I just finished a long work week and was looking forward to a 4 day weekend because we were off for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! I had my blood drawn on Friday and had made plans with my family to take a day trip on MLK Day. Monday is here and I completely forgot I had an appointment with my Hematologist to check my blood levels and to see when my next iron injection would be administered. I'm anemic but that's a whole other story (I keep telling people the exterior is great but these insides are H.A.M) I don't need to get into that at this point. Anyway, I walk in to see my doctor and he looks over my recent blood work results and says your Hemoglobin (a complex protein found in red blood cells that contains an iron molecule, it carries oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues) is normal. I look and say that's great but then the other news comes right after that sentence.
However, your liver enzymes (AST and ALT - used to detect damage or injury in the liver) are quite high and your other levels are high as well. I think you need to call your Hepatologist because this is a liver issue. After that, I make my follow-up appointment and head out the door. I sit down on a bench right outside the office with my mom and she proceeds to texts my doctor. Immediately, my doctor calls and I hear the words I don't want to hear "she has to be admitted, bring her in now." I'm crying and upset because I know it must be bad if I have to get admitted. So, I go home and pack my bags, call my dad, sister and boyfriend and head to Einstein.
Once, I arrive I had to wait for my room to be assigned so I wasted time by going to get some food. My dad arrived and shortly after that my sister made it down from N. Jersey. Finally, I received the call from my doctor that my room was ready and off to Rm #7219 I headed. Once we arrived on the floor the Liver Team was waiting for me and was ready to come in and assess me. They came in to introduce themselves and stated they would give me a minute to get settled...basically to put my things away and put on my PJ's (I usually prefer my own PJ's, I'm not too fond of the hospital gown) a girl has to keep up with her style. So out the door they went and I got ready for the picking and poking to start. By this time its pretty late and I just want to sleep and I'm sure they are ready to go home.
I'm going to end here but to get the rest read Part 2.