Blood Work

I had to see a new doctor recently not sure if I introduced him yet. I don't remember what the last blog said at the moment. I am still unsure as why there gonna do yet because we are still waiting for labs. There pretty rare labs and I had a hard time getting them done.

The first place I went was right in the office area of another doctor I see. Figured why not I am here, they were so rare they sent me to the large medical facility down the street. Which I had no problems with I am very familiar with their system. All the while I am texting the All Father and sorta updating on my round about ETA. Which kept getting pushed back and I need to stop at the Ulta right there to but anyways.

So I go into get my blood work, and let them know up front as always I have a PICC (not to touch that arm as it is against their policy to work with or put a tourniquet around it) and that I am allergic to latex because some facilities still carry it. My life can complicate others lives a bit. She had a few issues getting the lab work done in general. While she was putting into the computer she kept complaining about it, I was whatever about it because I knew they sent off the lab work anyways. But I was texting the All Father as all of this was happening. I was getting a bit frustrated and there was a snack in the truck calling my name.

So she finally gets everything in to the system, and she went to grab my arm with PICC, I told her thats my PICC arm, you can not use it. That could cause me a medical emergency, she went to explain she cant use it any ways. I explained I knew and was familiar with the policy and she just cant use that arm in general because of it. She looks at me and told me she couldnt stick a needle thru my tattoo. It was against what she was taught. I kinda looked at her with this what the... expression. I have been getting blood work done for YEARS. And I have been pretty heavily tattooed for past couple. Most of the girls who work with me just go thru the tattoos.

So back to this lady, I asked her why she could not do that and if it was such an issue that she could just use the back of my hand, since it was not tattooed. Clearly needles don't bother me, and she proceeded to explain she can't do that either and that it was to many vials of blood. I looked at her again like she was crazy and said fine get me some syringes ill do it myself. I can use my own PICC line. Her reason was "its not sterile." Well neither is my room, and if its such and issue with my tattoos why not?? She went on about my tattoos so I asked her well what do you for people who have 2 solid sleeves and no skin showing. She asked what I meant by all of this, and I said your issue is my tattoos, what do you with solid tattoos and no break in the skin?? She explained we go thru the tattoos but it could contaminate the blood. I have never heard of this before at all. No one ever seems to be bothered by them. So after I asked her what the true issue was she ended up go thru the tattoo anyways.

So I finally get in touch with Wonder Woman who works for the same company and asked her what the issue was. Why on earth are my tattoos all of the sudden an issue when it comes to drawing blood. No one else has fought me on this subject. Apparently its not an issue and the tattoos should not have been an issue in the first place. I was a bit frustrated because there was an issues made about something that should not have even mattered. I cant tell you how often I have had blood work thru my tattoos.

I just wanted my blood work done so we could get it back and see what they are gonna do with me. I am still a bit unsure about all of this but thats OK. I am sure later this week or next I will have more answers and I can update you on the latest of what they are gonna do with these silly lungs of mine.

Love Yall
~Poppet 

CF

Today is Cystic Fibrosis Day or Worldwide CF day, how ever you want to word it. I found out later in the day and at that point had no idea what to do. But what popped into my mind was the necklace Wonder Woman wears every day, "Cystic Fibrosis may have her genes, but I have her heart, Mom of a warrior."

I have spent the entire day coughing, trying to get this thick mucus to clear, and even been doing some yoga poses and yet my lungs are still a bit fussy. I think every time I have messaged J in the last few weeks I have been doing treatment or getting ready to do treatment. My lungs are in the mist of a set back and theres not a thing I can do about it. I just finished my prescribed dose of steroids and I have been doing more breathing treatments then I care to. You know what though?? Thats OK. Why?? Because I got to do what I loved today. My makeup, cook, text my family, and love on the B. Whose on steroids herself!! you know how hard it is to give a cat a pill?? Did you know they are super angry and starving on them as well?? Oh and I am watching my favorite TV show.

