Re: OI and Blood draws

[Guest guest]

Ah that's horrible , to have come this far and than have a set back

because of the blood drawing!

Ah good thing to know is that if you have low blood volume is to drink loads and

loads 2 days before a blood test. It increases temp. the volume and the effect

it has on your body and believe me I know.

I have low blood volume and have blood drawn every 6 - 8 weeks. About 18 - 21

vials. I kid you not. My dr. likes extensive testing and wants to keep track of

things.

I'm lucky that there is a phlebotomist available in the office who knows me

inside out and knows how to get the 21 vials although even he is getting

desperate sometimes when it just drips out of there instead of flowing. I have

hypercoagulation and inject Heparin 10000 unit 2 x daily.

Sometimes we need 7 or 8 tries to fill all vials but I learned how to kae my

mind to a different place and just relax.

Anyway, they should have treated you or at least have let you know beforehand

that you needed extra fluid intake before the draw.

Drinking Emergen-C is helpful, personally I cannot stand the stuff and can drink

only electrolyte water.

Use the tips 'what helps' on http://www.dinet.org/ like eating small meals so

less blood is needed for digestion and more for brain and heart. if you spend

more time in bed now maybe elevate your bed 4-12 inches at the head will help.

Licorice root might help. Read about it here http://www.dinet.org/what_helps.htm

Try to keep up the movement you had by walking to the car and in the water.

Water will make it easy to exercise although if you have a history of fainting

you should not go in the water alone of course. You can do walking movements

with your legs while lying in bed. It's important to keep the circulation going.

You had a set back but you know you can come back, it will take time.

My set back from blood draw last a week, but I now know what to do before I get

there so the set backs cam be limited.

--

Portland, OR

On May 29, 2010, at 3:31 PM, george6210 wrote:

> I've had CFS for 15 years but this year have felt better than ever. I've been

walking further without a wheelchair 30-40 feet, can walk to the car from the

front door. Don't need the wheelchair at all in the house - upstairs and down.

Snorkeling about once a week.

>

> UNTIL - i went to the doctor for an " annual checkup. " The blood draw was four

large vials this time - I think 80 cc. And the next day I felt like I had been

set back 10 years. I've been housebound since for a month now. I did get an IV

of 500 ml of saline but it didn't help much.

>

> So I have been resting and drinking a lot of gookinaid type drink (Emergen-C).

Its very discouraging after feeling so good - I actually thought I was going to

beat this.

>

> I've had blood draws before of 50-60 cc without feeling too bad.

>

>

>