The Power of Positive Thinking - Can We Literally Will Ourselves to Become Well?

Hi Lee - Thanks for all of the additional information you've provided. I can see how you would find life pretty uncomfortable and that's really unfortunate. I'm someone who grew up in three countries, and lived in all sections of the US. People in some places were friendly, some were not, and some had very different values. The common denominator was me, and I learned to make friends easily at an early age. What has helped me is to look for people who have some of the same things in common - it's more interesting that way, and it breaks down barriers more quickly. I've also found it helpful to meet people through online social networking sites and get to know them a bit before meeting them in person. I'm not personally familiar with Brisbane so can't make any recommendations on how to meet people there, but surely there must be others there from your home country, and perhaps they have some kind of association or social group.

Let's get back to your fever. A fever can be caused by many things, and really isn't the first thing that comes to mind in someone with cancer. Looking up information online can be very confusing and misleading. You're on the right path in getting the initial blood work done and then following up with the infectious disease specialist. You may have to see more specialists. It may take a while to get an answer. In the meantime it's important to keep working, keep going forward and keep living your life. Worrying about the unknown tends to go in a circular pattern where a whole lot of time goes into worrying, the worries mount up and get worse, anxiety builds up and a person feels worse than they did in the first place, with nothing really accomplished. Do you understand what I mean? Does this make sense?

You asked how I'm able to deal with my leukemia diagnosis. If I had to boil it down to basics I would say that I learned how to advocate for and manage my own health more than 20 years ago when I had just moved to a new state and was diagnosed with breast cancer and had no friends, doctors or support. You can read more about that in my EmpowHer profile. https://www.empowher.com/users/pat-elliott

As far as the leukemia, there were no symptoms except for some swelling in the feet after I had stood up to give a presentation for two hours. I had a blood test as a proactive measure since edema (blood pooling in the feet, making them swell) can indicate organ failure. The type of leukemia I have is a chronic form which is treatable. I have educated myself about this condition and joined online support groups and have taken multiple measures to manage all of the life changes that have come with this. I'm surprised by friends who say they would fall apart with a diagnosis like this - we humans are very strong and we are able to be a lot stronger than we know when we are truly tested. I see it each and every day in other patients who have far more debilitating conditions than I do.

I'd like to recommend a website focused on patient empowerment that I think will help you - http://www.empoweredpatientcoalition.org/ There's a lot of very helpful information in this site to support taking charge of your health and your role in the medical diagnosis, treatment and recovery process. Let me know what you think. Let me know also if you're taking steps to eat well and get good nutrition as you go through this process so you can stay as strong as possible. There are a lot of positive steps you can take, and I hope what I've written will be helpful to you in doing so. Take care, Pat

Pat, just to add, I hope my first sentence in my last post earlier today was not taken the wrong way. I am the type of person who would be devastated by a diagnosis like yours as I have no support system here. You sound very positive and are dealing with what you were given.
I hope you can share how you were diagnosed, what symptoms you had and how you are eventually diagnosed.
Being a foreigner is not an easy thing. Even though I am an Australian citizen (and one of my home country) the minute I open my mouth, my accent comes through and I am treated differently. Although some people are nice, many are not. I was never a foreigner before I moved here so I didn't know how different life can be when you are treated differently by some. It hurts.. I blend in to the crowd like most but because I lived almost 50 years elsewhere I do have a distinct accent. There are unfortunately some Aussies who forget that their ancestors also came over, and treat foreigners not with welcome arms. I had 2 job applications rejected once we got to the phone interview, one came straight out and said we only hire true blue Aussies. I am an outgoing person and not shy but have had to change in some places and not speak. One job I had briefly, a man threw rolled up paper at me and said he doesn't deal with XXXXXXXX!!!
I have to wait till my March 10th appt. to see this dr and set out on a new route of tests and such to see why I have fever so long. I am sad, depressed and would like to return home one day. It isn't easy making such a big move late in life but I do not feel welcome here, had some bad experiences and I hope the Aussie people realize what is going on. Australians in general are decent people but there are many who are not and if you don't look like them, speak like them, they want you gone. I have had this first hand,
I grew up in such a multicultural place and like diversity. Unfortunately I find it isn't like that here, especially in Brisbane.
May you be well Pat and I thank you for your reply and I hope to post some good news at some point. Please let us know how you are doing,
Lee

I am not in a great place mentally and have been running a fever (low grade) for over a month. Initial blood tests were normal. Can you get yourself THIS SICK by being alone (as I am) and not happy in life? I am living in another country and am not happy. I can make the change but not with this fever. Have I "Willed" myself into being sick so I don't have to make big decisions/choices? Can you physically get this sick from your mind? I am a 57 year old woman, all alone ( a few casual friends) but hate my life, my choices and am terrified I have cancer or another scary disease. Will know in a few days what this latest round of blood tests say but in these next 2 days, I am just vegetating and in fever and scared.