Progress

Did a regular series of blood labs yesterday, just to find out where all my levels are at after my first phlebotomy treatment. My hematologist had noted that the first noticeable change in my ferritin levels could have been something of a fluke (between October and early December, my levels dropped from 1295ng/mL to 1233ng/mL, a change of 62ng/mL without phlebotomy and only really just starting to make changes to my diet after my initial diagnosis), so she wanted to get some new baselines. I am assuming I will have to do this each week prior to each treatment occurrence, in order to track progress.

 

This morning I signed onto my laptop and saw that a new test result was available. My ferritin levels had dropped again, this time from 1233ng/mL to 1124ng/mL, a drop of 109ng/mL! I do not think these particular results are a fluke. The standard drop, after phlebotomy, is usually 70ng/mL. Moderation in diet, changing what and how I eat, plus phlebotomy has already started to provide positive changes.

 

Have my second treatment later this morning and, as much as I hate being poked as often as I have and will continue to be, I am stoked to see such a significant drop occur and am hopeful to see more dropping in the levels. Almost makes having been suffering through a cold-from-Hell for about a month now - that has also contributed to ear pressure on such a level that I have now had to do two course of Prednisone (an oral steroid) to clear them - sort of worth it. Or not. Trying to find the silver lining there and it is sort of difficult...

 

Now to eat a filling breakfast and drink lots of tea & water in preparation for today's bloodletting...so I don't pass out or otherwise feel sick like a big wuss as people are getting their chemotherapy all around me...