Dr Smith asked me about my blog today. He asked if it helped me understand my disease better. I think it really did. Sitting down and writing about it… it helped me think about what it’s like having haemophilia, and what my parents must be going through.
I mean, they have to make sure I stay away from certain medications like:
aspirin, salicylates, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They have to check all the medication they buy for me, in case it’s one of the drugs I have to avoid because it increases the amount of bleeding that occurs when I injure myself. And they had to learn how to administer infusions, in case I needed them at home. Before they had me, my parents had other people give them their injections. It must have been especially difficult for mum. She doesn’t like the sight of blood. It makes her feel queasy. Luckily dad is okay with it. He’s the only who does it most of the time, too, since mum’s hand trembles a lot when she’s holding the needle. Dad and I decided that it would be better to let him handle the actual administering of my infusions.
Herbs like
gingko, ginger, garlic, ginseng, horse chestnut, turmeric and white willow can increase bleeding in internal/external bleeding cases. So I have to be careful when I eat and I have to make sure that there isn’t any trace of those herbs. It’s troublesome at school when we have shared lunches and people bring in homemade food. Most of the time they have no idea what ingredients are in it, so I can’t eat it, just in case it does.
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| A photo of some ginger. |
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| A photo of turmeric powder. |
I can’t play
rough contact sports like
football or wrestling, because of the bruising and bleeding risk involved. But my parents suggested I take up swimming, so that I could still stay fit despite being unable to participate in most sports. Swimming exercises all the muscles groups without straining my joints. So I attend classes twice a week. It’s actually pretty fun. The other people in my class were a little nervous when they found out I have haemophilia. They were scared that I would start bleeding in the pool. But I didn’t bleed at all during any of the lessons. That pretty much convinced them I was 100% safe and non-contagious, haha!
I don’t have a part time job yet. Mum says that if I do start looking for openings, I should try retail, because it doesn’t involve a lot of strenuous work. But I don’t really like the idea of being a cashier. It sounds a little
dull, don’t you think?
So… yeah… I think I have a good life. I can go to school like other people. I just have to be careful not to injure myself. I can manage my haemophilia rather well with the help of my parents. I’m just like any other person you would see in the street. I’m not so different, after all!
Labels: effects, family, friends, haemophilia, life
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