My Life Infused

Six months ago I had my hysterectomy (kept my ovaries) to combat my severe iron deficiency anemia.  My infusions were so frequent and left me incredibly fatigued and ill.  My life felt like it was on hold for years.  So was my surgery worth it? Yes! Yes! A thousand times YES! I'll be honest, that surgery was a lot more difficult than I thought.  I really did expect it to be more like my C-Sections...t'was nothing like my C-Sections.   After my second C-section I was driving within a couple weeks and, while exhausted, I got back into life.  Plus, you have the bonus of being totally in love with your newest little one after a C-Section.  After a hysterectomy no such bonus. With my hysterectomy, I didn't feel like myself again for four months.  I kept getting bladder and kidney infections.  I had so much achiness. There were other issues that might be worth a blog post.  While I would never want to worry somebody, I do think the full picture is needed when deciding y

So, in my last post I shared that insurance turned down my surgery THE DAY BEFORE the big day! My hysterectomy was originally scheduled to happen just before the holidays.  I had been so nervous this would happen.  I admit it, I was a pest.  I called the physician's office several times in the weeks leading up to the surgery just to see if insurance had approved the procedure yet.  Each time they said no but that wasn't unusual and there was no reason the surgery would not be approved.  I called my insurance company several times.  I was told each time that this was pretty standard and not to worry.  I was skeptical because our insurance company hasn't been the easiest to work with but I didn't push it. The morning before surgery, I called my insurance company.  The gal told me that coverage was denied.  She couldn't tell me why it was denied so I called my physician's office.  They hadn't even noticed that it was declined.  I was told to continue fastin

Last I posted, I mentioned the possibility of a hysterectomy.  Long story short (perhaps I'll blog about that next), my surgery was canceled because the insurance company decided the day before the surgery they would not pay for it!  To say I was a mess that day is a huge understatement. Fast forward, I sent the insurance company a long letter detailing my day-to-day existence with anemia and the side effects from my too-frequent infusions. They approved the surgery. I'll blog more on the experience of surgery but I ended up having a Da Vinci Robotic Hysterectomy.  The doctor made four small incisions and operated the controls from outside my body!  Let me just say, this surgery was far more difficult on me than I thought it would be.  Recovery has been slow but, reading online, I see that is common for many women which makes me feel just a bit better. About six weeks after my surgery, I had my bloodwork done.  I was a nervous wreck.  I didn't feel anemic but, then

WARNING: May be too graphic a post for some I was diagnosed with Iron Deficiency Anemia more than thirteen years ago and have been treated with iron infusions for more than five years.  Although a hysterectomy has been suggested a few times over the years, I never took it seriously. I am now. So what has changed? I am not 100% certain my anemia is caused by my cycle.  We've stopped my periods with the use of birth control pills.  I still needed infusions.  I've lessened the flow radically with Lysteda.  Still needed infusions.  Had to give up the pills because, after an extended time on them, I just felt down and lethargic (yes, even more lethargic than with my anemia...I felt the difference).  I quit the Lysteda because the migraines it caused became worse than the pain associated with my period. But, my periods have become worse.  I did a crash diet a few years back and it seriously altered my cycles.  They were never great to begin with but they've become abso

I posted last month about how I was trying generic Lysteda (Tranexamic Acid) to slow my period. It worked and it was amazing! I only took the pills twice last month and what a difference it made.  I ended up having a light period for about eight days.  That length of time is not unusual for me but I do usually have several days of heavy bleeding and really appreciated not having to go through that. So a month later and my period starts again.  At the first sign yesterday, I took two tablets in the morning and then again in the evening.  Stayed light.  Took two this morning and still very light.  I think I'll take two more at bed time (they make me sleepy) and then just see how I'm doing tomorrow.  If it picks up, I'll take two more but I'll have to do it when I'm home for a few hours.  I just feel so exhausted after taking them but a couple hours later, I'm doing much better.  The only other side effect seems to be a slight headache.  Nothing major and doesn

I haven't had much to add the last couple of months.  Just been on the ever constant cycle of infusions.  I had my last infusion in June.  I decided that, despite the way iron pills affect me, I was going to find a 'gentle' iron and take it daily.   I really wanted to prolong the time between infusions. Oh, the daily iron caused so much pain.  I 'stomached' through it but I just don't do iron pills well.  So, in July my doctor decides we should check my levels.  My ferritin was down to about 10.  So discouraging.  I lost ferritin and iron more quickly that month.  Well, I chucked the iron pills.  Not worth it.  I also put off my infusion a month.  With a level of 10, I'm considered borderline and they are okay if I wait.  So, had my infusion in August. In the meantime, my OB GYN and I have been discussing what to do about my period.  Not sure my period is the cause of my iron-deficiency anemia but it can't be helping.  A couple years ago, I mad