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Staying out of the hospital

A year ago today, I was discharged from the hospital after a 3-day stay due to shortness of breath and recurring blood clots. My blood thinner had failed...for the second time in 5 weeks. This was my third hospitalization in 2 months. For a long time afterwards, my daily goal was simple: stay out of the hospital. Every day I didn't return to the hospital felt like a victory. I am still nervous about being too far from medical care. 

Getting a shot twice a day is not fun. The injection often hurts, and I always have bruises and/or hard lumps on my stomach and arms. But the blood thinner is working: I haven't had any more blood clots. I'm thankful for the attending doctor and my oncologist who figured out and tested a solution during my hospital stay, and follow-up telehealth appointments with my hematologist at UPMC. I'll meet with him next month to discuss switching to a less expensive blood thinner (my medication was $41/month with Aetna and now costs $180 with Highmark). This other medicine would involve only one shot per day, which is very appealing. (Eliquis is taken as a pill, but that's the medication that landed me in the hospital last September.) We'll have to decide whether these benefits are worth the risk of another potential medication failure.

I'm hoping that hospital stays become a distant memory.

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2023 at 3:45 PM

    Esther, your strength, determination, and faith over the last year and a half has been incredibly inspiring to watch. Hospitals. Enough said. I totally hear you. That said, where is the worst part of the hospital to hide? In the ICU. Sorry for that? I couldn't resist. Thank you for updating us. You are so loved.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Esther PrinsSeptember 24, 2023 at 8:03 AM

      Thank you, anonymous friend. That's a great joke.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousSeptember 25, 2023 at 6:40 PM

      It’s Laura, dear friend 🥰

      Delete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2023 at 4:24 PM

    Thinking of you & hoping the meds keep working well for you! M&M

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2023 at 6:04 PM

    Hey Esther, thanks for reflecting back over the year and keeping us updated. I’m sorry those shots are painful, that stinks. But happy with you that the hospital visits are becoming memories. Big big hugs, miss you and hope to see you soon. Henson

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2023 at 9:58 PM

    I am happy to reflect and pray together! Hope your hospital would be a distant memory!

    Jh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 24, 2023 at 7:56 AM

      Here's hoping this just becomes a speed bump in the rear view mirror. xoxo

      Delete
    2. Esther PrinsSeptember 24, 2023 at 8:04 AM

      Thank you.

      Delete

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