How's My Haemoglobin?

Ok, my Hb's quite high relatively at 9.3g/dl, so no transfusion today. Therefore, the doctors are happy to let me go, since we're flying again on Monday, because our application for government sponsorship has been approved. Alhamdulillah... At least this trip we won't have to worry about the finances so much.

Another Transfusion.

The doctors are still unhappy with my Hb level at 7.7g/dl, so I'll need another blood tranfusion today.

Back In Hospital.

Had to be admitted in hospital straight away, just so the government grant may be expedited, plus my Hb is 5.5g/dl, which means, you guessed it! Blood transfusion!

Where the hell is my blood going? Is there a vampire sucking my blood?

Flying Home.

Flight to Brunei at 1.40pm. Nice to be home.

Imuran.

Had to be at the Haematology Centre at 8.30am today to start my first course on IVIG (Imuran).

My veins have just about given up, so it takes a couple of attempts to get the iv cannula in. Pain, pain, pain. I'm tired of the pain.

I've been put for 60g, so that's a total of 5 bottles of the stuff. (There's 12g worth of immunoglobulin in a bottle of 500mls). A total of 2.5 litres to be infused. It took more than 4 hours to complete. I'm knackered at the end.

Haematologist.

My Hb is still low at 5.1g/dl. So that's another transfusion today.

Plus, it means that the Recormon jabs are not working, so that's been stopped. Huge relief.

I've also been started on Valgancyclovir. Dr. Goh also plans to start me on Intravenous Immunoglobulin G (IVIG), to start tomorrow. Since it costs around $3 000 a go, we've decided to go home first and apply for a government grant to cover the medical costs, plus we've almost overstayed our month in Singapore anyway.

The medical costs this month alone is almost $15 000. That's way too much, and the drs. are nowhere near curing me, nor finding out the reason for my persistent anaemia.

Tuesdays - Dr. V.

Another appointment at 9am. Topped up my prescription. The bill is beginning to grow. Everything is so expensive when you have to pay for yourself.

Injection.

Had to go to a private clinic for my thrice weekly Recormon jabs. Mom found this clinic from one of the receptionists at the apartment. It cost's $25 to have me jabbed on the abdomen. It's at the Shaw Centre, so we go do a spot of shopping after.

Wednesdays - Haematology Centre

I have an appointment at the Haematology Centre at 10am. Had to have another blood test.

Apparently my Hb's dropped again to 5.2g/dl, so I have to come in after lunch for another blood transfusion. Only started at 3pm, so we finished by 6.30pm.

The doctor has also ordered me to be on Recormon injections. Bummer! I thought after the transplant I didn't have to bother with the Recormon jabs any longer. I also have to stop taking my Ranitidine and Co-trimoxazole.

Weekly Appointment.

Another appointment with Dr. V. at 9am. My Hb's staying put at 6.4g/dl.

I'm Scared....

Another early morning blood test.

My BMA is at 10.30am, so my dad and I go back to the apartment, so I can have breakfast first.

Back at the Haematology Centre by 10am. There's loads of cancer patient around (in remission? most of them are bald).

I'm led to a bed, a nurse inserts an iv line in my hand (my poor hand) and the doctor came in shortly with his trolley of goodies. The nurse asked me to lie on my side, and expose my backside, although I didn't have to take my skirt or undies off. The doctor laid the all too familiar green surgical cloth on top off me, to isolate the area he wants to work on. He felt around for the bony part he wants to poke. He then asks me if I wanted the sedative. Hell yeah! He injected the cold stuff into my hand, and I pray this isn't gonna hurt. I feel him poking around again, and even the cold alcohol swab makes me jump, but thankfully I fell asleep right away.

I wake up, my mom looks concerned. I told her it didn't hurt, yet.

We go back to the apartment. Beginning to feel sore, and finding it difficult to sit. I have this huge bandage plastered above my behind.

Haematologist.

Another early morning, blood tests at 7.30am.

Another appointment with Dr. V. She's set me up to see the haematologist this afternoon at 2.30pm. Maybe something wrong with my bone marrow then, not producing red blood cells.

Hb's gone down slightly to 6.4g/dl.

Haematologist is Dr. Goh. He looks like erm.... think Chinese Santa Claus, minus red outfit and long flowing beard. Just a jolly with a jelly belly!! Heheh!!

He's set me up for a Bone Marrow Aspiration on Monday. Eeeek! I'm scared. I've seen this procedure done a couple of times when I was doing my renal block in Med school yonks ago. Looks painful, so I asked to be sedated. I don't bloody care what he says or thinks, it's gonna hurt!