A fuel up

Life can take its toll on your body after a while.

Whether due to my kidney failure and kidney transplant or down to my miscarriage - I am quite anaemic.

I have been on EPO (further information Here). It basically should be a hormone my kidney releases to stimulate red blood cells to be made by the bone marrow. For whatever reason, my body isn't sending this trigger and so I am anaemic. The injections are a synthetic replacement for this process.

My iron stores had always been pretty good, but recently it seems they may have become more depleted and I needed a bit of a boost.

I needed to have an iron infusion.

It didn't take long and didn't hurt.

A nurse, Donna, came through to the waiting room and collected me. We walked through the renal unit and at first, I was concerned that she might take me to the dialysis unit. I had a pre-emptive transplant and so never needed dialysis and so it is a strange and scary concept to me. I have spoken to other patients about dialysis so have a better idea of it now. But I do dread the time I am told I will need to start dialysis and would rather avoid that dreaded room until nearer the time! Luckily, Donna took Caz and me to a treatment room.
There was a view of the mountains from the small window, the treatment bench was a lively lime colour and one of the walls was painted in a cheerful blue.

Another nurse, Emma who I had met previously at my last clinic appointment, also joined us in the treatment room.
They really reassured me and were quite a duo. Both a little scatty and forgetful but also amazingly caring and gentle.

After being made comfortable in the fancy chair I had a cannula (used to administer medication or take blood) inserted into the crook of my arm. I have really small veins and so it can always be a little tricky to find a vein in my arms. Donna seemed to be the most fine tuned at this skill and so was able to swiftly locate a vein and insert the fine needle.

They took my blood pressure which was pretty good and then did some blood tests. While we were doing this Emma was preparing the infusion.

When they started the iron infusion they kept checking if I was okay as sometimes you can have an allergic reaction to the medication - an itching or burning sensation. Luckily I had no such feelings and so they were good to continue with my treatment.
Only about 15 minutes later we were done. They took my blood pressure again as it can be prone to dropping after such a treatment. Mine returned to a very healthy and normal range. My heart rate had even slightly calmed during my treatment and that is despite there being a fire alarm and having needles stuck into me by 2 nurses!
I was allowed to return to the waiting room where I had to stay for 30 minutes to make sure I had no side effects from the treatment. Caz went off to the pharmacy to collect my next EPO injections and I just sat and watched the fish in the tank!

Once I got home I started to feel really tired. I went for a nap and 2 hours later I emerged and had my lunch.
I didn't get a single thing done during the day, so it was good that my sick note was still valid for today.
I sat watching Lock Up on Netflix then a film called Gothika. The things you do when you while away the time!

I have heard from other patients that having an iron infusion can give you a boost of energy. The nurse Emma said that this might take a few days or weeks to take effect, so let's wait and see.
I do worry that needed more invasive treatment is the start of the end and wonder what this means for me and my kidney.
I just have to keep embracing each thing that is thrown at me and try and move forward.