Incredibly happy to report (while knocking on all available wood objects) that I've yet to experience the dreaded side effects that I was warned about and have read about that occur with some people taking iron pills to treat "severe anemia." One in particular that had me feeling more than a little hesitant .... the big C .... constipation.
The key word above being "yet."
See I don't want to get all over confident and cocky about this and then have any negative karma that's lurking around, come back at me. I mean, I'm even thinking about going back to the first paragraph and capitalizing "Constipation" just to show some proper respect. Stay humble!!
In fact the toughest part is finding the right time to take the pills. Twice a day, either an hour before eating or two hours after eating. This along with a daily Centrum that I was told to start which is supposed to be taken with food (I think). When you've had no set food consumption times or patterns for many years, this required a seemingly radical adjustment of sorts for me. But I do want to feel better both physically and in my outlook for the years ahead. So I'll try to follow instructions, no matter how much denial of any health issues that I was feeling at first. And no matter how much I would prefer not to be on any medications.
I experienced all the happiness that I deserve just the other day when I received a voice mail that my doctor appointment was cancelled and re-scheduled for early August.
In the meantime, I've been visiting the wound clinic weekly for this sore (they call it an ulcer) on my calf. Which was the reason I went to the doctor in the first place that led to blood tests, a hospital overnighter, blood transfusions, colonoscopy's, endoscopy's, scans, etc. Not to forget, scaring my niece I was told, who was waiting to drive me home after my initial scheduled procedure involving anesthesia (that ended up being delayed a day), when she saw me in a wheelchair and was informed they were keeping me there. Anyway I have a lifetime supply of gauze pads and wraps now. But lately they've been dressing it and using a compression wrap, foot to knee and feels a little like I'm in a walking cast but which means that I don't have to change the dressing each day, a process I was beginning to truly hate. The nurse told me last week that the wound looked a little smaller so that's progress I suppose. I go back tomorrow and am hoping for more visible progress.
But what's really struck me is some of the people I've seen down there while I'm sitting and waiting to be seen. People that are dealing with very serious problems. A guy that sat next to me that was out of breath .... and he was just sitting there and struggling for air. Another guy slowly shuffling past with the aide of a walker, in pajamas and looking alone and defeated. And then last week, a boy who looked to be nine or ten years old who had lost all his hair (I assume from chemo) and was being pushed around by his parents in a small hospital bed. They stopped right next to me for a few minutes before a nurse took them to a room. And he was smiling and sounding upbeat in his words!!! There's been others too. Those people and images have stayed with me. I think about those people often.
No comments:
Post a Comment