What does Hb 4 Pints mean?
- First, HB, today is my birthday…so Happy Birthday to me.
- Second, Hb 4, was my hemoglobin level on January 2014.
- And last, I had 4 pints of blood transfused that day at the ER to bring my hemoglobin and ferritin levels up.
Why is this relevant?
Although, I was born with a congenital defect that has affected my all my life, in 2013, I started having serious health issues.
- For most of 2013, I couldn’t sleep for more than two hours. I would fall asleep around 10:00 pm and then wake up at 12:00 am and not be able to get back to sleep. My legs would ache and I couldn’t get comfortable.
- Everyday, it was a chore to wake up and get out of bed.
- I’d wake up, take a deep breath then get ready for work.
- When I dried my hair, I couldn’t do it standing up. I had to sit down.
- Then I would take an extra deep breath to start walking out of the house and then from the car to my office.
- Even during our summer vacation, there were times I couldn’t walk as far as my family could. I would tell them to go ahead and proceed without me.
- I thought the breathing issues were related to my asthma issues.
- My period would last 2-3 weeks and I would have to bring extra clothes with me because I would constantly have accidents.
- When I would be ready to make a doctor’s appointment, then I would feel better. Life would happen and then I didn’t follow up.
- I had my annual physical on December 31, 2013.
- On January 1, 2014, I remember napping and couldn’t stay awake for long periods of time.
You would think a smart person like me would have made an appointment with my doctor. Well, unfortunately I didn’t. When I was going through the harder parts of that year, I would put on my to-do list to make a doctor’s appointment. Then the next day would come, I would feel better and then I would let life happen and not make me a priority.
Finally, I had my annual physical on December 31, 2013 with my primary physician. That evening we celebrated the new year with our close friends. I felt tired, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. The next day on January 1st, our entire family had a lazy day. I napped and napped. It was quite difficult to wake up at times. My head felt heavy. Again, I just thought it was because we were out the evening before.
On January 2, 2014, my family and I were out at the Field Museum and as we were walking through the dinosaur exhibit, I realize I received a voice message from my doctor. She left my her personal mobile number. At this point, I was nervous.
I called her, she answered right away and asked me, “Where are you right now?”
“I’m at the Field Museum.”
“Okay, go to the ER immediately. I’ll give them a call and let them know to admit you right away. This is serious.”
“What’s going on?”
“We got your battery of test results back. Your hemoglobin is dangerously low. Go now.”
My sons were still fairly young and I didn’t want to alarm them. I told my husband that he needed to take me to the ER. I don’t remember much between my conversation with my doctor to the time I walked into the ER.
My husband dropped me off and had to get the kids back home. I walked into the ER. I spoke to the person at the front desk and she said, “Yes, your doctor contacted us. We’ll get you to triage and then get you a bed right away.”
Fast forward. I’m in a room in the ER (on another floor for those that weren’t going to be discharged that day). Doctors, specialists, nurses, in and out. Taking my blood, my blood pressure, putting me on an IV, X-rays…the whole gambit.
First group comes in. Asks me a battery of questions.
Later they come back. “Your hemoglobin level is 4. Your ferritin level is 20.”
“What does that mean?”
“You are severely anemic. We don’t know how you were able to walk in. Most people at this level are in a coma. We will need to start a blood transfusion to increase your levels. We’re glad your doctor told you go to the ER. At this level, you may have gotten a stroke, had a heart attack or have something else serious that your body wouldn’t have been able to recover.”
Four (4) pints of blood later, starving (not much of a choice of food late at night), a visit from the family, and calls from my doctor, they are able to get my hemoglobin level to 6-7. Better, not the best.
My periods were heavy (I won’t go into details, but I would buy diapers because nothing stopped me from having accidents). Who knew that insomnia, hard of breathing, fatigue, periods of wakelessness, restless leg syndrome (I’m so sorry for making fun of that condition) were results of severe anemia.
My life would never be the same after that day.
KRONICLE MIND 