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Category: Medical

Blood Discrimination

Published September 15, 2012

I’ve posted before about my adventures with hemachromatosis, and my negative experiences with the Puget Sound Blood Center. Things since the last post hadn’t improved tremendously, but I still went (out of my way) to perform my therapeutic phlebotomies there since it was contributing healthy blood to the public blood supply. Now, normally, when I arrive at the blood center: 0) Call special hotline to make therapeutic appointment 1) Sign in with the volunteer. Explain that it is a therapeutic donation. 2) Volunteer says, “Oh, *I* can’t sign you in but someone will be over shortly.” Places Red Folder of…

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Care and Feeding of your Sick and Injured Friends

Care and Feeding of your Sick and Injured Friends

Published February 11, 2012

There comes a point in life when our mortality is called into sharp relief. For some, it is a harsh and sudden awakening. But more often, it’s the growing realization that the people around you are more frequently falling ill or otherwise requiring significant medical care. Mine was one of the harsh and sudden awakenings (see “The Cysterhood”). But since that realization, I’ve had four surgeries (laparotomy, laparoscopy, and two arthroscopic knee surgeries), several cancer scares, a 6-month course of frequent bloodlettings, and several extended convalescences at my home and at someone else’s home. I’ve been around the medical block.…

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2011 By the Bullets

Published January 5, 2012

Looking back at 2011 as it can be quantified into neat little bulleted lists… Cities visited: Boulder, CO (first time) Las Vegas Atlanta, GA (first time) Burbank, CA (twice) Orlando, FL New York City Yardley, PA (twice) Conferences/Conventions:

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The Cysterhood

Published December 1, 2011

Every time I watch Grey’s Anatomy, I think to myself, “Hospitals aren’t like that.” I’ve seen more hospitals than is reasonable for someone my age, and not once did I see even a hint of delightful banter or sexual tension between the doctors. Since I’m in a medical mood, I’ll share another of my stories. If you’re squeamish or generally put off by the female reproductive system, steer clear here. And the moral of the story, as a teaser: fellow women! When we were in Health class, they forgot to mention that our reproductive systems may try to mutiny or…

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Broadway’s Fickle Regards

Published November 30, 2011

I just returned from an overly eventful 11-day trip to the East Coast, with the majority of that time spent in New York City. The original motivation for the trip was to see Book of Mormon and to escort a dear friend from Seattle to the East Coast – she was moving to Boston semi-permanently. Then, a few weeks into my whirlwind romance in September, I discovered that my new boyfriend was planning on being in NYC for 6 weeks and my previously-scheduled trip just happened to bisect his time there perfectly. So suddenly Dave and I had made plans…

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