Monday was my 2 month follow up for my blood and iron levels... one of the lovely side affects that Crohn's has on my body. I did my blood work last week and Monday I got to hear the results, visit my Dr. and be hooked up for another iron infusion (in reverse order though). Then after the fun was done, it was off to 8 hours of work. It was just one of those days where I didn't have a choice or a say except for, "Here I am. I'm going with the flow. Let's just get this over with."
Life is what you make it right?!?!
So we started out the day early because I was determined to make sure that I was fully hydrated so that we could have an IV on the first poke (instead of the 4 to 6 that it usually takes). We left the house with plenty of time, got there, and found out that my new insurance doesn't need pre-approval for my infusion :) Then it was the weigh in... this is a standing game between the hubby and myself to guess what the magic scale will say. Keeping weight on is such a battle for me. Usually we are both fairly right on though. So hubby guesses his number and I said, "no, I've put on weight, I can tell." He laughs because he doesn't believe me so I step on the scale and... I'm right and he's off by 10lbs!!! I've put on 11lbs in the last two months (INSERT HAPPY DANCE HERE)!!! That would be a total of 15lbs I've put on since my last weight scare (let's see how long it lasts). I'm feeling pretty good at this point and doing my best to not let my nerves get to me. I am actually allergic to my iron infusions so we never know how I'm going to react each time. The hubby makes his usual jokes about my upcoming date with the needle and how many times it will take and I give him back my best glare and the threat that if it takes more than 3 times I'm going to have the nurse put it in him instead between his toes (a painful past Army experience for him). My date arrives and SCORE!!! We're good on the first try (it immediately stops working but between me and the nurses, we're pros at twisting my poor veins around to get them to behave for the time it takes to get business done). Then here come the pre-meds... the wonderful "drugs" that take a half hour to administer for my 1 hour infusion... but whatever it takes to get iron into a severely anemic person who is severely allergic to iron. Outside of actually being allergic, the pre-meds are the worst part. I dislike taking any sort of medication... even taking Tylenol when I need it is a struggle because I don't like anything in my body. The first pre-med knocks me out and the second hypes me up. It's a weird combo that I'll never understand and don't even try. The rest of the hour is pretty much a haze except for the occasional nurse asking me my name, date of birth, and telling me that she's going to take my blood pressure. I've got my warm blanket, my husband by my side, and not one reaction to the infusion that seems out of place... darn, this is a good day :) When it was all over my Dr stops in to have our appointment in the infusion center since our scheduled time was long past and she knows how hazy I get afterwards... she really is the best. She sits in the chair next to me and just talks to me. It's hilarious that I can totally see the red flags go off in her head when she hears me talk about something she doesn't like... like me being stressed (another big no-no for a person with Crohn's)... but I tell her no worries, I can handle it (because I really eventually do). We talk about my latest numbers and how we caught it again right before the spiral down so hopefully this infusion helps and we'll stick with infusions every 2 months but I now get to move my next Dr appointment to 4 months out because of my weight gain and non-crashing numbers... woohoo, much better than my 2 month check ups and the monthly ones before it ;) Got my appointment reminder and a warning to take it easy at work and we're off.
The work day turned from an 8 hr to a 10.5 but all in all, not too bad of a day (all things considered). The fun part is keeping it all in check until next time!!!
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