First Ever Blood Donation

Yep that is right my very first blood donation. I was nervous because I didn't know what to expect. Yesterday I made sure to drink drink drink lots of water. And I did. I also stopped and got some some breakfast from McDonald's. I know not so healthy but I figured the egg and ham would be better then just cereal.
I had a finger stick done to check my iron levels to make sure I could donate today. And my levels were really good 14.3. Farrah(not Sarah) told me that they needed to be 11 or higher. She even told me that at first when we talked over the phone and I told her my weight that she was a little worried I may have trouble donating. But after she saw my iron level she said that was amazing and that typically women have lower iron levels. She also felt confident that I shouldn't have problems in two weeks when I donate again. It probably helps that I since I currently breastfeed and having no monthly visits from aunt flo that could explain it. That or maybe I just have super strong blood. :) Anyway so after she asked my questions and pricked my finger, which by the way hurt and left a bruise, I went back out to the waiting area so she could get my bag ready.
It didn't take long at all and I went back to the open room and sat in a blue dentist like chair. I stuck out my right arm and she drew two dots on my arm and told me not to move my arm after that. She then wiped the area and then let it dry. Then she got the needle and bag ready and told me I would feel a sting and it would go away. Sure enough I felt a sting but it went away. And the blood rushed out. A little gross but I talked the whole 10-15 minutes it took to donate. Farrah probably thought I was nuts. And then after I filled the bag I lifted my arm up and then she taped me up. And the best part after all this was I got to eat some chocolate chip cookies and drink some juice.
I feel really good. I was worried that I might feel dizzy but nope. I do feel a little tired but otherwise overall I wouldn't have known I had blood taken from me. Just one more to go.

Spring Break

Chocolate makes me feel at peace. Unfortunately it really does nothing for the post baby belly fat. But hey when all else is failing I no that I can rely on a yummy piece of chocolate to lift my spirits.
I am having keeping my pain at a tolerable level. I am currently trying meloxicam (mobic) 15mg to help alleviate the hip pain. It works some days and other days it I wouldn't even know I had taken anything. I don't understand it. But then again I don't really understand why hip dysplasia makes one hurt so bad either. All I know is that is just does.
On a positive note, Sarah from the American Red Cross called me back and told me how terrible she felt for having us prepay to have both units of blood shipped. She didn't understand why the hospital wouldn't just let her forward the charges. So she got her manage involved. They did get it all figured out which is very good news to my ears. We won't have to prepay. I just wanted to reach through the phone and give her a big bear hug. It just means so much to me that she went that extra mile.
The kids are on spring break this week. I have had them playing outside and taking advantage of the windy warm sunny weather. I did have Brady and Hannah at the doctor. Brady had strep throat and Hannah had a bladder infection. Poor kids what a way to start their break. But at least it was early in week. We did get some popsicles from the icecream truck. Talk about pricey $2.50 for one fancy tweety bird. But oh well it was fun for them.

Blood Donations Scheduled

That is right my 2 blood donations are scheduled. Sarah from the American Red Cross called me today at 1030 and told me she had received the orders. She did say that I do have to prepay to have it shipped to Children's Boston Hospital. She told me she felt bad that I would have to do this being that it can cost $300-$400 per unit shipped. She did suggest that we contact our insurance company to see if they would reimburse us the amount. I told her that it will be ok one way or another.
My first donation is Tueday March 29th at 1000am.
The second donations is Tuesday April 12th at 1000am. This will be one week before my preop. Wow time is really going to fly. And it is a good thing too. Waiting isn't very fun. But not much longer.

Yesterdays Fiasco, Todays Calm

At 845am I did receive a call back from the American Red Cross. And finally someone polite, patient, and willing to answer any questions I had. I explained to her what I what I was needing and she exlained it all to me. I got the fax number from her. Thanked her ever so much. Called dusty and gave him the number to email Renee.
Renee wrote back stating that she would have the papers faxed over today.
So now I will just wait for another return phone call about scheduling my first blood donation.
I just want to thank some of my hip chick friends too Jill and Marcie for being so great to me. I know that they understand what I am going through. Thank you girls :)

Now What

So I get a phone call from Dusty today. He tells me he received an email from Renee, the surgery coordinator. She needs a fax number where she can send the orders to the place I will be donating blood. The only place I could think of was the American Red Cross. So I looked it up on my phone. Oh yes I got the call on my way to get the kids from school. Anyway I looked it up on my phone while waiting for the kids. I called and the lady on the other end was very polite. She told me I would need to talk to someone at the Blood Center but that they have a different phone number. She gave me that. I called the Blood Center. The lady who answered wasn't sure if they could ship my blood so she placed me on hold and directed me somewhere else. As things go no one picked up but the answering machine. I left my name, number, and a message. Then I proceeded to call my primary care doctor. The receptionists was RUDE!!! She had no clue what I was trying to ask and the more I tried to explain the more I became scattered brain and flustered which then she finally ever so rudely said she would have the nurse call me back because she had no idea what I was wanting, needing, or trying to get across. I was apalled at how RUDE people can be. I was holding back the tears. You take away an hour of sleep and I am nothing but I complete mess- an emotional, cry fest today. So her attitude just throw me off the cliff. I then called Renee herself because obviously I live in the no mans land where people hear hip surgery and think Hip Replacement=Quick Recovery. But she wasn't at her desk or maybe gone. So I left my name and number and message.
I then called my mom and just burst into tears. I couldn't stop crying. And here I am at school falling apart. The naproxen doesn't work. I refuse to call back and ask for something different. My left just aches like none other. I just want to be pain free for a few weeks before sugery. I would like to be able to get stuff done before I have surgery and on crutches.
As I pulling into the garage the nurse from my doctors office calls me back. And wasn't sure where I donate blood either. She said that maybe I could just donate it when we are out there for my preop in April. Donating 3 units of blood seems very unlikely to me. It is just so hard to explain this to others. They really don't get it. They don't understand why naproxen or ibuprofen doesn't work. That didn't help me much.
My anxiety level has shot threw the roof. I have been such an emotional mess.
I will call around tomorrow. And look up information tonight on an actual computer and my phone where everything is little itty bitty.

Left Hip

500 mg naproxen. This is what the doctor called out to help manage the left hip pain. At this point I have less then two months to go but honestly I don't want to hurt until then. So I hope this works. It does upset my stomach. I guess a banana and fries wasn't enough to take it on. So today I took it with oatmeal, buttered toast, and a glass of chocolate milk. I little better. But I still feel a little blah from it.
The left hip also is into making lots of noises. I am a one band musical instrument. It makes popping sounds, clunking sounds, snapping sounds, or my favorite k-chunk. The sounds don't hurt. I guess I can maybe describe sound better then what I feel. I have never known how to describe pain or rate it.
But I must say that my left hip has been giving me pain issues. It seems to be that when it gives out I hurt at the time but also I will limp around for awhile after it happens. And I feel it then. Not so fun.
We have bought a plane tickets for the preop. Now we are just trying to decide what to do for the surgery. Do we buy one way tickets since we don't know when we will be discharged from the hospital. Or do we try to make a guess of the day. Not sure. I know if we buy one way we can buy the tickets there but the return home will have to wait. Not sure what we will do yet.