I had my first iron transfusion. I just kept thinking about other things until the time came and then took a deep breathe and went in to the office. It is a very humbling place. I have severe anemia but I sat next to a woman getting chemo who had breast cancer and this was her 33rd week of radiation and chemo; across the room the woman had stomach cancer. She just finished her third round and would start radiation soon. They had wonderful attitudes and were very kind people.
They told me to eat a little before I came in, so I did, but only a little because I was a little nervous. By the time they got my IV hooked up I got a chill and could not make my body quit moving. They were giving me something in my IV for itching and stomach upsetness first. I had two blankets on but the lady, Lucy, sitting next to me said, You don’t look so good are you okay?”. I was not sure, I was the coldest I have ever been when inside a building. Lucy got the nurse and she gave me two heating pads and a couple heated blankets. I closed my eyes and let the Benadryl work its magic. As I got warmer, I got sleeper and my body quit moving. I took a nap and woke up warm and toasty! (hope I did not snore:))
The iron took four hours to drip in. It was not painful. The staff is amazing and could not have been kinder. They all had a genuine concern for each patient there. They told me to take Tylenol, which I had to tell them I could not. They were not sure what should be done in case I get the flu like symptoms that apparently a lot of their patients feel in the first 48 hours. I told them we would wing it and if I needed something desperately I could always call the doctor on call.
When I left I was a little tired but mostly I could only dwell on what a POSITIVELY GREAT experience it had been for me. The cancer patient were amazing, their spirit was so encouraging. Lucy was reading The Shack and we talked about the Lord after I woke up. She had a wonderful attitude about her cancer and made me want to have a wonderful attitude about my TOTALLY correctable problem.
I am not counting on the aches and pains. If they come, they come, but I am planning on getting rest, being positive, and remembering my blessings. God is using this anemia in my life. I am really trying to listen to what He is saying. As I was walking out of the office a magazine caught my eye. It is a magazine for cancer patients. The lead article, in big BOLD letters was, “Yes, you can slow down”; do you think that might have been in my path for a reason. I am not sure, lol, but I am going to read the article and see.
I wish I could say G-R-R-R-R-R-R EAT like Tony the Tiger!
Yea! Now let’s pray that the days leading up to Thanksgiving would be restful and pain free.
love love love
Ruthie,
I stumbled across a comment you made in Pete’s blog about the e-mailing when you are angry, and how you wait 24 hrs, pray,try to forgive. It really moved me since I am struggling with a friend now. I am going to pray more and try harder to forgive so I can let go of my anger.
I work in a lab and we do the blood work for our infusion center, that treats cancer, anemia, or just antibiotic transfusions. I am happy to hear that your experience with the iron transfusion was a good one and the employees and patients there were helpful and encouraging. Good luck with your future treatments. I look forward to reading more of your blog.
Breezy
http://breezyneon.wordpress.com/
i liked reading about that. it sounded kind of peaceful in a weird/good kind of way. i think it is really cool you are meeting all those people. i want go with you sometime. love
Hi Ruthie- Glad to hear it went well.
It is a humbling experience. The center at which I receive my inferon infusions is primarily a cancer center. The hemotologist who manages my care has a practice that is primarily made up of pediatric patients. As a result, when I go in for an infusion. I am often the only patient in the waiting room, who is not obviously a cancer patient. When I am taken back, I receive my inferon infusions in the pediatric portion of the infusion center. Nothing is more humbling than watching young patients as the purple magic does it’s stuff.