This is one of the many times that my own medical degree would truly be beneficial. Needing several specialists comes with the problem of dealing with their differing opinions. What's okay... what's not so okay? What can we blow off for now? What should we really worry about and act on immediately? I'm left in the middle trying to decipher the medical lingo and make the best decision for myself. Lately, I find myself confused and wondering who to trust.
This transfusion situation has become a perfect example. I don't know what to think anymore. I rushed back to town for labs and my appointment with Dr. Neal on Tuesday. He voiced serious concern about my H&H levels and stated he will not feel comfortable reinstating the treatments until my hemoglobin is stable at 11. When I left his office, the PA, Sarah, from Dr. Raghavan's office called. (Dr. Raghavan was on vacation). She said my lab results were in and my hemoglobin was 8.4. She was calling the infusion center to schedule my transfusion for Wednesday morning.
When she hung up, I sat in the parking lot frozen for a moment. A transfusion... a rush came over me. I felt lost, overwhelmed, and completely alone. Is this something I could do alone? I wasn't sure. I would have to though. And it seemed like the right answer...finally. Maybe it would give my body what it's been needing to recover. Maybe I would finally start to feel stronger ~ not so dizzy. Somehow from there, I put the keys in the ignition and moved on with my day as if nothing was different. Sometimes you just pick yourself up and move forward... alone or not.
It turned out, being alone didn't matter. My hemoglobin was a tad lower this morning. When they touched base with Dr. Raghavan before starting the transfusion, she cancelled it. Yes, that's what I said, cancelled it. The tech was befuddled and so was I. She said she'd decided to have me try iron tablets instead. At this point, I don't know what else to do but just move forward. I can't change a doctor's orders. Maybe the iron tablets will be the silver bullet - who knows?
Well, I guess they won't. I just left Walgreens where the pharmacist told me I should take iron at the same time I take coumadin because it will bond with it. It will also interact with some of my other meds. He highly recommended that I NOT take the iron tablets, but that I talk with my doctor immediately.
Seriously? That was enough for me. No thanks! I'm over it. I'm not calling another doctor's office to beg someone to listen to me relay crucial information about my health. Forget it. I'm just not going to do anything. Surely one day soon, one of my doctors will figure out the right way to help me. Until then, I'm out.
