With iron, lots of iron.

I am now getting iron infusions (again).  Did this a couple years back and my recollection is it really helped me with the fatigue, et al. 

Anemia is a symptom or side effect of my ITP (low platelets).  And mine has been getting steadily worse – by dribs and drabs, but steady downward trend of the hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cell count.  The doctors keep pooh-poohing it because the trend is so slow.  But the hematologist was finally convinced maybe we should do something about this.  (Ya think?)

So for five weeks, I’ll park my fat old lady ass in a reclinerand have a bag of iron pumped into my vein. 

I prefer infusion over pills because, as I told my doctor, I would like to shit again before I die.  Iron being infamous for corking up your bowels – and my bowels are irritable (literally) enough, thank you very much. 

I’ve had 2 of the 5 infusions, and I admit I’m feeling better already.

In fact, I’m thinking that the symptoms I’ve attributed to my heart (and POTS) may actually be due to anemia!  I checked, and yes, POTS and anemia have the same symptoms!  Live and learn.  You’d think the doctors might have clued in on this – but noooooooooo.  So this tidbit needs to be tucked away in my punkin’ head to be retrieved in few years hence when the anemia creeps up (like cheap underwear) again. 

Good news though.  Since they’re jabbing me for the IV every week, I can also have them do my blood draws at the same time!  So every other week, I’m able to skip that extra jab!