So today I had my first treatment for my Haemochromotosis. Phlebotomy number one complete! Anyone who knows me well knows that I am really no good with needles or blood draws, so I was really nervous about it. A bag a blood is a lot!
Luckily I have an incredible husband who went along with me. During the whole thing he kept asking me how I was doing and tried to make me smile. I did pretty good till the end when they took the little rubber band that makes your veins pop out off my arm then the spinning started. As per usual I feel sick and they have to lay me down and put my legs in the air so that I don't pass out. I am so awesome.
But I do have to say, it could always be worse. We were in the same room as 3 elderly people who were all receiving chemotherapy. I can't even imagine going through something like that. It makes me very grateful that my thing is so minor in the scheme of things.
I have a follow up exam in October where they will do some more blood panels and see where my levels are at. Hopefully since my levels were so low to begin with, they should be regulated and I won't have to do this again for quite some time. Yay!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Diagnosed
Yesterday I was diagnosed with a blood disorder called Haemochromatosis. It is a genetic disorder that I have known about most of my life since my dad, 2 uncles, and grandpa all have it. Originally we were told that non of us kids would have it since you usually need 2 genes. One from you dad and one from your mom. When my dad was diagnosed my mom was tested and she does not carry the gene, so I only received one from my dad.
Well last month when running some blood panels with my doctor, my iron came back high. So she sent me to a blood specialist where he ran MORE blood panels along with a genetic test for haemochromatosis and it came back positive. Yay me! I defy odds!
Now it is a very easy disorder to handle, especially if caught early enough. It is basically when your body absorbs to much iron in your blood and does not filter it out correctly. The excess iron and eventually build up in your organs, causing some major problems. In order to correct the iron levels you have to do phlebotomy's. So basically they have you do some blood draws until the excess iron is out of the blood. Then you just have to go back every so often to maintain your levels.
My levels were fairly low. In a normal person the blood saturation percentage is between 15 - 50 %. Mine was 65%. They also have a ferritin serum levels of no more than 50 and mine was at 56. When my dad was diagnosed, his levels were over 100. So for now I'll have to go in and do 1 phlebotomy, then go in a month later to re-test my levels and take it from there!
In a way I am very lucky. We caught it extremely early so the chance of me having any liver damage (the first place iron stores up) is small. Plus we can get my levels under control hopefully with not much treatment. I am hoping as they get older, my little brothers will also get tested so that if by chance they defy odds as well, they can be as lucky as me.
And if I haven't said it before - Thank you Dad for all the wonderful genes!!! Ha ha just kidding, I love you!
Well last month when running some blood panels with my doctor, my iron came back high. So she sent me to a blood specialist where he ran MORE blood panels along with a genetic test for haemochromatosis and it came back positive. Yay me! I defy odds!
Now it is a very easy disorder to handle, especially if caught early enough. It is basically when your body absorbs to much iron in your blood and does not filter it out correctly. The excess iron and eventually build up in your organs, causing some major problems. In order to correct the iron levels you have to do phlebotomy's. So basically they have you do some blood draws until the excess iron is out of the blood. Then you just have to go back every so often to maintain your levels.
My levels were fairly low. In a normal person the blood saturation percentage is between 15 - 50 %. Mine was 65%. They also have a ferritin serum levels of no more than 50 and mine was at 56. When my dad was diagnosed, his levels were over 100. So for now I'll have to go in and do 1 phlebotomy, then go in a month later to re-test my levels and take it from there!
In a way I am very lucky. We caught it extremely early so the chance of me having any liver damage (the first place iron stores up) is small. Plus we can get my levels under control hopefully with not much treatment. I am hoping as they get older, my little brothers will also get tested so that if by chance they defy odds as well, they can be as lucky as me.
And if I haven't said it before - Thank you Dad for all the wonderful genes!!! Ha ha just kidding, I love you!
Monday, August 30, 2010
I am lazy
Sooo yeah. Everytime I think about updating the blog, I suddenly find something else to do.
The end of summer! We have had a very interesting summer. We have settled into our lives in California wonderfully. Jordan is doing wonderful in his job and looks forward to playing baseball with his friends at work every week. In July I had the chance to go to Utah for my Grandma and Grandpa Gorringe's 50th wedding anniversary! It was such a special day and I am so happy I was able to be there with them.
We briefly started looking for a condo only to realize about a month later that in order to get somewhere that we are completely happy we need to have a 20% down payment. So for now we are on hold on the house search, but we look forward in the future to finding a place of our own.
