Vampires want my blood

Even though my biopsy tested positive for celiac disease, I was told I still needed a blood test to confirm it. It was Friday and it was too late to go get a blood test that day so I went the following Monday. I used to be terrified of blood tests because I literally have one good vein in my right arm from which to draw blood. However, it hasn’t been as big of an issue since I’ve been with Kaiser because they have a blood lab with people who do this all day, so they are very good at what they do. I got a quick and fairly painless blood test and waited for the results.

The next day, I checked the app and saw results for a basic red and white blood cell count, but there was no mention of the celiac test. So I called to find out if they forgot to run the other test. I was able to speak to a very nice doctor who explained that the other test took longer to run and would show up in a day or two. But she did question why they needed that before treating me because the biopsy is typically considered the gold standard when it comes to diagnosing celiac disease.

She also said that I needed B-12 shots and an iron infusion because my iron levels were still very low. Great, something that can help now instead of in six months!

Then I get a message that they need more blood. They forgot to test for iron and other vitamin levels. Awesome. So I go back in again on Friday and they take five more vials. FIVE! Seriously, why do they need so much? And screw Elizabeth Holmes and her sham of a company Theranos for making us believe that all these blood tests could be run off a few drops of blood.

I got some results back and then on Monday some poor guy had to call me and tell me that one of the blood tests couldn’t be run because the blood somehow clotted and they needed me to go in and get ANOTHER blood test. Seriously, they should just install a blood tap in my neck at this point. So I go back in that day and they take even more blood. By the time I get to finally being approved for the iron infusion, I won’t have any working veins left.Â

So needles have become my new reality, aside from the crappy food.