To Be Or Clot To Be, That Is The Question.

 SO, I got the results of the Leiden Factor 5 blood test back a couple of weeks ago. I waited for a few days and then finally called - the person cheerfully was "hmm, Julia L-e-s-t-e-r, oh there you are! It's positive so I guess we'd better make you an appointment with the hematologist. Hello? Are you there? Hello?" I was a bit astonished as the only thing I thought would be positive would be, well me being negative. So they sent my results to hematology and I had an appointment on Wednesday. First of all it's in the Cancer Center which was a bit daunting, I felt very out of place to say the least. They had sent me the forms at home so that was all done. I had brought what I consider my "car sock" - I leave it in the backseat so if I have spare time I just knit on that. They called me and did my weight, my vitals, etc - it was very weird as there is nothing wrong with me, I was asked if I was ever tired or had fallen lately. I actually lied on falling question but technically my falling is usually related to a Common Sense Deficit such as standing on a tippy chair in the woods trying to reach something. Or chasing the dog through the mud and going ass over tea kettle into a ditch. So in order to cut to the chase I said no. The doctor was very nice and told me I only had one copy of the Factor 5 gene which is a good thing. However, having had clots in the past and my family history that is a not so good thing so I have to have MORE blood tests. I am only on baby aspirin twice a day so that was a super fun thing. I bought the little orange chewable ones which was not a good idea as I ate 6 of them the first day. They are very good. They also remind me of my friend in 4rth grade Kathy Turner from Arkansas - she was the baby aspirin addict. Her mother tried to keep them out of her reach but if you slept over Kathy's house she would push the chairs up to the counter. She would stand on her tiptoes reaching way to the back of the very top shelf and there would be the orange baby aspirins that she would split with her guest. I'm surprised we didn't bleed out some weekends. ANYHOW, I have to get more tests done, then another appointment in 6 weeks and hopefully it will remain a couple of little aspirins a day. That I can handle.

what A Week!!

wow,what a week! It started out ok, the house was going to be sold Monday,Tuesday I had my first doctor's  appointment for a baseline. Monday came - not a peep from the RE, nothing nada. We had a lovely blow out fight of course, David dragged the Afghan and his share of the dogs and slept in the guest room. The next morning things had calmed, my  MD appointment  went well, we decided to go to Morgantown to shop and relax, then phone range when we got there - closing at two. Quick food shopped, David dropped me and the food off and then went to the closing. He returned triumphant, money in the bank. Easter was Sunday so we planned a quiet dinner to celebrate the sale and the holiday. Wednesday I got a text from my sister's wife that Janet might have had a TIA, but she was stable. Thursday morning the shit hit the fan

I had left my phone in the car at work so went down to get my phone and found a text from Diane that Janet had a stroke. After a 20 minute meltdown I spoke to my boss, finished my work, quick got my oil changed for the trip ahead and the next morning drove straight from my house to Riddle hospital. Janet was up and talking much to my relief - Diane hoped she would be released that night but they weren't done with her yet.Our family has a genetic clotting disorder but she had tested negative so they needed to look further. In the meantime Diane had managed to cut her finger badly enough for stitches. Yikes! But things got better, Janet got sprung in the morning and in the afternoon I got to go to the pickle store AND a yarn store. I stayed for Easter dinner, it was nice having dinner with family. I took off around 3, loaded with an Easter dinner for David, he ate late, but he got dinner too.On Monday I got labs drawn because our family has a genetic clotting disorder. I called the doctors office this morning and surprise, I have it. So I will be visiting the hematologic next week, but better to find out this way then to throw a clot.