Hubby had to be to work at his second job and I had to figure out how to get myself to the hospital in the next town. I called several people before I was able to get in contact with a member of my ward. I got there 15 minutes before closing and was able to get my blood drawn. The doctor had called and left a message on the answering machine before I could even get home. I needed a transfusion the next morning. I was supposed to call for further instruction the next day, only it was almost 10 AM before I was alert enough to make the phone call. Hubby had decided to take half a day off work in order to help me out. I was hoping to push the transfusion back until he could get home. The nurse called back and said that wasn't a problem but I needed to get to the hospital right away to have my blood drawn so it could be typed and matched. I hurried and dressed and Hubby's aunt drove me to the hospital for my blood test. The blood test went quickly, but when I stood up it felt like the whole world tipped on its access. The phlebotomist quickly grabbed a wheelchair and insisted that I stay in it until I got to the car.
I had to come back to the hospital at 2:30 for the transfusion. All of the running around was getting to me, and I was feeling pretty sick. When I got there, there office was empty. After waiting several minutes for someone to come, I wandered down the haul to where the nurses desk was. The nurse asked me what I was looking for and I explained that I was there for a transfusion. She looked horrified that I was walking around. She made me set down, and went looking for the office person. The office person was rude, bored, annoying and annoyed. She was minimally helpful but thankfully my exposure to her was pretty short. The sweet helpful nurse was back and took me to my room. I was incredibly thankful to have some where to lay down. Hubby was happy as a clam to get settled with the laptop and I went to sleep. Sometime later a nurse came in to get things started. They were super careful checking information, double checking and finally having me check. When the nurse looked at my chart and saw my numbers he said "wow, you don't have enough in you to sustain life. How are you walking around?" I kept thinking..."I'm a mom. What else was I supposed do?"
The IV itself wasn't bad. The blood was cold, and so was I. I wrapped up in a blanket. The IV site burned a little as the blood went in. Each unit of blood took two hours and I was receiving 2 units, so I was going to be there for 4 hours. The TV was on the hospitals preset, playing soft music and showing pictures of nature. I flipped through all of the channels but the noise was annoying, so I put it back on the preset. I was tired and drifted in and out of sleep. The blood pressure cuff hurt when it went off. It went off every 15 minutes and made my arm hurt, which woke me up. I kept trying to push it further down my arm but it didn't work. Around 4:30 they brought Hubby and I some dinner. I actually like most Hospital food and this was no exception. I think I ate more of it than my hubby. It made me feel a bit better. It was right after dinner that I discovered that I had bled all over myself, my pants and the sheet....and I got to tell my male nurse about it. Oh yippy skippy! There was nothing I could do about my pants other than pull my t-shirt down over my butt. The nurse gave me a new pad to use. I was not surprised to find my blood pressure climbed up to an eye raising level. As far as the actual transfusion went, everything went well. I was finally able to leave just before 8 PM.
I feel ok. Not great. I had hoped for great, but I feel better. The headache is mostly gone. I don't feel like my head is going to fall off every time I stand up. I am still super tired, and I get dizzy as soon as I walk too far. The feeling of nausea has been hanging around. I have a hive on my cheek and I am wondering I should call the doctor. I am thankful for feeling a bit better. I hope that my iron levels are still good in three weeks for the surgery. I just want to feel better and be the wife and mommy I should be.
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