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May 15/ day 15
Bandaids
I had a hard time thinking about what to write for this one as I don’t really use Bandaids and they don’t have any real impact on my pku life ..then  I remember that Evey 6 months or annually I have my amino acid blood draw . It’s a blood panel done at a hospital lab. This tests all the amino acids in my blood and vitamins minerals and a full blood panel. This is necessary to not only monitor the protein and phenylalanine in my blood but to ensure that my diet is adequate for my body and I’m getting enough of what I need . Or to make sure it’s not to much or to little. In recent years I have had higher triglycerides and unreadable low iron . So by having this blood draw and checking these levels tells my dieticians when to increase or decrease my formula or if I need to add vitamins to my diet . I am suppose to be taking iron , calcium and a multi vitamin but I never remeber to.

This blood draw is done after 10 hours of fasting so I try to go straight away after waking. This test is very hard on my body as fasting effects my levels and makes me feel like I will pass out  they also take roughly 9 to 10 vials of blood. I always make sure to take food with me and my formula.  I ask the lab to use a butterfly needle so it’s alesier on my arm. I can only get blood from my left arm and after a life time of blood tests I have alot of scar tissue and a perment whole over my vein.

This is the only real time I use Bandaids . I am allergic to the medical tape.  I only use the bandaid Untill my blood has clotted and can be removed. With my iron as low as it is. .the last time I had my blood test done my arm gushed afterword snd went all over the chair and floor. Highly usual . My next amino acid blood draw is October 2015