My Stubborn Red Blood Cells

When we last left these oxygen-carrying wonders, they were eagerly awaiting their oasis in the desert, an increase in Epogen. My insurance company, however, had other plans and opted to deny the increase. Their reason? My iron was too low. Ok, you're going to have to help me out here...You are going to deny me medication designed to increase my hemoglobin levels because my iron is too low, when the reason my iron is low is because my body is using my iron supplies to over-compensate for my lack of hemoglobin? Right. Just checking. What makes this scenario even more frustrating is that decisions about my health and well-being are being made by a group of suits who don't know the first thing about my history, my current situation or medicine for that matter. Seeing as though I can't afford the Epogen without insurance, I had no choice but to give the iron supplement another go. I decided to try a lower dose, over the counter pill this time and was able to tolerate it much better than the prescription version. I also started taking it with orange juice to help absorption (thanks Jen!) and withing two weeks, my iron was back into the "acceptable" range. My hemoglobin took this opportunity to take a little breather, and weighed in at an all time low (for this time around anyway) and 7.4. So, as soon as we get the results of a few more tests, my BFF Denise is going to resubmit the Epogen increase to my insurance. With any luck, I'll be starting the higher dose within the next week or two. Because really, the only symptom of renal failure I have had so far is the extreme fatigue and it would be amazing to get back to feeling somewhat normal for as long as my kidney lets me.