Over the past 5 1/2 years since I first ingested lithium I have had approximately 2000 blood draws. Between levels for both lithium and depakote needing done every 6 months plus every time the dose was changed, the clinical trial I was in requiring very frequent (every 2 weeks for 6 months? I don't remember) bloodwork, insanely frequent bloodwork for weeks after my lithium toxicity, bloodwork to diagnose and monitor my thyroid, the frequent testing last spring and summer as we attempted to figure out what my body is actually doing with the meds that prevents them from working well, and now frequent monitoring of my kidney functions and electrolytes to be sure my kidneys don't dehydrate me, there have been few months that people didn't poke me. I don't even notice needles anymore, although it helps that my favorite lab woman uses butterflies out of sympathy for my ridiculous history.
So it was bad enough people wanted blood all the time. But now we've hit a new low. Up to now it's only been blood and urine a few times when I was nauseous from lithium toxicity but we hadn't figured that out. Oh, and a urine test for pregnancy before I started the clinical trial. Now, everyone wants my urine. I've had 2 or 3 samples for the doctor and one for a work drug test. And when I got labs today I got the surprise news that has me all smiles: 24 hour urine collection. So I got to come home with 2 jugs (in case) and a biohazard bag. They didn't give me the usual thing that fits over the toilet seat; they gave me instead a specimen cup. I am pursuing other possibilities there because I'll be a wreck if I spend an entire day cleaning up spilled pee. (Don't cry over spilled milk seems much tamer in comparison).
So I'm spending Sunday peeing and refrigerating. I am SO LUCKY....
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I can't say I've had anywhere NEAR the blood draws that you have, but I've done the 24 hour urine test twice now. just LOVELY!! That's what I get for having kidney stones. . .
Just to clarify it's not REALLY 2000. I don't think. It is a LOT. For the last 2 years it has been a rare month that didn't include at least one poke. For a while we were actually trying to figure out how my body manages to always decide it is on too little Depakote regardless of what I pour in and I was looking at a period of daily or close to that draws, but then things sort of worked on their own.
I really think I could do my own draws by now though, if only I didn't have tremors. I even know what tubes most of them go into. I know I could do it with a butterfly.
PS....I may also have kidney stones. That's part of the testing going on now. Thing is I don't WANT to know and I'm being forced to. Blagh.
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