Today is an infusion day. Well, actually, two was two days ago, I wrote this in the past about the present because of how scheduling worked out. So the day this article is released is an infusion day. And I’ve talked about how I get infusions a bunch of times on here, so I figured it might be a good idea to give you guys a walkthrough oh what infusion days are actually like.
So How Does Infusion Day Start?
Well, first, like on any day, I have to wake up. Unfortunate how that always seems to work out that way. Wouldn’t it be nice to every once in a while be able to go about your day and do things without first needing to wake up?
Anyways, it’s usually about a 45 minute drive to the infusion center. Plenty of time for me to listen to the same track two dozen times and give my brain a chance to come to terms with the fact that it’s no longer sleeping. During winter, park on the west side of the building where it’s only 27 steps into the building, during summer park on the north side of the building where there’s a giant tree that leaves the car in the shade.
If you hadn’t gathered, it’s the whole “being awake” part of the day that really bums me out the most. When you live life in a state of such perpetual exhaustion as someone with chronic health issues, you come to resent not being asleep.
What’s It Like At The Infusion Center?
It’s a really nice office. It feels like an old mansion or something that was converted into a dual doctor’s office/infusion center hybrid. It’s very comfy and I like it there. And the nurses in the infusion center are all absolutely lovely individuals. 10/10 would recommend each and every one of them.
From there it’s pretty simple. We check my temp and blood pressure, and then get me premedicated.
Premedication is a part of where it took some time and experimentation to figure out exactly what we should be using. Originally, it was Tylenol, Benadryl, and Claritin. Tylenol for the pain, Benadryl to keep me nice and calm and relaxed, and Claritin to ease any possible reactions to anything. Claritin was the easiest one to come off once it was pretty clear I wasn’t having any reactions to anything. The Benadryl took some convincing. But I a) wanted to be able to drive myself home, which is really hard to do when you’re high on Benadryl, and b) am remarkably good at sitting in a chair doing nothing for very long periods of time. The Tylenol we still use, though. I don’t like pain and while it doesn’t do much it helps take the edge off some, which is better than nothing.
Here’s where it starts to really get fun, though.
Now It’s Time To Be Infused With That Plasma-Based Goodness
I don’t have an issue with needles, fortunately. Which is a really good thing considering I have an IV stuck into me at least 3 times a month, usually one or two extra times, plus however many blood tests I have each month. And yes, I have a favorite vein in each arm for the nurses to use. We’ve been using the same two veins for basically everything for years, though, so they’ve developed a bit of scar tissue and sometimes like to roll. So even though they’re really nice veins (no seriously, literally everyone who has to stick me with a needle compliments me on how lovely they are), it can sometimes take a little extra work to get that IV in.
Usually I’m able to get the pump that isn’t perpetually angry. You see, for (most) infusions, they don’t typically like to just let the IV bag go at its natural rate. Human bodies eat IV liquids too fast for that. So while sometimes they’ll use the roll-y pinch wheel (yes, that’s its scientific name) in place of a pump, it’s not as exact and a pump is better. So yeah, usually I’m able to get the pump that isn’t perpetually angry. The perpetually angry pump likes to start screaming at the slightest provocation. Such incidents include, but are not limited to: breathing, staring, twitching, existing. Needless to say, we do not like the perpetually angry pump.
Now it’s time to be infused with that plasma-based goodness. And not through the perpetually angry pump. This is where it starts to get fun. And by fun, I mean not fun. And by not fun, I mean this is the part where I feel like shit. But at least I usually have a good book to keep me company during this part.
You see, the thing about the kind of infusion I get is that it makes your blood thicker. And when your blood gets thicker, you get headaches. You get tired. Your whole body feels like it has a weighted blanket that weighs a million pounds on you.
So you’re sitting there in your chair, hooked up to an IV line, feeling yourself grow weaker and weaker, the pains setting in, with each breath and each movement taking more work than the last. But it’s all worth it. Because infusion day gives you your life back. A couple of days of torment for a month of (relative) health.
What Happens Afterwards?
Well, then I can relax. I used to not be able to drive home afterwards (Benadryl), but once I was able to talk them into letting me not take that, I was able to drive myself to and from. So I go home, get into comfy clothes, and just relax.
I generally don’t have the energy to do much of anything- even something simple like FaceTiming with someone is more effort than I can usually muster. I’m usually too sleepy to write or do anything musical, so I’ll just curl up with my book or watch a movie or spend too much time on YouTube.
Fortunately, I’m very good at sitting around and doing nothing. Kinda comes with the territory of all of the…everything…wrong with me.
But throughout the day after my last infusion, it starts to fade. Little by little, I start feeling better, until I feel healthy. Or at least, whatever my version of healthy is. Which isn’t much, but it’s better than the alternative. That is, until it all starts to wear off a couple weeks later when I’m due for my next infusion cycle.
Until next time.
-Nick
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