A couple of weekends ago we took Toady to the dog beach in Huntington Beach. It was an experience to say the least. So many dogs! We had to keep him on the leash the whole time because he gets so excited around other dogs. It was pretty hard to control him with all the dogs there, it was good to experience but I don't think we will be going back any time soon. Especially after one dog (who had a muzzle on - so I knew he was trouble) was let off his leash and tried to attack Toady. He was literally 5x Toady's size and before we knew it he had 5 dogs on top of him. I was able to wrestle him out of the pile, but his lip did get cut. That didn't stop him though, he was still ready to play!
He was still happy in the car though! Now we are dealing with a flea epidemic, that hopefully we can get under control soon. Because everytime we try to give him a flea bath the flea's take out their frustration on me! I bought him some medication today so hopefully it will get better soon.
The end of summer! We have had a very interesting summer. We have settled into our lives in California wonderfully. Jordan is doing wonderful in his job and looks forward to playing baseball with his friends at work every week. In July I had the chance to go to Utah for my Grandma and Grandpa Gorringe's 50th wedding anniversary! It was such a special day and I am so happy I was able to be there with them.
We briefly started looking for a condo only to realize about a month later that in order to get somewhere that we are completely happy we need to have a 20% down payment. So for now we are on hold on the house search, but we look forward in the future to finding a place of our own.
A couple of weekends ago we took Toady to the dog beach in Huntington Beach. It was an experience to say the least. So many dogs! We had to keep him on the leash the whole time because he gets so excited around other dogs. It was pretty hard to control him with all the dogs there, it was good to experience but I don't think we will be going back any time soon. Especially after one dog (who had a muzzle on - so I knew he was trouble) was let off his leash and tried to attack Toady. He was literally 5x Toady's size and before we knew it he had 5 dogs on top of him. I was able to wrestle him out of the pile, but his lip did get cut. That didn't stop him though, he was still ready to play!
He was still happy in the car though! Now we are dealing with a flea epidemic, that hopefully we can get under control soon. Because everytime we try to give him a flea bath the flea's take out their frustration on me! I bought him some medication today so hopefully it will get better soon.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
This past week my family came into town to visit us! It was my whole family (sadly minus Zac and Allison) Jill's Family, and my Grandma and Grandpa. It was so nice to see everyone and we had such an awesome week.
We went to Six Flags and I was so proud that I was able to drag Jordan onto all the rides! Yes some were very reluctantly but he did it! We also spent the day at a beach on Balboa Island called the Wedge. Very big and crazy waves but we had a blast! We were all so sun burned after but lucky for me it has turned into a nice tan.
Being able to see my family like that makes me feel like I haven't lost anything by moving to California. I am still able to see them and that brings great comfort to me. I will be going to Utah in July for a quick weekend and it looks like Zac and Allison will be coming down to visit us in September. Lots of good things coming our way!
We went to Six Flags and I was so proud that I was able to drag Jordan onto all the rides! Yes some were very reluctantly but he did it! We also spent the day at a beach on Balboa Island called the Wedge. Very big and crazy waves but we had a blast! We were all so sun burned after but lucky for me it has turned into a nice tan.
Being able to see my family like that makes me feel like I haven't lost anything by moving to California. I am still able to see them and that brings great comfort to me. I will be going to Utah in July for a quick weekend and it looks like Zac and Allison will be coming down to visit us in September. Lots of good things coming our way!
Friday, May 14, 2010
California Adventures
It has been a little over a month since we moved to California. It feels as though we are finally settling in. Jordan is loving his job and the project that he is working on. I am working at Nordstrom and seem to be doing well. I wish the hours were a bit better but beggars can't be choosers!
We have been able to take two little "trips" on Sundays when I have been off work. We went to San Diego 2 weeks ago and this past week we went to L.A. to see the broadway musical "Chicago".
Balboa Park in San Diego:
Mission Bay Beach in San Diego:
We went to Thai Town when in L.A. where we found a little bakery and bought some..ahem.. interesting little treats. Let's just say that one of the desserts had corn in it. Yup corn.
The Thai restaurant we went to was called "Palm Thai". It is now for it's 'Thai Elvis'. Apparently during the dinner hours there is an actual thai elvis who comes out and sings to entertain. I was very disappointed that he was not there while we ate, however we did get a picture of his likeness.
"Chicago" was so much fun to see live on stage. It was really interesting to see the inspiration behind the movie. It was also interesting because the part of 'Roxie' was played by Michelle Williams, who was a member of the singing group Destinys Child. Very fun. There were aspects that I was a bit disappointed in, particularly the part of Matron 'Mama' Morton. Maybe Queen Latifah spoiled it for me because I thought she was SO good in the movie. But it was still really fun to see. Jordan and I have had the songs stuck in our heads all week!
And yes, LA traffic is as bad as they say. We've decided that we don't need to back up there anytime soon. We had enough of the traffic to last us quite awhile.
