommend calling this helpline first)
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Disability Living Allowance & Attendance Allowance 0845 7123 456
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Employment Support Allowance 0800 055 66 88
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Carers Allowance 0845 608 4321
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Patient Transport Bureau 0300 111 213
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Age UK Advice 0800 169 65 65
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Community Legal Services Advice Line 0845 345 4 345
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Adviceguide website is the main public information service of Citizens Advice Bureau
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Community Legal Service provide and promote civil legal aid services:
