Life has been a series of ups and downs. After 16 days of my 20 sit-up and push-up challenge, I felt very dizzy and couldn't stand. I decided to get my iron checked, and since all the symptoms matched the Iron Deficiency Anemia I have been battling since 2017, I was right—my iron was low again! Here are the healthy ranges and my recent results.
- Hemoglobin should be 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL - I am 10.3 or 76% of the minimum
- Ferritin should be 26-388 ng/ml - I am 13 or 50% of the minimum
- Iron should be 35-180 ug/dl - I am 18 or 51% of the minimum
- Iron Saturation Index should be 20-55% - I am 5% or 25% of the minimum
- MCH should be 26.0 - 34.0 pg - I am 20.4 or 78% of the minimum
- MCHC should be 32.0 - 36.0 g/dL - I am 26.9 or 84% of the minimum
- MCV should be 80 - 100 fL - I am 62 or 78% of the minimum
It's time to reconsider infusions again. In the past, the affordable option of Venofer was used, but it didn't significantly raise total iron and ferritin. It led me to:
- Hemoglobin to 13.6 g/dL - Only 0.1 g/dL above the recomended 13.5-17.5
- Ferritin to 16 ng/ml - 10 ng/ml below the minimum recommended 26 ng/ml
- Iron Saturation index to 8% - 12% below the minimum recommended 20%
- Iron to 30 ug/dl - 5 ug/dl below the minimum recommended 35 ug/dl
Therefore, three of the four major indicators were well below the minimum levels after the infusions! Before the Venofer, I had Injectafer iron treatments and requested them again. However, they were rejected by insurance. The post-Injectafer treatment increased my numbers.
- Hemoglobin to 16.2 g/dL - 2.7 g/dL ABOVE the recommended 13.5-17.5
- Ferritin to 164 ng/ml - 138 ng/ml ABOVE the minimum recommended 26 ng/ml
- Iron Saturation index to 24% - 4% ABOVE the minimum recommended 20%
- Iron to 53 ug/dl - 18 ug/dl ABOVE the minimum recommended 35 ug/dl
The insurance company was clear that I needed the lower-cost Venofer, but if they fail, they will review the Injctofir option. This is crazy considering we already have solid data showing Venofer treatment does not raise my levels above the minimums. So I am going to start the Venofer treatments, and my Primary Physician is sending me to a Hematologist for a full review, which will increase insurance costs. I wonder if insurers are only looking at immediate costs and not long-term expenses and health impacts?
Despite the issues, I have managed to complete some solid bicycle rides. It's clear from my riding that I've increased my strength or lost weight (or both). I'm using the battery less during my rides than I did in 2024.
As I mentioned in a previous post, we managed to relocate Shelley’s dad. Visiting him is very depressing because he can't do 80 percent of basic activities without assistance. He didn’t realize that if he had stayed in Lincoln, he would have had to move into a dark, dingy facility with few amenities. Finding Suite Living was a blessing because it’s open to the outdoors, making it a much more pleasant place to live. When the nurse asked where he wanted to go, he quietly and sadly said, “Home.” That was difficult for Shelley to hear, especially knowing he doesn’t understand the impact he has had on her.
On Sunday, we decided to visit Powderhorn Park for the art festival. It was quite eye-opening compared to previous years. This might sound negative and judgmental, but it’s just an observation. I saw many people with face tattoos and piercings, women who don't shave their legs, men who do, and even one man who had facial hair and dressed like a man on the right side, but on the left, he was made up like a glam girl. Some call it self-expression, but I see it as a sign of low self-esteem and a desire to stand out, even if that means being odd. While they have the right to do that, it’s not my ideal environment, and I would choose to skip it in the future.
After Powderhorn Park, we went to the Slavic Festival. It was small but enjoyable. I’m glad I attended, but I’m not sure I would go a second time. Great experience, but no need to repeat.
I have been torn between upgrading my camera lens for sports and wildlife photography. I have been looking at the Nikon 180-600 f5.6-6.3, priced at $2,049. While it would be a nice upgrade for Shelley’s grandkids and sports, I’m not sure it’s the best option at that cost. I still have my Tamron lens for the Nikon D850 (the camera died, and I now have the Nikon Z 7II), and I could use the adapter. The issue is that I dropped it, and the autofocus no longer works. I may try to see if I can manually focus for my purposes.
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