We have been able to take two little "trips" on Sundays when I have been off work. We went to San Diego 2 weeks ago and this past week we went to L.A. to see the broadway musical "Chicago".
Balboa Park in San Diego:
Mission Bay Beach in San Diego:
We went to Thai Town when in L.A. where we found a little bakery and bought some..ahem.. interesting little treats. Let's just say that one of the desserts had corn in it. Yup corn.
The Thai restaurant we went to was called "Palm Thai". It is now for it's 'Thai Elvis'. Apparently during the dinner hours there is an actual thai elvis who comes out and sings to entertain. I was very disappointed that he was not there while we ate, however we did get a picture of his likeness.
"Chicago" was so much fun to see live on stage. It was really interesting to see the inspiration behind the movie. It was also interesting because the part of 'Roxie' was played by Michelle Williams, who was a member of the singing group Destinys Child. Very fun. There were aspects that I was a bit disappointed in, particularly the part of Matron 'Mama' Morton. Maybe Queen Latifah spoiled it for me because I thought she was SO good in the movie. But it was still really fun to see. Jordan and I have had the songs stuck in our heads all week!
And yes, LA traffic is as bad as they say. We've decided that we don't need to back up there anytime soon. We had enough of the traffic to last us quite awhile.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The other day I was working and I met two really incredible ladies. They were sisters, in their early 70's, born 13 months apart. The eldest sister was getting a facial done by someone else in the department so while she was doing that I got the chance to talk to her younger sister. I had heard them mention the hospital earlier so I asked if everything was okay. The younger sister (I really wish I had gotten their names) told me that the older sister had been on dialysis for 7 years awaiting a new kidney from the organ transplant list. It was because of a hereditary kidney disorder that 3 of the 4 children in the family had been diagnosed with including both of the sisters.
The younger sister told me that the disease does not usually manifest itself till much later in life, but the older sister had had breast cancer in 1980. Because of the radiation and chemo it had greatly increased the process of the disease. The sister I was talking to (the younger one) also was on the transplant list for a new kidney, although she had not yet had to go on dialysis. However one of the early effects of the disease can be a stroke. Which she had had 2 years ago.
So here are these 2 women. One had breast cancer, was on dialysis, and was awaiting a new kidney. The other had a stroke and was also awaiting a new kidney. Yet these women seemed so HAPPY. They were out shopping, getting facials and their makeup done, and obviously having a great time. I told the younger sister how much I admired their attitude. She told me that she had discovered many years ago that there was no use in being bitter. It does nothing to change the situation and in many circumstances it can only cause harmful effects. She quoted the beginning of a bible verse to me. Philippians 4: 11b ....I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I wish these women knew how much they affected me that day. It made me so grateful for everything that I have including and wonderful husband and family. Sometimes people can touch your lives with just the simplest conversation. But I will always remember these two wonderful sisters, trying on pink lipstick and giggling about getting kisses.
The younger sister told me that the disease does not usually manifest itself till much later in life, but the older sister had had breast cancer in 1980. Because of the radiation and chemo it had greatly increased the process of the disease. The sister I was talking to (the younger one) also was on the transplant list for a new kidney, although she had not yet had to go on dialysis. However one of the early effects of the disease can be a stroke. Which she had had 2 years ago.
So here are these 2 women. One had breast cancer, was on dialysis, and was awaiting a new kidney. The other had a stroke and was also awaiting a new kidney. Yet these women seemed so HAPPY. They were out shopping, getting facials and their makeup done, and obviously having a great time. I told the younger sister how much I admired their attitude. She told me that she had discovered many years ago that there was no use in being bitter. It does nothing to change the situation and in many circumstances it can only cause harmful effects. She quoted the beginning of a bible verse to me. Philippians 4: 11b ....I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I wish these women knew how much they affected me that day. It made me so grateful for everything that I have including and wonderful husband and family. Sometimes people can touch your lives with just the simplest conversation. But I will always remember these two wonderful sisters, trying on pink lipstick and giggling about getting kisses.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Tomorrow will be 1 week since we have moved to California. We are completely unpacked and I have several leads for a job. It has for sure been an exhausting week though. There was a misunderstanding with the movers so we didn't end up getting our stuff until Tuesday. Which meant we slept on the floor for 2 days before breaking down and buying and air mattress the third night.
Also a lovely little surprise on Easter Sunday...an earthquake!
An 7.2 earthquake struck Baja Mexico in the afternoon and traveled far enough to be felt in Southern California. We were just sitting around trying to decide what to do for dinner when our entire apartment started shaking. We ran outside (which we have since learned was a bad idea) and waited till it was over. In the grand scheme of things we felt relatively little. There was no damage or anything like that, just scared us!We are looking forward to our first free weekend in California and hopefully will have the chance to explore our new home and it's surroundings.
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