In the middle of this set back I got to celebrate Wonder Woman on her day. Thats what matters. The fact that I am able to present with her, convince her to buy a cake, and a book (or 4). I stop to catch my breath, sort my oxygen, take my meds, and spend time with her. I am able to do what I love still, and I am still fighting with everything in me.

I will admit I get frustrated with my lungs sometimes, I leave my oxygen places I shouldn't, and sometimes space out and miss a dose here and there. Its seldom but it happens, but there is so much more that CF has taught then to be diligent with my meds and not lose 50 ft of tubing. It has taught me life is such a beautiful thing and to be present in every moment. No matter how terrible. Its to make the best of my reality and not to hold my self up to someone else standards. I know we all can be guilty of that. Its hard to break that habit but its so worth it. We all have our "extras" in life, and some hide it better then others. I hid mine for a long long time, I wouldn't allow people to know my "extras" in life because they held them against me. They were not for me and had to cut them out of my life. I can not tell you how many times people have told me to quit and give up because I have CF and looking at just my CF its kinda grim. But I am here to tell you there is so much more to me then just a disease,  and you are so much more then your "extras."

Wonder Woman sees me at my worse, and at my best. She's seen me fight to cling to life, she's seen me over come, and she's seen my conquer. She's seen me fight just to make dinner, she's seen me enjoy life in the kitchen. She's wheeled me down the hospital corridors for coffee, and she's wheeled my IV pole while I walked. She's seen everything in between, whipped my tears, rejoiced, and question my next move because its never gonna be normal. And thats my life, with CF. Its makeup, its being a Chef, its stealing her pens, getting tattooed, and just plain loving life. With a little bit extra.

Love Yall
~Poppet

Lungs

I always the worse thing that can happen to isn't my illness, its the people who don't take the time to understand. They are the ones that put me at risk and could potentially put me into a serious predicament. I saw Superman recently and I heard my lungs are not doing good, and the last ER visit I should have been admitted. The doctor didn't take the time to understand my disease, and someone Wonder Woman has questioned more then once. And its frustrating. I am trying to keep my lungs as long as possible but feeling your lungs starting to give out walking thru a store by yourself isn't fun. This potentially is fixable, and have all the confidence in the world  but I am so frustrated. Though since I didn't get admitted I go to get tattooed with Poison Ivey. She proudly wears me EKG and my hand writing, and I proudly wear her art and hand writing. I also. got to spend time with Wonder Woman at work and meet some truly amazing people. Good with the Bad. You have to look at it that way.

With my lungs and such, everything has been put on pause. My cookbook, my youtube channel, and just some every day things. I woke up pretty breathless this morning and it was a bit frustrating. I feel as though I am on everything I can be and I still have the fight. But isn't life a fight after all?? My battle is just a bit different then everyone elses.

Then I have to go in and see if I can build an immune response to things in a safe way to see about my immune deficiency. I am not sure how this is gonna end and I am almost scared to google it but I do want to keep my health under control, I want to have as much time as possible with my family and those I love, I want to stay being the pup sitter to the sweet pup that has my heart. I have so many goals that I fight for daily, and one thing to make it easier would be so lovely. I can do tough, in fact I do it daily. I refuse to let my diseases be the determining factor of what I do in life. I refuse to sit by and let CF take over. I am who I am because of my diseases but they are not me, I am not my diseases. I am so much more then that. Is it harder for me to follow my journey and my passion?? Probably I won't full out say yes, because we all have our obstacles and journeys. And I am here to yell, that it all can conquered with love and dedication.

I am also so blessed I have a family that doesn't allow me to stop because I am sick, they encourage me. They pray with me, the pray for me, and they love me so unconditionally that I don't stop to think that I can't do this. I know that I indeed can. So I have had another set back, yes we are all worried. But this to can be over come and conquered.

Deadliest Catch is on so I need to get off of here because this is the one show that I love!!

Love Yall
~Poppet