I mentioned on Facebook last week that my midwife was testing me for anemia. What?? You don’t follow Life in a Shoe on Facebook? Why not?
Anyway, I was at my midwife’s office last week for a blood draw. This was my idea, not hers, because I am not currently seeing her for any other conditions including pregnancy. That’s mainly because I am not, to the best of my knowledge, pregnant.
More accurately, it was Perry’s idea. He thinks I have been rather more tired than usual over the past few months. I’m not sure that’s true, but I am sure that I have more confidence in his observation than in my own memory or perception, especially if I’m unusually tired.
This was the first time I have EVER been stuck twice for a single draw. I have fabulous veins, and have been told by various people in a non-creepy way that I would make a great drug addict. If I liked needles and had higher blood pressure, I might also make a great blood/plasma donor. As you’ll see, low blood pressure can be a problem when you’re trying to get something out of a vein.
When she stuck the needle right into my clearly exposed bright blue vein, nothing happened in the little vial.
“Hmm,” she said. ”That’s odd. I thought it went right into the vein.” After a little wriggling and jabbing of the needle, we had nothing more than a few pathetic drops. ”I’m so sorry. I’ll have to try again.” Poke. Still very little action in the vial.
I began to think that instead of anemia, she should check me for a pulse. Death causes lethargy, right? I squeezed a squishy ball with my hand repeatedly in an effort to bleed compliantly, but it was slow going. My blood pressure always runs low, but apparently I needed to drink more water that morning. Looking at the thick dark sludge in the vial, I had to wonder if she was going to reconstitute it before sending to the lab.
After a long time, she smiled brightly and told me that the quarter vial she had would be plenty.
A few days later, the results are in: my bloodwork is beautiful. No anemia here. (Does anyone know if mild temporary dehydration could skew the results?)
With anemia ruled out, I need to look at other possibilities.
What do you know about adrenal fatigue? My midwife suggested that as a second possibility. I have enough symptoms to make it a strong possibility, but I also get the impression that doctors don’t necessarily think it’s a real ailment and everyone could have the symptoms on the lists I’m seeing. (Do you crave sweet and/or salty and/or high protein and/or high fat foods? Do you sometimes stay up too late, and have a hard time getting started in the morning? Really? You too? No way!!!)
Of course it could also be the fact that I have been pregnant, nursing, or both for over 19 years without a break.
It could be because I am quickly creeping up on my 5th decade. Er, that would be the 40′s. Just like the 1900′s were actually the 20th century. I’m not 50, though I like to think I would look great for my age if I were.
It could be the fact that my still-nursing 20mo baby only recently started sleeping through the night, and only in the loosest sense. He still wakes often, and winds up in my bed more than what I would call “occasionally,” but less than “frequently.” Is there a word for that?
It could be because although the baby is finally beginning to sleep a little better at night, the other young children are not. I get at least one or two visitors each night, and on a busy night my bedroom looks more like a fast food drive through:
“I need a drink of water.”
“I need you to turn on the bathroom light.”
“Bethany has my blanket.”
“I’m scared of that little green guy on that cartoon I watched when I was 4.”
“Pant, pant, pant.” Stare… (that’s the dog)
“Parker won’t sleep.”
“I need you to turn on the bathroom light.”
“I can’t sleep.”
“Are you asleep?”
“The dogs pooped all over the living floor and I stepped in it.”
Gee, I don’t know why I’m so tired all the time. Adrenal fatigue, or is it just life? Or are they both the same?
Loading ...
Recent Comments