Health Update 2
(Expanded from my FB briefing)
While finding a small amount of endimetriosis, ultrasound testing failed to find polyps, cysts, or other sources of the internal bleeding. The doctor is now bringing me in for cancer screening and other testing next week, while admitting that the ultrasound didn't find any obvious cancerous lesions, either.
I went to work again today. My doctor likes that there are people around there in case I have a medical crisis, and I can get my blood pressure taken several times a day. (Between 140 and 160 top number today; much improved over the 170s, 180s and 190/112 of earlier in the week) and while today kicked my butt and made me really, really, tired, the staff said I had better color, so either I'm doing sedentary better, (ha!) or the iron supplements are starting to kick in.
Now, I've been having headaches since taking the iron sulfate...oh. Sulfate. I'm going to have to get a different kind of iron, because I do have sulfate triggers for migraines. I'll keep taking these until I get the alternative, because I really, really want to get better sooner, and the headaches aren't bad yet.
I must admit that it was bizarre to look in the mirror and see a completely pale face. I've had rosacea my entire life, so my rounded cheeks tend to look like a Campbell Soup Kid's, all rosy and warm. Well, not completely pale. My adult acne still blazed in little red spots. I never realized how well blushes concealed blemishes. I shall be grateful for the blushes here on out.
Other things it's not: not kidney issues, not liver issues, not pancreatic issues, not gall bladder issues. Probably not ulcers, either, but still waiting on official test results; but no black, tarry excrement, so unlikely to be digestive. (Plus, the blood loose in my abdomen makes that unlikely, too.) My heart is normal; the heart stress test confirmed that all my BP and heart racing/pulsing issues are all anemia-related.
My doctor's office stressed to me that after the iron pills make me feel better, I'm still to come in for further testing, because we need to address the "where is this coming from?" issue. I'm like, "Well, DUH!" Dying of avoidable congestive heart failure is *SO* not on my list of things to do. I've got too much on my list of things I want to do and experience to waste it on doing DUMB things.
If I faint or feel worse over the weekend, I'm to go into the hospital, where I'd probably get a blood transfusion to keep me ticking. (We'll see if I need one on Tuesday, when I get another blood draw to count red blood cells, plasma, etc.) We'll also see by that grand finger light how much better the oxygen in my blood is.
Thank you everyone, for all of the love and support. It has helped a great deal.
I've also been thinking that "my" line from Dr. Mary's "I Put My Low Stat" is constitution...
While finding a small amount of endimetriosis, ultrasound testing failed to find polyps, cysts, or other sources of the internal bleeding. The doctor is now bringing me in for cancer screening and other testing next week, while admitting that the ultrasound didn't find any obvious cancerous lesions, either.
I went to work again today. My doctor likes that there are people around there in case I have a medical crisis, and I can get my blood pressure taken several times a day. (Between 140 and 160 top number today; much improved over the 170s, 180s and 190/112 of earlier in the week) and while today kicked my butt and made me really, really, tired, the staff said I had better color, so either I'm doing sedentary better, (ha!) or the iron supplements are starting to kick in.
Now, I've been having headaches since taking the iron sulfate...oh. Sulfate. I'm going to have to get a different kind of iron, because I do have sulfate triggers for migraines. I'll keep taking these until I get the alternative, because I really, really want to get better sooner, and the headaches aren't bad yet.
I must admit that it was bizarre to look in the mirror and see a completely pale face. I've had rosacea my entire life, so my rounded cheeks tend to look like a Campbell Soup Kid's, all rosy and warm. Well, not completely pale. My adult acne still blazed in little red spots. I never realized how well blushes concealed blemishes. I shall be grateful for the blushes here on out.
Other things it's not: not kidney issues, not liver issues, not pancreatic issues, not gall bladder issues. Probably not ulcers, either, but still waiting on official test results; but no black, tarry excrement, so unlikely to be digestive. (Plus, the blood loose in my abdomen makes that unlikely, too.) My heart is normal; the heart stress test confirmed that all my BP and heart racing/pulsing issues are all anemia-related.
My doctor's office stressed to me that after the iron pills make me feel better, I'm still to come in for further testing, because we need to address the "where is this coming from?" issue. I'm like, "Well, DUH!" Dying of avoidable congestive heart failure is *SO* not on my list of things to do. I've got too much on my list of things I want to do and experience to waste it on doing DUMB things.
If I faint or feel worse over the weekend, I'm to go into the hospital, where I'd probably get a blood transfusion to keep me ticking. (We'll see if I need one on Tuesday, when I get another blood draw to count red blood cells, plasma, etc.) We'll also see by that grand finger light how much better the oxygen in my blood is.
Thank you everyone, for all of the love and support. It has helped a great deal.
I've also been thinking that "my" line from Dr. Mary's "I Put My Low Stat" is constitution...