Popsicle Sticks Without The Popsicles

I finally found out from my doctor today that I have anemia... I was like, what the hell is that? My friend Gina said: "I thought anemia was common in women... y'know, they lose iron during their menstruation, etc...", well close enough... I lack tons of iron I bet cuz my doctor just prescribed to me some mega dozes of ferrous sulfate... mmm, yum! Oh and right before I left the pharmacy, the lady said to me: "You should take some multi-vitamins, too!" Good point, I think she said it cuz I looked sickly.

Well, gave more blood this afternoon, and have to go back to give 'em my stool samples [yikes, too much information! But if you happened to be a nurse or a doctor, I don't think this will bother you too much! heehee!], AND in a week or so I'll be getting a barium enema x-ray exam for my colon... the fun never ends. THEN they'll finally know what to do to me. Operate? Hmm... or maybe just put me on a strict diet that consist of only water and bread... maybe beans too, ugh!

Well at least now I don't have to worry about what I have or don't have, cuz now I know what I have. Yet still not exactly cuz there are different types of anemia, ugh! I weigh myself this past weekend and I found out I've lost over 10 lbs. over the course of this, maybe 3 weeks... All my life I've been trying to gain some decent weight, now losing like 12 lbs. is just... strange.

So this is what I picked up today when they took my blood:

Before this, I had no idea how a stool sample was taken from a patient, y'know when they ask for a urine same, they just make you pee on the spot! I've always wondered how does one submit a stool sample! Do they make you go right-then-and-there, or if you're NOT ready, come back when you're?? Or maybe you take this jar home and come back with a log in it the next day or something?!? I had no idea... well now I do!!! They give you these 'cards' and you're supposed to lift up the flap, smear your poopy-kaka [heehee!] on it with a skinny popsicle stick [conveniently included] and then close the tab when you're done... I guess it's self-sealing, well, it better be! When I was leaving, the nurse made sure with me that I store the specimen in room temperature, and NOT in the fridge... I was like, eeuwww, in the fridge, like right next to my Kung Pao chicken maybe? ugh! So the mystery is solved and it's not as bad as I thought it would be. Nice to know.

Anemia... why can't I just have a cold!!!

Posted by robert at March 17, 2003 09:30 PM