Pass the Coke!

You know how "coke" is a nickname for cocaine? Well "coke" is also a nickname for coca-cola. I am not referring to either of these things. I am referring to iron, as in the metal that people lack when they are anemic. Well instead of taking supplements, like slow fe (the pill form of iron) or liquid iron, I get iron infusions. Now normally when you think of infusions you think blood. Well that is actually called a transfusion. Infusions are different. When you get an infusion you are slowing introducing a substance into the blood stream. When I get iron infusions, I am slowly (intravenously) introducing iron into my blood. Well the mixture that makes up iron infusions (an iron-sucrose mixture) looks like "coke" or coca-cola. So I have always joked that when I get iron infusions, I am getting my "coke" infusion. And since I am squeamish, blood transfusions are raspberry sauce infusions (since raspberry sauce is NOT a substance found in blood).

Anyways, the whole point of that previous rambling session is because this past Friday, I received an iron infusion. For the most part its not that bad, who wouldn't mind sleeping all day and not having to do anything? Well, the nurses dose you up Benadryl (to prevent reactions) and then you have anywhere from 2-4 hours of being infused with iron. Doesn't sound that bad right? Wrong. Normally it is like that. I sign in to the Hematology ward in the hospital, wait to be called to the back, and then they take my vitals (weight, height, temperature...the basics) and they take my blood and insert the IV. It is generally an easy process, but Friday was a hassle.

I was supposed to get iron the week before but I had a fever and was unable to receive the infusion. So this past Friday I went in, fever free, and guess what! My veins were FLAT! I am also generally good with getting a needle stuck in my arm, but after two failed sticks, I was less than happy. I was cranky and sore. Finally on the third stick we get a needle successfully in my arm, blood is drawn, and the IV is set. The rest of the day goes pretty smoothly, I am in and out of sleepiness, and generally don't do much. Why all of this stunk so much? Well I now have a GIANT bruise on my left arm. It hurts and feels weird to the touch. There is a bright side though....The bruise is a pretty rainbow of blues, purples, and pinks. What can I say? It is not the best war "scar" but the colors make it pretty awesome.

Hopefully the iron will kick in soon! More later.....

Getting healthy is
the most I could wish for, but
the road is rocky.

Stress kills...

The average person gets stress about everything. They get stressed about work, about school, about finances, or even about life, and as a result they get sick. When you have Crohn's, those stresses multiply and make you even more sick. Someone getting mad at you, waiting for important mail, or the stress from nonstop activities like shopping, work, and school. There is no break for someone like me, and when I get sick, I get stressed. And when I get stressed, my body shuts down.

I wish there was a way to say, "Oh its not that bad, I am used to it." But there isn't. I can never predict how each circumstance will affect me, and while sometimes its not that bad, other times my life comes to a stand still.

I am telling you all of this because recently I was sick, and for some reason I have been getting stressed on top of that. It is the end of my senior year in high school, my dad is stressed about who knows what, and my life seems to be going nonstop with no breathing room. I just had spring break, and unlike I planned, it was filled with nonstop activities. I was hoping to have a few days to just relax and be a bum. Well bum-dom will just have to wait. This past week I worked, I ran errands, I got sick...and this whole time left me for no "me time." (Who wants "me time" because they are sick?)

Anyways, long story short, for those of you out there who get stressed often and are nonstop moving, stop. Take time for yourself and relax. Let yourself live instead of motoring past. If you do, then stress, will be a question with the wind. And hopefully, you will feel healthier and happier with less stress.

Each day is precious
Each day is valuable
But letting stress rule will end us all.
Slow down
Smell the roses
And realize the precious things you have.
CARPE DIEM

Every day is a struggle...

Now I have been feeling okay, but there is a hitch in recovery. ALLERGY SEASON! So, allergy season is starting, i have no idea what I am allergic to, and I am getting hives. All of this is minor compared to Crohn's, but it sucks! I really want to get tested for allergies, but my mom says "You don't need to see yet ANOTHER doctor." Thanks for pointing out the obvious mom. And yet, I wouldn't care if it meant I knew what is causing more discomfort.

Anyways, I went to the New York Botanical Gardens yesterday for the annual Orchid Show. This year's theme was Cuba. (The hives I had last night, from the flowers I think, is what sparked this particular post). It was gorgeous outside! A whopping 70 degrees!! The flowers were gorgeous, but between knee pain, and hives I am definitely unsure of how much of a difference it would make to see another doctor. It is just another day of appointments right? Man is it sad if I think that.

