It’s amazing how subtle changes to your body can be. The best way I can make sense of it is to contrast the way I feel now compared to how I felt this time last year.
It’s an enormous difference. I’m constantly exhausted and I barely have enough energy to get up from the sofa and get to the bathroom, which is barely a dozen feet away. And all of this because I’m anemic and I can’t take iron pills. They make me sick. I should have known that because recurring anemia has been part of my life since I was a teenager.
The problem is, it didn’t make a big difference in my life when I was a lot younger. I had a natural amount of energy which these days, I lack. So I’ve been dragging myself around for a few months, but I realize that anemia in a person nearly 72 is not a minor anemia in a 22-year old. It’s bad for my heart which has had quite enough to put up with and it makes things that hurt even more painful.
So instead of taking pills, I’m going to have to arrange for intravenous iron. The good news? Probably just a few infusions and it will all be set right. The bad news? Do I have a vein anywhere that will accept the needle?
You know they’re nuthatches because their natural position is upside down.
I’ve always had difficult veins, which my unlucky granddaughter has inherited. For her, the very idea of an intravenous anything is so terrifying she’s ready to leave town. I don’t have the choice of running for cover, so I hope that they have someone who is really good with a needle and can find a vein — NOT in my hand or feet, thank you — that will accept an infusion. The last few times, they wound up using my throat and that was not fun at all. I’m hoping it won’t come to that.
So, I made a doctor’s appointment. I’m hoping that if I get over this hoop, that maybe I will feel more like a human and less like a sack of rocks. You kind of know when the first thing your husband asks you is “How are you?” that you haven’t been looking well. I do not feel lovely.
I made an appointment for tomorrow and we will sort it out. I don’t have to be happy about it, though.
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Categories: #Birds, #FOWC, #Health, #Photography, Daily Prompt, Fandango's One Word Challenge
A PRIME DAY IN SPRING – Marilyn Armstrong 
SERENDIPITY - SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
Nothing helpful to add but, for what little it’s worth, I am thinking about you.
🍃 (I think that is supposed to be spinach!)
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I hope that the procedure is not too unpleasant and that it helps.
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Me too. It won’t be tomorrow because it’s Friday and the place that does testing closes early, but it’s time to at least make arrangements.
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Oh damn. What next? Are there foods with a high iron content you could eat to help????
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Cows. It’s so ironic. The diet I need to be on is the one I gave up to avoid all that fat and red meat. Go figure, right?
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It gets so complicated…
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The older we get, the more complicated it becomes. I’ve got SO many conditions with medications that don’t go with the OTHER medications That’s how I keep my memory sharp, remembering when to take which medication.
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As you know from experience that can really drag you out. Hopefully, an infusion will get you back on your feet.
Leslie
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I hope it works and doesn’t make me sick.
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me too…
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That is not fair for you, Marilyn. I hope they find a vein quickly and smoothly and you are back to good health soon.
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I hope so. So much depends on getting a phlebotomist who can feel the right vein. Some of them really have “the touch.”
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Good luck on getting an expert blood letter.
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I hope Victor has his vector.
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Like you, my wife has difficult veins and hates to get IV shots. I’m fortunate in that my veins are large and easy to find, so no issues for me. Good luck at the doctor’s.
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Getting a shot isn’t so hard, but finding a vein into which they can put an IV … well … I’m out of choices. I can’t just ignore the problems and I can’t take the pills, so IV is the last option. But yeah, it’s kind of awful. Garry has NO problem, nor does my son. Ah to be a man.
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Here’s hoping Marilyn has what is really “good” news from our PC tomorrow. She’s a trouper – but enough is enough.
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Good luckmwith the injections. Mr. Swiss was having them, but no longer needs them. I am not too bad with infusions but just not the left arm. The veins disappeared some time ago
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The last person actually found a vein on my left arm which was good because the one on my right arm vanished. I just don’t have any choices left. I can’t take the pills and I can’t ignore the problem.
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I’ve been iron deficient for most of my adult life too, and iron pills make me sick. You’d think someone would invent one that would stay down, wouldn’t you. Hope your shots do the trick and it doesn’t hurt to much.
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I’m glad it’s not just me. They made me REALLY ill. We tried two … the “standard” and prescription and the prescription ones made me even sicker. You would think, since this is such a common problem, they come up with SOMETHING that is easier on the gut.
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I hope for good news. ❤
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Me too. It seems ridiculous that such a small thing as a lower oxygen level in the blood could make me feel so bad, but apparently, I have all the symptoms. When I was younger being a little anemic didn’t matter … but fifty years later, it matters. I’m just hoping for a phlebotomist who can find a vein on the FIRST poke.
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Me too. ❤
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Ugh, I feel for you. The last time I went for my Remicade infusion, they had trouble finding a vein. One vein accepted the needle, but the needle couldn’t be advanced because of scar tissue inside the vein. Other veins simply rolled away. They finally found a usable one inside the elbow. Since I’ve been getting the infusions for a number of years now, I asked the nurse what would happen if all the usual veins became unusable, and she replied that sometimes they have to install a port. I never had a port, but I did have a PIC line (for intravenous nutrition) when I was in the hospital, and that was not fun. Plus, it was really weird getting what looked like a milkshake pumped into my veins through my chest. Double ugh.
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I had a pic line for my last two major surgeries. They ran out of usable veins. At least the PIC didn’t hurt as much, but it was kind of awful anyway.
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No happiness about shots wouldn’t be expected, but hopefully, it will make a huge difference and you’ll feel like your on top of life once again (as much as any of us can be).
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I’ve been so exhausted, it has really been depressing. This can only help … or so I fondly believe.
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I’m sure it will!
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Oh dear, do get well so!
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I’m working on it 😀
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