Thursday, March 27, 2014

It's not my Fault . . . and I have the Doctor's Note to Prove it!

It's been a month since I've blogged.

An entire month!

I started driving the bus and somehow, it just knocked me for a loop. I would get home, sit in my chair and hardly move for the rest of the night.

I couldn't believe how tired a two hour drive could make me. Truthfully, it started making me a little nervous. I mean, let's face it, there is no real physical activity to driving. Mental yes, but for the most part, driving just involves a whole lot of sitting.

I kept 'hitting the wall' (of exhaustion) and if it weren't for some wonderful ladies,  all the plant babies that came to my house over the last few weeks would still be languishing in their tiny little plugs. (And if you can believe it, 75 more showed up at my door yesterday morning! Oy!)






My drivers license is coming up for renewal on May first so I went for blood tests last week and made a doctor's appointment for yesterday morning.

The phone rings Monday morning, early. It's the doctor's receptionist. "We've got your blood tests back and the doctor wants you to come in and talk about."

Instant panic. All I can think, is that it has something to do with cancer.

Those were two very long days. Days I spent not getting stuff done that needed to be done. I was either praying or reading a book. I wish I were like my sister Lisa who becomes a cleaning whirlwind when something's bothering her. My house would be spotless this morning, rather than a disastrous mess. (There are  some clean utensils though, so that's something. Right???)

Waiting in the doctor's office turned me into a sweaty basket case.

He saunters in, gives me a cheery hello, and starts chatting about renewing my medications, forms I need filled out for my license . . . until finally, finally, he says " So, the blood tests are back and your iron is really low."

"My whaaat?!"

Hang on, wait, my iron is really low???

You mean I'm not exhausted because the cancer has come back??

"No, everything else came back excellent, but your iron is really low."

"How low?"

"4"

"Ummmm. . . what would a normal number be???"

"12 at the absolute lowest but really, closer to 100."

"100!!!?"

For crying out loud! That is the last thing I would have thought of. (although Henry did mention it as a remote possibility, the smarty pants.)

Turns out that you can't eat red meat once or twice a month without consequences. I am not fond of red meat. The only time I eat it is if we go to a restaurant that serves prime rib, or perhaps a nice beef dip. Or if I make spaghetti . . .

The prescription?  Iron pills three times a day for two weeks and then once a day for the next several months. LOTS of red meat. No tea, because the tannins inhibit iron absorption. :(

So. . . here it is, my doctor's note for bloggers:

"To whom it may concern, 

Rosa may not blog as often as she would like as her iron is very, very, low causing her to wish she could just go back to bed an hour after she gets out of it.

Please be patient with her. It can take six months or more for her iron levels to go back up."

Dr. Y

Okay, Okay, there isn't really such a thing as a doctor's note for bloggers, but if there were . . . He would totally write one for me. He's awesome that way.

I have a ton of posts backed up in my head, but, I also have a ton of work to do to get ready for my upcoming plant sale and there are a few fun photography projects on the books as well, so we will see what we can do.

I have been dropping by Facebook a little more often these days. It it is a lot easier (and quicker) to post little updates there.If you want to see what's happening, just head over to my Facebook page and hit the Like button to stay up to date. :D

That said . . . there are so many posts swirling around my brain that they've got to come out eventually, so . . . stay tuned! I'll be back as often as I possibly can.

7 comments:

Evelyn in Canada said...

That's a relief! Use your energy for your plants and keeping the kids in the bus safe. Blogging (by most people) is considered optional.

Anonymous said...

Oh Rosa! Mine was 5 at the lowest a few years ago. This fall it was back down to 9 but last week it was up to 24! It's a slow climb but sooo worth it!
Really thankful that you can relax about the cancer :)

Loretta

Anonymous said...

Hope the iron level climbs up quickly for you!!! have fun with the transplanting. I am in the midst of transplanting too, love the warmth in the greenhouse even though it's so chilly outside...the sun is shining and the plants are growing!!! LOVE IT:}

Rosa said...

It really is fabulous isn't it? :D

Sigrun said...

Iron absorption is helped by making sure you're getting lots of vitamin C as well. Iron from meat is "heme" iron and your body absorbs it easier. iron from vegetable sources is "non-heme" and is harder for your body to absorb.

Rosa said...

Thanks Sigrun! I have been focusing on red meat and trying to drink orange juice whenever I have anything with iron. I think the hardest part about all this is knowing how long it's going to take before I feel better. I do not want to go through another garden season struggling. :(

On the bright side, it's not cancer and it Will get better, even if I do have to learn MORE patience in the meantime. ;D

Jennifer said...

Hi Rosa, I am sorry to read that your iron levels are so low and very happy that you don't have to worry about cancer. It must feel a bit odd (though necessary) to go from eating so little red meat to having to eat lots of it. Interesting to read Sigrun's comment above. I have never heard of "heme" and "non-heme".
My gosh, your house is a mini-greenhouse! I haven't even started any seeds yet. It has been so miserable and cold here. Hopefully it will warm up in the coming week and I can get going on starting some annuals etc.
I really hope you feel better and have more energy soon! Take care Rosa!

Post a Comment

I love to hear from you! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.

 
© A Life of Whimsey