Thats just low...

Hit a "low" milestone recently. By low, I mean my ferritin levels. As of last Friday, March 27th, my ferritin levels were down to 95ng/mL. Quite a drop from my diagnosed levels of 1295ng/mL. What did I do to celebrate? Had a big ol' lamb shank and a taste of lamb stew at the Basque restaurant we went to in Reno while celebrating my brother's bachelor party. I know, I know...but it was a special occasion. Bloodletting schedule has been reduced from weekly to bi-weekly, which is very nice. Still get some flare-ups of fatigue every now and then, some joint pain, but not on the same level as before I started my treatments.

Today I came across this link to a video titled "Haemochromatosis Explained". Its actually pretty informative. Shot in Australia, the thing I love most about it is their sections of background music during the scene transitions. I was a little annoyed as some of the suggestions they make with respect to diet and donating blood run counter to what each of my doctor have stated, but I think there are always going to be disagreements and unclear aspects when dealing with this condition.

March Update

I did not realize it had been a full month since I last wrote an entry here. It is always in the back of my mind, but I can get so easily distracted anymore that it slips right by.

 

Progress thus far? Not too bad, actually. I review other's experiences every day and it serves to re-enforce my opinion that the middle road is the best route. It is so easy to take one approach and become militant about it, to dig one's heels in and determine that your way is the only way. I do not have that attitude at all. There are certain things that are obvious, but not everything applies to everyone in the same fashion. All I know is how it affects me. That said, doing my best to monitor the things I eat and drink in conjunction with my bloodletting treatments, I have been able to drop my ferritin levels from 1295ng/mL to my current 204ng/mL, a drop of nearly 1100ng/mL in just three months. Additionally, I can now stop doing my treatments every week; every other week is now the order. My goal, per my hematologist, is 50ng/mL, which seems rather extreme when compared to the average range as indicated to me via my lab results page (22ng/mL - 365ng/mL). One must remember, however, that my condition "loads" iron to my system at a much faster rate and heavier volume than others; I can only assume that bring me down to near-anemic levels will serve to provide something of some leeway for my system when I do "slip".

 

"Slipping" is a constant nag. I have slipped a few times now. What I mean by that is that I have consumed beef on some level. Beef is truly the enemy. Ah, but such a beautiful and delicious enemy. I watch food shows and can literally start drooling a little as I see magnificent cuts of beef being prepared. Where I used to order a rib eye without blinking an eye, now I have to take more time to scan a menu, find something that sounds as appetizing. Can I slip every now and then? I refer back to the middle road opinion I stated previously. I have to live my life; I want to enjoy my life. Denial is not necessarily enjoying life. And therein lies the rub. If I want a longer life, I need to avoid certain things. But is a longer life really enjoyable when one must constantly deny oneself some of the small pleasures in this life? I have few vices now, having explored my taste for such things - both illicit and otherwise - in my youth. Food is sort of my last refuge, y'know? A fine meal, a great bottle (or two...) of wine, the company of my wife and friends...these are the things I consider my major "vices" now. But they must be tempered...and that chafes against my inherently rebellious nature. One would think being 48, a father of four, a grandfather to one, that I might be a little less...difficult. Nope. I don't like being told what to do and what not to do, especially when it comes to my favorite foods. But it must be done...at least to some degree.

 

So, the middle road it is. I can tell you this, however, as Spring is waking up and Summer is stirring...I'm gonna grill me up a fucking big-ass rib eye steak at some point in the next few months. You can count on that.