's little update

[Guest guest]

Hi Marta (and group!),

Thanks for the birthday wishes. I had a pretty nice day, even if I do

have one of those dreaded ages that end in a " 0 " now. (I won't say

which one, but if you want to believe it has a " 2 " or " 3 " before it, I

won't argue too much! LOL)

I have been busy - between work & the commute, most of my day is

spent. And lately, I've been busy with something else... I've been

going in to work at 6am and leaving by 1:30 so I can get iron infusions.

See, when I had my yearly blood test, my hemaglobin was at a 6 and the

iron storage level said " cannot return a numerical value " . Funny

thing, my doctor & the lab & Dr K all got worried about that! I knew I

had had no energy to do anything, but I didn't think about iron &

anemia... I just figured I was lazy!

Anyway, I was given 2 units of blood, which brought the hemaglobin to

9 and iron to " <1 " , which my PCP felt was an improvement. And I

started taking oral iron supplements (2x per day, until Dr.K told me

to take 3 per day. He said even that wouldn't help me build back up,

though... he wanted me to get infusions.)

After a couple weeks of supplements, I had another blood test. The

hemaglobin had dropped some (to 8;, iron still said " <1 " ), so my PCP

decided to send me to a hematologist, who agreed with Dr.K about the

infusions. I was finally approved for 10 " daily " infusions, 6 weekly,

and 1 monthly as long as I need it. (I have an HMO... what a pain in

the butt waiting for everything to be approved. They have up to 10

business days to say " yea " or " nay " , and they ALWAYS take the full 10.

Maybe they're hoping I'll die or give up before they have to authorize

more money spent on ume? Hmmm... maybe I'm just feeling bitter... ya

think?)

The hematologist & I have decided that once I get to the monthlies

(just finished dailies, so in 2007), we will have me try taking the

oral supplements for 6 weeks and see if I can maintain a healthy level

like that, as the oral is much easier on the body than the infusions.

I sure hope so... I DON'T LIKE NEEDLES!

I am getting another blood test on Monday, and my first weekly

infusion is on Wednesday. I am feeling more energy, but it has not

been the " magic pill " that makes everything all better (darn it!)

However, it did make me feel a little better about myself, to find out

that my inabilty to motivate to do just about anything was not just

because I am lazy... there was a real physical reason & now we know

it, it can be fixed. (Also, I *am* lazy... I'll admit it!)

Anywhoodle, that's what's been going on with me. I get up way too

early and fall asleep almost as soon as I get home. But I did manage

to stay up late enough on my birthday to go to Red Lobster and eat way

more shrimp (Endless shrimp!!) than anyone should ever admit to! And

followed it up with their scrumptious chocolate cake (ok, just 2

bites... I'm not kidding about how much shrimp I ate!!)

So I had a nice birthday, and I'm looking forward to having more

energy. This will be especially useful, as we're coming up on the

holidays - starting from Halloween, the next couple months are my

favorite times!

I'm going to try to read some of the group messages now. I really

should be cleaning, but I needed a break!

Miss you guys!

Huggles,

DS - Dr. K - 06/04/2002

then: 424.5 lbs

now: 187.5 lbs

>

> Happy birthday, . If you are out there reading this, that is.

> Busy girl.

>

> Marta

> okay, that's it! I have exhausted my birthday knowledge!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

Happy Four O!!!

Sorry to hear of your iron woes. Hope you are on your way to feeling

good soon.

hugs, cindylee

> >

> > Happy birthday, . If you are out there reading this, that

is.

> > Busy girl.

> >

> > Marta

> > okay, that's it! I have exhausted my birthday knowledge!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I'm happy to hear your getting your infusions. Step 1 towards your new

life.

Hugs

Jo