A Short Hospital Stay

I've been so bad, lately, about keeping up with my WA sites and interacting with everyone. So I need to explain why.

For the past couple of months, my energy level just wasn't up to par. I tired easily and just couldn't stay focused. Then, about two weeks ago I started experiencing episodes of shortness of breath. I thought it was just because I needed more exercise, but you know how that goes...put it off.

All of a sudden those episodes of shortness of breath became concerning. I could barely make my bed in the morning or walk from my car to a store. I thought maybe I was having heart problems. My mom had heart disease so it seemed logical to me.

So I went to see my doctor who ordered several tests including blood tests. As it turns out, my hemoglobin was dangerously low. Apparently, a normal level for hemoglobin (which carries oxygen through the blood to your body) is 11 to 15. A blood transfusion is ordered if it drops to 7. Mine was 5.4. There was barely any oxygen left in my blood. It indicated that there was internal bleeding somewhere, most likely in my gut.

I was immediately sent to hospital emergency. They gave me 2 units of blood and admitted me. To make a long story short, they did find the source of the bleeding which has been stopped and they determined that I am anemic because of it. My doctor said it had probably been happening slowly for a long time and that had I not made that appointment I very likely would have just collapsed. Yikes!

I have to take it easy for awhile, but I'm going to be fine. I have some catching up to do. I'm looking forward to it.

My message to all my WA friends is this: "Listen to your body". If something doesn't seem right, check it out!

Have a lovely weekend, everyone.

Cheryl

AN UPDATE: Made a trip to Urgent Care, yesterday...the site where the IV tube in my arm had become infected so now I'm on antibiotics for that! It had become quite painful and something just told me I needed to have it checked. So once again the old "listen to your body" came into play!

Am slowly trying to get back into the swing of things here at WA. It's my favorite place to be. I wonder what that says about me?!