My Fight to the Death

And the battle continues...As expected, as soon as my iron levels were deemed appropriate by my insurance company, approval was granted for the increase in Epogen. Armed with a whopping 100mcgs per week of red blood cell producing meds, I was convinced I would be victorious and be back to feeling normal in no time. Instead, over a course of four weeks, I watched hopelessly as my hemoglobin dropped to 6.4, then to a critical level of 5.8. [A side note to all my doctors, present and future: The only time it is acceptable to call me at 1:30 am is if the words, "We have a kidney for you, " are coming out of your mouth. And news concerning my ridiculously abnormal lab results can surely wait a few more hours until morning, mmm-k?!?!] To say I was disappointed would be a gross understatement. I was crushed, and because it was looking as though a transfusion would be unavoidable, I was also terrified. I went to see Dr. Cool Whip, who was absolutely amazed that someone with a hemoglobin level of 5.8 was not laying in a hospital bed receiving blood, let alone being able to drive, walk 2 miles a day and continue to work full time. (Some friends attribute my strength to my Irish background, some gave my giant kidney the credit, and I just decided that I must have super powers!) I explained that besides being more tired than I can even describe with words, I really had no other symptoms. As a result, we decided to skip the transfusion and make an appointment with a hematologist to figure out why my bone marrow was not responding to the Epogen. In the meantime, I was to continue with the injections and to call if I started to experience any serious symptoms.

Little did I know that it is clearly easier to ask for someone's first born than to get anything accomplished within the hematology department. Even with a freakishly low red blood cell count, it took nearly two weeks to get in. Of course, as luck would have it, my hemoglobin took this opportunity to inch upward to 6.7. 6.7 is not good by any means, but it was almost a whole point higher than it had been a mere two weeks before, and it was the first significant increase I had seen in the 7 months of Epogen use. So, I felt pretty confident going in to see the hematologist. That was until Dr. Hey Man! (clearly not his name, but that is almost how you pronounce it and thinking "Hey Man!" each time I asked him a question made me giggle...a lot!) started spewing out some nonsense about a bone marrow biopsy. I wasn't exactly clear on the specifics, but I am familiar with biopsies, and in no way does sticking a giant needle through my bone and sucking out the gooey center sound like a good time. Luckily, after reviewing my recent labs, Dr. Hey Man! decided that as long as the hemoglobin keeps increasing, there would be no need to poke around in my bones. He did repeat the labs, though, and found that it had come up again to 7.7, one point in one week, sweet! Dodged a bullet on that one.

I have one more week until they check my blood again, but if things continue at this rate, I could be back within normal range within the next month or so - fingers crossed!