Well, I'm glad I'm not hysterical or lazy, but YEESH!

[logansrogue]

You know, I was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, everyone's right and I should get out of the house a bit more and exercise. That maybe I'm tired and stuff because I don't move around enough. That had to be it, right? All those hours of sleep and the many days needed for me to recouperate after any sort of sustained activity (walking, leaving the house, etc), it was because of the endo and because of my poor, poor fitness levels. That had to be it. The horrible shaking in my hands that I got sometimes? Low blood sugar! The fact that I'm goth pale, despite being part Maltese and generally rather naturally olive-toned? I don't go out enough! Don't get enough sunshine! I only had to blame myself for this terrible state I'm in!

I idly mentioned to my doctor yesterday that I was constantly rundown to a ridiculous level and said, "I'm thinking maybe my iron levels might be a bit down again." The doctor was surprised and said, "Well, you were okay the last time we checked you. I mean, it was low, but it was on the normal side of low. We'll do another check just in case."

I was expecting maybe 18 (the normal for a woman of my age is 22, apparently). I thought I'd hear from them in a few days.

I heard from them this morning. (I did the test right at the end of yesterday afternoon). I knew it had to be low for them to get back to me so quick. I asked what it was, and the lady had to find it, but unlike the last time I had a blood test and I had to speak to the doctor directly about it, she told me the information right off.

I GOT SIX. That's right, mofos. VI! 6! LIU! SECHS! שש ! SEI!

... I believe I've made my point. (I got 100 more languages, I could keep going!)

SO! Meat must be in my diet in a big way. Red meat repeatedly throughout the week, iron pills every day. I'll be snacking on beef jerky a little more often than I do (once a week instead of once every now and again). I am a sick, malnutritioned omnivore.

I KNEW bleeding for three to four weeks was going to have some freakin' fucking, mother-cunting consequence! "OH NO, IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL!" cried my male gynaecologist at me with cheery aplomb. "EVERYONE BLEEDS WHEN THEY GET MIRENA PUT IN! EVERY ONE HURTS! YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT THREE TO SIX MONTHS TO SEE IF IT WORKS!"

Like fucking HELL, buddy! Look what this has done to me! Sweet Jiminy CRICKET! Nobody thought that bleeding heavily for three weeks might be, oh, I don't know, DANGEROUS in some way? NO, I'm a WOMAN, it's PERFECTLY NORMAL. I'm sure if a man was losing the amount of blood I was over a three week period, it would have been taken just a LITTLE bit more seriously.

Well, I'll tell you what, I'm fucking angry about this. I'm spitting chips. I'm in a cunt-punting mood. Unfortunately I don't think there's anything I can do about it other than try to undo the damage done.

(I need a new icon - My Uterus Is Trying to DO ME IN)

Comments

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Isn't it fun having thin hair and no energy? T_T

[sugaryfun.livejournal.com]

Whoa...Not good. Good on you for having them check it.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I got them to check it too. I had every symptom of low iron levels (thinning hair, pale skin, easily tired, dry skin, dizziness) bar heart palpitations and fainting spells. Those were next, no doubt.

[scotsnow.livejournal.com]

Keep in mind that it generally takes several weeks for the iron to penetrate your system, so you may not feel better immediately.

Having said that, I've had iron injections in the past and have had an immediate high for a few days before leveling out. So you might eat a steak, pop an iron pill and start feeling pretty OK. :D

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I hope so. I hate having only three to five hours of energy before needing to nap again. :(

[shirasade]

Wow - that would have some serious effects on your energy levels... *hugs*

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thanks, darl! You came up in conversation today, my cousin and aunt had come to visit and we were discussing food allergies. Mum was saying how lovely you were after I said that you'd enjoyed the food immensely that she did end up feeding you. :)

[shirasade]

Aww... I really loved my time with you and your family so much!

[starfyre01.livejournal.com]

Jesus Christ! Very dangerous - and no wonder why you were run down so badly. Meat and iron supplements it is until you're back and running up to speed again. Your gyno is of the stupid if he didn't recognize that if you were bleeding heavily that there was a problem. The hurting is one thing and it's understandable to bleed while your body re-adjusts itself, but if you've got a past medical history of iron deficiency, he should've said that it would've been a good idea to change your diet. I'm so glad that I've got a good OB/GYN who is not only really nice, he LISTENS! Gah!

