I am having a hard time articulating this one.
The cancer care clinic had to be one of Dante’s rings of hell. This place was packed with REALLY sick people attended by a cranky, overworked staff. Indeed, I was the healthiest sick person there. Furthermore, I was also one of the youngest patients in this rabbit-warren of a building by at least twenty years. No way do I EVER need to feel sorry for myself. Sorry is all of those poor folks with their large insulated bags full of medications discussing their chemo in the clinic’s lobbies. I am the picture, nay, the very bloomin’ onion of health in comparison. I really wanted to slink on outta there but…
…I was so excited to see the hematologist! I wanted an MD that I could have an in-depth discussion-dissection of my diagnosis. Instead I met a nice, but patronizing man who really didn’t listen very closely to what I was telling him about my situation. Dr. J, as cute as he was physically, was a dud. To be fair, it could just be that our personalities; culturally, did not mesh. I have a (zany) outspoken western style that may not be the bees-knees to his educated (mid)eastern upbringing.
You see…I recently learned that the only effective treatment in controlling hemochromatosis is regular phlebotomy. That’s right I have to be bled, and bled right often! How medieval! There actually is a use for leeches other than, well other than….ummm…fishing? So somehow, somewhere, I have to find somebody to take a pint of blood from me…every two weeks.
I was really hoping Dr. J was the man for the job. My vampire per se.
Instead he gave me another diagnosis…stomach ulcers on top of the hemachromatosis…and no blood letting!
So, unofficially I have ulcers and the hemo-thingy. Officially I have had more blood tests (results due next week) and an order for an echo-cardiogram this Tuesday.
I’ll write more later. Have a wonderful evening.
