i hate having chapped lips.

[rootofnewt]

they itch, ache, burn. and take forever to heal.

Anyhow, I should probably be in bed, but I don't have to get up until noon tomorrow, so I'll stay up for another hour... maybe less.

I have the EMG/NCV tomorrow. I'm kinda worried. I'm not terribly fond of needles nor of outside electric current when it comes into contact with my body. I'm sure I can withstand it. My pain tolerance is high. The way I figure it, though, this test is more mentally and emotionally fatiguing than physically.

Ah, well. I bribed a friend into taking me to the hospital tomorrow, so I don't have to spend two hours one-way on public transit. If he decides to take me home, as well, I'll have it made. I promised him dinner or supper. I really hope he chooses something easy--like take-out. ;) Somehow, I don't think I'll be up for cooking. I still haven't had a chance to recover from the weekend.

I can't remember if I mentioned it, but my B12 is low. It's actually borderline normal by most standards, but the neuro wants it above 240 (dunno what units). Mine is at 170. He said my vegetarian diet might be to blame. I dunno. Dairy has been quite prominent in my diet, much to my digestive system's irritation. And I had the neuropathy symptoms long before I went veggie. It's also possible that my body just doesn't absorb B12 well from the digestive tract. In that case, I'll get to have regular injections. Yea rah.

It's a damn good thing I got over my needle phobia. It was fairly easy, if challenging. I simply attempted to donate blood several times once I turned 17. Since I was horribly anemic, I was turned away after a pinprick test. Sure, no needles--but I was steeling myself up for it. After going veggie, I was shocked one day to find myself with a normal iron count and a big ol' needle slurping away my blood.

I donated regularly until I pierced my own ear in 1996 and the Red Cross wouldn't take my blood for awhile. Then I got sick in 1997 and the CDC said they didn't want my kind. From the time I was 17 until I was 20, I also received allergy shots--those are the reason *why* I decided to rid myself of the phobia in the first place.

Darn good thing I did. I've had so much blood taken these last few years that I've accused the lab techs of having a vampire bar in the dark corridors of the hospital basement. I asked for a cut of the profit, as I possess a delightful AB negative with thick red coloring and a taste that hints of rust, pennies, and berries.

Okay, that's just disturbing.

I shouldn't think or ramble so much.

Comments

The blood people don't want my kind, either

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

It's partially because I'm sick, but partially because I've got a boyfriend who likes boys.

*sigh*

I have such good veins, too.

[laverick.livejournal.com]

EMGs are no fun, and it's not because of the pain. I hope it goes quickly and is relatively not too unpleasant for you. I'm glad your friend can bring you. Emotional support was incredibly important for me when I had my EMG and nerve conduction tests done.

I hope everything turns out okay.

As for blood, I am rejected because I am way underweight, and also because I have had problems with anemia too. I'd always wanted to, but that's not going to happen, at least not until after i have kids probably... It's a good thing now, I think. :)

your blood tastes like rust, pennies and berries too??

[dahliablue.livejournal.com]

I hope everything goes well and it all goes very quickly..I've never had it done, but I've had other tests involving needles and currents and other sundry things..hang in there and don't forget to reward yourself afterward! that's becoming a ritual for me - the only way i can get myself to follow through with tests and things!
{{{hugs}}

[pooka.livejournal.com]

I tried to donate blood ... (sigh). I made it through the initial screening, only to have the tech go ballistic on the women up front that did it.

"Okay, do you SEE the size of this needle?"

"Um. Yeah?"

"Now look at this girl's arms. Do you see ANYWHERE that this needle wouldn't destroy a vein?"

"Um. Oops?"

The pain of my EMG and nerve conduction was relatively severe, but I have an unusually low tolerance for needles of any sort, and some faint coag problems -- I had huge half-dollar size bruises everywhere a needle went in, and needed bandaids to stop the bleeding.

Don't think this is even remotely common. The woman's poor mind was blown.

The same woman did the same proceedures for my husband later on, and I think the lucky stiff FELL ASLEEP during it. No marks on him at all.

What was easiest for me to keep in mind was that, even if the results were AWFUL ... at least I Knew. It wasn't a mystery anymore, and when you're given a concrete problem to work with instead of a list of maybes and could bes, you can work on solving that problem.

Good luck. :)

[anmorata.livejournal.com]

"I shouldn't think or ramble so much.".

Yes, you should. I like hearing you ramble. :)

I don't have much to say about giving blood and the like.. it's not something I've ever done.. partially because of a needle phobia (which I no longer have, lost that when I had to do a kazillion blood tests when I was pregnant with C), partially because the lab techs always had such a difficult time finding my veins.

*hugs* if you want 'em. Good luck today.

~kel~