Well that's all for now. Tootles!

Don't let the bed bugs bite.
And yet,
Every other bug bites too.
How much of a difference does this make then?
To not let the bed bugs bite.

Man it's been a whirlwind!

So it has been a while since I posted. Since my last post I have had a rather rough time. I went into the hospital in early October for a tune-up and learned of a badly diseased spot in my terminal ileum. Some meds got changed and more tests scheduled and I thought I was doing better until....December 15th, 2009. I had an upper and lower endoscopy. I woke up to a lot of raucous and learned that my surgeon was not just visiting to say hi. He was visiting to confirm that I needed another surgery.

Well I don't think I processed anything for a couple of days. I felt numb and unsure of what to think. I had a stricture that could cause major problems if not removed. My diet had to change and I could no longer have the foods that I love so much. At least it explained why I was hurting so much.

Fast forward to January 7th, 2010. I was lucky enough to get my surgery scheduled for four weeks after the endoscopy. The first opening my surgeon had, which I thought wasn't too bad a date. It was exactly two years and two months after my first surgery, and the section that had to be removed was the orginal surgial sight. (I thought this was pretty funny!) Thankfully that meant it was only 3 cm.

Now it has been nine weeks since my second surgery. At times I feel like the surgery did nothing. Other times I feel like a normal teenager, clearly I prefer these times. And yet, most of the time I am just hoping to get through the day feeling good. It certainly doesn't help that there are endless amounts of viruses going around. Including a nasty stomach bug that I am hoping to avoid.

Anyways, I saw my doctor on Monday and I am still waiting for the results of my blood test. I want off of certain medications! But at least I am taking them. Well thats it for now!

Did I forget to mention I got into college while all of this was happening?

Each day comes
and
Each day goes
but
Don't forget
how
Important they are.

Just a routine check-up

Gastroenterologist, boy is that a mouthful. Well yesterday that was the word of the day. For me this meant a routine check-up to make sure that my Crohn's Disease is doing fine and so is everything else in my body. It is kind of like a yearly physical only it happens multiple times a year. Well anyways it turned out to be not that bad, routine talk with the doctor and everything and then get blood work. Ha! Like that is ever easy. First off, my fear of needles comes into play here, but as long as I don't see the needle I will be fine (I think). The second problem is that I am completely and utterly squeamish. I rather hate the sight of blood. What do I do to get past this? Well, I have this magic cow who is amazing at making stomach problems go away. I hide behind her. It is a rather interesting site. A full-fledge teenager hiding behind a stuffed cow and humming to distract herself from the blood sucking. At least, but unfortunately, I have gotten used to it so I don't fight the phlebotomist anymore.

The worst part though has to be waiting. I get antsy easily. Especially when I am in the waiting room and there are babies in there feeding off eachothers' unhappiness. I rather HATE listening to babies cry when I am at the doctor. They always seem to be there. There is NO escaping. But friendly me with the stuffed cow tries to distract them and make them smile. I do succeed. Until the next hissy-fit breaks out, I get a few seconds of peace with my annoyed thoughts. Maybe the crying is better.

Now I wait. I wait for a couple of days to hear the results of my bloodwork. But anxious me hates waiting. Oh well, in a ways I would rather wait then find out that I need to be hospitalized.

Taking meds might suck to hell
But waking heathly is all the rage.

My Worst Nightmare

I HATE MEDICINE. For the longest time I have struggled with taking medicine. And yet, with all the times that I feel like crap, I still can't get my mind around taking medicine.

Lately, my mom has been trying new approaches. Like bribing me with my favorite soda, or candy (a sweet tooth's dream). A combination seems to work the best. And still, I can't get over my fear of swallowing a pill. The closest I have come recently was swallowing a bigger bite of bread than I had planned. With my luck I was surprised I didn't choke there. And still, life goes on, with or without the meds inside me.

Pills aren't even my biggest problem. I also get a weekly shot. A shot that releases 40cc of rather cold medicine into my warm thigh muscle. The only distraction is the tv and a shot pillow which I bite to avoid screaming. Of course on "shot day" I have to numb my thigh otherwise the medicine will hurt 1000x more. Not the most ideal. This of course wouldn't be a problem if I wasn't afraid of needles. It makes things worse and of course that much harder to receive the meds. Man do I have patient parents.

My mom is my support system and she always will be. She keeps me strong through all the meds and flares. She is my rock and man am I glad that she is there.

Life isn't always easy,
but running away won't help.
Take each day as it comes,
and live it like no other.