In a room full of people
Waiting rooms, IVs, and me trendsetting
When you just want to lie down, all the time…
The exhaustion has been strong with this one.
After my dentist visit two weeks ago, I’ve been feeling more exhausted again. Even though the procedure itself didn’t take too long, it drained my energy. Plus, it involved two long-ish train trips and a completely disturbed daily routine.
I read somewhere that to understand the level of exhaustion of people with, for example, ME/CFS or similar Long Covid symptoms, a regular person would have to stay up three days straight.
In a room full of people without masks
I have been going to more medical appointments in general the past two weeks. Last week, I went to the hospital to get a surgical consult on an unexpected side effect of having Long Covid and taking all kinds of meds. Endless lists of symptoms AND side effects of those - who’s in? 🫨 As I arrived, on time, for my appointment, the waiting room was full of people. There must have been around 25 waiting with me, and only one other person besides me wore a mask. At the height of this winter’s Covid-19 and flu season. 😷😤
These moments are a nightmare (on top of the regular ones at night) and make me really anxious. On top of worrying about possibly needing a surgical procedure and being stuck in a waiting room for who knows how long, the lack of masks adds a psychological dimension that makes the whole ordeal even more draining.
One side effect of some of my meds is dry mouth, so I try to take sips of water frequently (and chew a lot more gum, which helps) 🫗☕. In this waiting room, it becomes a choice between risking (re)infection - also: weaker immune system - or tending to the very basic need of drinking water.
MEDICAL FUN FACT 🧑⚕️🩻🧬
“Dry mouth, also called xerostomia (ZEER-oh-STOH-mee-ah), is the condition of not having enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. Dry mouth can happen to anyone occasionally—for example, when nervous or stressed. However, when dry mouth persists, it can make chewing, swallowing, and even talking difficult. Dry mouth also increases the risk for tooth decay or fungal infections in the mouth because saliva helps keep harmful germs in check.”
(Source: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
Start the infusion
Since I first contracted Covid-19, my iron levels have consistently been low. After doctors kept recommending iron supplements (not with your coffee!) but it showed no effect, it was time to explore a new avenue. Thanks to my sister-in-law, I knew that there is a specialized iron center in Vienna. Surprise: private practice!
After an initial and thorough chat about my medical history, the center ran some tests to rule out things such as celiac disease and heliobacter in my gut as these can significantly reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron. Even if these factors can be ruled out, the absorption rate of oral iron supplements is low and somewhere around 5-20%. Not sure why no doctor ever mentioned this to me in the last 20 years 🤔, but those numbers sure explain a lot.
Intravenous iron therapy, on the other hand, is more efficient and has fewer side effects! But: still more difficult to come by and more expensive. I started intravenous iron infusions last week and it has been going well so far. The idea is to fill up the body’s iron stores to the brim so the levels stay within a high-enough range for as long as possible (this differs from person to person).
None of my Long-Covid symptoms have changed so far, but at least doctors have to finally believe accept that my iron levels have nothing to do with my chronic illness.
Words that remain
Glimmers
Glimmer: a micro moment of joy, awe, hope, safety; opposite of trigger
📻 EVERYONE rediscovering Tracy Chapman 🩷 (I kinda always saw myself as a trendsetter 😉). FYI: For some reason, it’s difficult to find a proper video of the actual performance, so this video might disappear soon.
📖 🐅 Continuing an immersion in all things feline: I started reading K-Ming Chang’s novel Bestiary. In the words of a LitHub review: “Young queer love, family secrets, and a girl who grows a tiger tail, all told by a language obsessive? Extremely sold.”
📱🩷 Text messages from friends keep me afloat.
A question that remains…
Which novels, poems, articles, etc. have you read in the last few months that were unexpected gems? ✨ 🪩 📖 Share the wealth!
Unexpected gem: Cécile McLorin Salvant singing, Over the Rainbow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki1yC9Fi_Sc