Great googly moogly, o_0.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I know, I know. I was most annoyed at his attitude towards it all. My GP is most excellent, though. He really listens to me and treats my endometriosis with the respect I need. He knows I'm not hysterical or a hypochondriac. When I say I'm feeling low, I need a blood test, he'll bloody give me one! I'd be lost without that son-of-a-bitch, I swear! Now if only I can find a gynae that good!

Well, the upside is I get to eat a lot of steak. :-P~~~~~ MmmmmmmMMMMm, steak! :D :D :D

[tha-prez.livejournal.com]

nurse james says: "make sure you eat some oranges or drink some oj when you chow down on your steak and spinach! :) it helps your body to absorb iron better."

now if only i can make it all rhyme...

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm taking iron pills that have vitamin c in it. But I'll nom some oranges anyways. :D

[madd-asa-hatter.livejournal.com]

See...this is why I have a female gynecologist. I mean, nothing against the males, and I'm sure they can be great at the job...but they are guys. They don't know what its like to have a period. They don't feel what we feel (As cheesy as that sounds).

And then there's the fact that Guy gynos always weird me out. Like I'm paying them to look at and jab things into my cooter.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Heh. You icon looks like sex. :D :D :D

I have no problems with either sex as gynaes since I've had bad ones from both sexes now. Only good ones were male and female, so it means nothing to me as to what sex they are.

[daemonnoire.livejournal.com]

Man, and I had a doctor freak when I was down to 12.

I can only offer up this as a replacement icon. It's not quite right, but maybe it'll get you started.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've been snapping at people left and right lately thanks to wacky hormones. It's madness. Thank you for the icon help! :)

I'm wondering why my Doctor is so laid back about this. I mean, isn't it a bit too close to 0 for comfort? Geez!

[daemonnoire.livejournal.com]

I made that about a year ago when my hormones were so out of wack that I had the urge to drill a hole in my head to pour them out and make myself more sane (my roomie told me I was never to tell her something like that ever, ever again). Now I have better pills. Yay for better pills!

Yeah... Maybe your doctor is trying to keep you from worrying too much? Who knows.

Incidentally, time release iron pills are your friend. You might also look into more natural iron supplements. I can't remember the name of the one I take, but it's a broad range iron supplement. so my body absorbs more of it.

Also, you might look into some B-complex vitamins, especially ones aimed at relieving stress. They'll help keep you a little more level.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Apparently B complexes get in the way of iron absorption, and make endometriosis worse. I've looked into B vitamins before, trust me! :-P

Once I realise I'm snapping, I can stop it. It's just that unpredictable moment before I realise I'm being a harpie that worries me. :T

[daemonnoire.livejournal.com]

Sorry. I forgot the mention that they should be taken at different times. Really, iron should be taken by itself, a couple of hours after eating something.

Bearing in mind that I Am Not An Expert and don't know a hell of a lot about endometriosis. If you've had someone more knowledgeable tell you not to take a B complex, I'd go with their evaluation, rather than some random person on the internet. :D

[sir-devans.livejournal.com]

When I nearly bled out, I was bleeding from a place NO ONE usually bleeds from, was IN hospital, and still had to be, and I quote the nurse here 'the colour of the bed sheet' and almost passed out (as in 'yes dear, he's sleeping' passed out) before they started jumping up and down.
Moral of the story is if you disagree with what your doctor's treatment plan most of the time you have to just demand the treatment your after because you are unlikely to change their opinion no matter what you say. If you are unsure what you want but just know that it isn't what your getting second opinion (or as in my case) endless, ENDLESS tests are the way to go.

[shantari.livejournal.com]

6 is most fun in the Swedish form. Then it's a pun. Like if the meaning of life, the universe and everything is 42, then the meaning of life has to be the suare root of 42. Which is a little more than "sex"...

My mother has had iron defiancy lately. I got her something that's called "blodsaft" = "bloodjuice"... Sounds a bit vampiric, but appearantly it helped her a great deal. In Sweden we have a dish called blood pudding, which most kids seemed to dread getting in the school cafeteria, but that I remember enjoying. That ought to have a lot of iron in it. Now that I think about it, there are a lot of dishes in Swedish cuisine that involves blood. Probably because of our climate imposing on our cuisine to make use of everything and not letting anything get to waste. But it's more fun to imagine that it's because we're culturally inclined to vampirism. :D Blood pudding? *holds out a tray*

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Blood pudding is lovely! The peoples of the British Isles call it Black Pudding, and it's bloody delicious, pardon the pun! So I don't doubt if Mum sees some, she'll pick it up. :)