Thursday, September 20, 2007
Blood Test Results are back for yesterday's blood draw...
...and available at here. They don't look great. They are at about the same place as they were a couple of weeks previous to her colonoscopy. If you're curious, here is a comparison test.
Over the last couple of weeks I've noticed increased paleness, weakness and lethargy, so I started her on increased iron therapy (an extra Niferex-150) last week when her feet began to swell a little. She actually looks better, now, than she did and the fluid retention is under great control. She's still fairly weak, but, as usual, her will and spirit remain incredibly strong.
No, I won't be allowing her to be scoped, again. And, no, she's not in transfusion range, from my point of view. We have our regular, routine doctor's appointment today. My guess is that he'll draw blood for just about every test conceivable (which will annoy Mom, but she'll take it in her usual good, ironic humor). I'm also guessing that he'll recommend continued extra iron therapy for awhile, increased blood tests, and perhaps a few more doctors appointments within the next few weeks.
Actually, in some ways, she looks better, on paper, than she did at the beginning of July, 2003. Her GFR looks a touch better than in March, as well. I have to admit, when I got the results of the blood tests yesterday morning, I freaked and started tearing up. But, after comparing yesterday's results with with past tests during bad periods, I'm feeling much better and much more optimistic. I know, for instance, that the colonoscopy she had because of similar anemic indicators recorded no internal bleeding. That was also the test that the internist who performed it pronounced "torture" for Mom and, obliquely, for herself, as well, said she would never scope "this woman" again and recommended that Mom never again be scoped, up or down. So, I will remain firm with this. I also recall that soon after the test Mom's anemia reversed itself. I felt that the accidental colonic performed the day before the test may have had something to do with this, although the doctors (her PCP, who is the same as now, and her hematologist) remained circumspect about that. I'm going to run the idea by her doctor, today of doing just this part of the procedure again, maybe next week. He'll probably consider the idea silly, but, based on how she does over the next week or so, I may go ahead and do it. I'm sure it won't hurt her, at any rate. Might be a little messy, considering her physical weakness, but that might already be reversing itself as I type.
Mom feels good enough so that we had a few mild arguments, last night, about my insistence that we take and probably use the wheel chair to get her around. She usually feels better in Mesa than here, so I'm leaving my mind partially open on this, but I suspect I'll win this series of arguments.
As usual, I'm running on little sleep. My intention was to get about six hours...we were both in bed, lights out, by 2300 last night. I went to sleep with incomplete visions of previous tests in my head, though, so at 0315 this morning I awoke with a start, having endured my brain trying to fill in what I couldn't remember. I finally crawled out of bed at 0345 and started researching. This, alone, made me feel MUCH better...so I'm glad I did this. I'll just stoke myself up on coffee, today, maybe, if possible, get in a short nap at the motel after the appointment and, if necessary, take a "cold" pill.
Well, time for me to head into the shower. I will, I promise, report back within the next 48 hours about the appointment, and what may or may not be happening in connection with doctor's appointments and blood draws over the next weeks.
Ai, yi, yi! Well, we've gone for a long time without a health "crisis" (I'm not really sure this is a crisis, which is why I'm using the quotes), and this isn't the worst we've experienced, in fact, we've been through very similar circumstances before, so, as of right now, my hopes are high, my resolve strengthened, and by the way, Mom is, as usual, excited about the trip. I think we'll be okay.
Sooner than later.
Over the last couple of weeks I've noticed increased paleness, weakness and lethargy, so I started her on increased iron therapy (an extra Niferex-150) last week when her feet began to swell a little. She actually looks better, now, than she did and the fluid retention is under great control. She's still fairly weak, but, as usual, her will and spirit remain incredibly strong.
No, I won't be allowing her to be scoped, again. And, no, she's not in transfusion range, from my point of view. We have our regular, routine doctor's appointment today. My guess is that he'll draw blood for just about every test conceivable (which will annoy Mom, but she'll take it in her usual good, ironic humor). I'm also guessing that he'll recommend continued extra iron therapy for awhile, increased blood tests, and perhaps a few more doctors appointments within the next few weeks.
Actually, in some ways, she looks better, on paper, than she did at the beginning of July, 2003. Her GFR looks a touch better than in March, as well. I have to admit, when I got the results of the blood tests yesterday morning, I freaked and started tearing up. But, after comparing yesterday's results with with past tests during bad periods, I'm feeling much better and much more optimistic. I know, for instance, that the colonoscopy she had because of similar anemic indicators recorded no internal bleeding. That was also the test that the internist who performed it pronounced "torture" for Mom and, obliquely, for herself, as well, said she would never scope "this woman" again and recommended that Mom never again be scoped, up or down. So, I will remain firm with this. I also recall that soon after the test Mom's anemia reversed itself. I felt that the accidental colonic performed the day before the test may have had something to do with this, although the doctors (her PCP, who is the same as now, and her hematologist) remained circumspect about that. I'm going to run the idea by her doctor, today of doing just this part of the procedure again, maybe next week. He'll probably consider the idea silly, but, based on how she does over the next week or so, I may go ahead and do it. I'm sure it won't hurt her, at any rate. Might be a little messy, considering her physical weakness, but that might already be reversing itself as I type.
Mom feels good enough so that we had a few mild arguments, last night, about my insistence that we take and probably use the wheel chair to get her around. She usually feels better in Mesa than here, so I'm leaving my mind partially open on this, but I suspect I'll win this series of arguments.
As usual, I'm running on little sleep. My intention was to get about six hours...we were both in bed, lights out, by 2300 last night. I went to sleep with incomplete visions of previous tests in my head, though, so at 0315 this morning I awoke with a start, having endured my brain trying to fill in what I couldn't remember. I finally crawled out of bed at 0345 and started researching. This, alone, made me feel MUCH better...so I'm glad I did this. I'll just stoke myself up on coffee, today, maybe, if possible, get in a short nap at the motel after the appointment and, if necessary, take a "cold" pill.
Well, time for me to head into the shower. I will, I promise, report back within the next 48 hours about the appointment, and what may or may not be happening in connection with doctor's appointments and blood draws over the next weeks.
Ai, yi, yi! Well, we've gone for a long time without a health "crisis" (I'm not really sure this is a crisis, which is why I'm using the quotes), and this isn't the worst we've experienced, in fact, we've been through very similar circumstances before, so, as of right now, my hopes are high, my resolve strengthened, and by the way, Mom is, as usual, excited about the trip. I think we'll be okay.
Sooner than later.
