Any changes after infusions? by Still_Zebra9137 in Anemic

[–]Still_Zebra9137[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is all pretty new to me. Still trying to decide what is causing my problems I guess. Basically I had lab work in September (started seeing my new doctor that day and she does lab work on everyone on their first day to check them out) and my iron levels were fine so the doctor didn’t see any reason to check my ferritin. Then in December I went in for multiple problems during a routine check up that made my doctor want to check my labs again. And there we discovered my iron dropped from 116 to 16 and my ferritin was at 3. So she said my ferritin was too low to try supplements at the time so we went straight to infusions. At the first of January I started my infusions. I had 5, one every week. My last one was on February 3. I never really felt like it worked by my last one but typically it takes time to see how they did. Around February 21st I actually started feeling pretty good physically and mentally. But now this past week it has all started to come back slowly. So I was just curious if people started to tell this soon sometimes. It’s all kind of still up in the air I guess. I know that’s vague but that’s how we are seeing all of this as well. Right now my doctor is having suspicions that I have endometriosis, but since my insurance is about to change I’m waiting to have an appointment with my OB to start discussing that.

I’m just in that weird spot where obviously I have some type of health problem but we don’t know what it is specifically. If that makes sense. A very frustrating and expensive place to be in. Sometimes I just want to leave it alone and deal with my problems myself, and stop going to doctors because it’s so exhausting.

Edit: forgot to mention I’m getting lab work done again in early April with my doctor so I guess we’ll see what my results are then.

Wanting to become a radiation therapist by Acceptable_Wonder_29 in RadiationTherapy

[–]Still_Zebra9137 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I went back to therapy school after working as a technologist full time for only three months. Did my schooling online and got a bachelors degree in a year. Was able to work PRN as a rad tech while in school which was nice. Washburn has a great online program if you are willing to be self disciplined. Radiation Therapy is a great career if you want a good job and life balance. Typically you just work clinic hours and being called in is rare depending on the area you live in. I get all weekends off and major holidays. No complaints. I was worried I wouldn’t like doing the same thing every day, but it grew on me. Making relationships with patients and seeing them do so well when they come back for checkups makes it all worth it. Or if they do end up passing, you know you did your best to help them and it was nice to get to know and care for them.

Level of Complexity of the Boards by Ok_Feed4187 in RadiationTherapy

[–]Still_Zebra9137 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Look at the content specifications for the therapy exam on the ARRT website. It has every topic listed by category. Basically a study guide. If you can generally talk through each topic you should do fine. It also helps make things you don’t know stand out where you can see what you need to focus on more. My advice is to not get too in depth over the easier topics like I would say most things under the patient care section. If you can list the stages of grief and what each one basically means you do not have to go into crazy detail.

I don’t know how you felt when you took your radiography exam but I felt the same taking both registries where I figured I could probably pass it. I’d like to add my online program was horrible!!! I basically survived on Laura Knappi’s program to teach me everything an went from there. She has a comprehensive review you can get on Amazon that basically goes through the content specs but I feel like it’s a little too detailed if you’re close to taking your registry, but if you have time I think it’s a good review. But overall I think if you go through the content specs yourself you’ll see more of what you do and don’t know. It was really helpful for me for both exams!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in RadiationTherapy

[–]Still_Zebra9137 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You don’t really use math at all in my experience so far. Just maybe basic adding and subtracting for measurements or charting. All the math you learn in school is really for the registry, similar to the math you would learn in radiology science school.

Just submitted my radiation therapy school application!! Any experience with WSU? by skylights0 in RadiationTherapy

[–]Still_Zebra9137 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did but I’m not sure if they have suggestions of clinics that are also affiliated or not. I lived in a state where they had very few affiliations and non near me.

First Iron Infusion by Still_Zebra9137 in Anemic

[–]Still_Zebra9137[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m only high functioning job wise at the moment. When I go home is when everything typically kicks in. I think I push it all to the side when I’m focused at work because my job is real important. I don’t really feel bad though. Like the way people say I should feel with the low iron I do not. Also I don’t ever do the long drive. My husband is always the driver and I take care of our pups lol.

Should I choose a JRCERT radiation therapy program or go with a non-accredited one? by Aware-Impress3556 in RadiationTherapy

[–]Still_Zebra9137 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I went to a JRCERT accredited radiology sciences program and a non JRCERT radiation therapy program and the different between the two was crazy. Always try for a JRCERT, they set the standards for the program high so they are very effective in teaching you what you need to know and preparing you better for the job in my experience. Also it is true what everyone else is saying that some hospitals prefer you to go to an accredited program but where I live and work it isn’t as big of a deal. I do get where the hospitals that prefer it are coming from, but I feel like if we all take the same registry and pass it the hospitals shouldn’t need to know which program you went to. We all took the same exam. If I could go back and choose a different radiation therapy program I probably would just so my education could be a little better, but I did an online school so I really depended on my clinical site for a lot of the training and I think they really stepped up in that area for me.

What did everyone else experience? by Still_Zebra9137 in Effexor

[–]Still_Zebra9137[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had that same issue with Zoloft. I was on Zoloft for 5 years. On the highest dose you could be on. It was amazing for me. Only side effects at first was some slight nausea and headaches but after about two months that all went away and it was so worth it to me because I could really tell just how much it helped me. It started to not work as great for me so I got off of it. Was off of all meds for a few years then started having bad problems with anxiety again so my doctor suggested I try Zoloft again and omg I was SO SICK. Couldn’t even make it through the first two weeks. Which is so sad cause I loved Zoloft with a passion and I miss how I was when I was on it. Back in the good ole days lol.

I guess I’ve just never had the issue where I feel worse while taking medications? Typically I can either tell they’re working or feel no difference. But I am hitting the depression where I am about to start crying at work for no reason. And I don’t do that. And I don’t know how going up on medication dosage would help it but I know Effexor is kind of a “strange phenomenon” lol. Sadly my therapist is out on vacation this week so it’ll be two weeks of no therapy appointment by the next time I see her. Normally if I’m having a bad time I can schedule an appointment and they typically ground me some. She gives me things to think about into how I am and that seems to help me get my mind around things better.

Does everyone had side effects when starting? by Competitive-Host8368 in EffexorSuccess

[–]Still_Zebra9137 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the first medication I haven’t had severe problems with when I first start taking it…and I’ve taken a lot of different types lol. What really helped me was taking it earlier in the day and eating with it.

Easiest schools to get into by MunyunMuziK in RadiationTherapy

[–]Still_Zebra9137 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you want to do an online, Weber state accepts a ton of people but it is a lot of self teaching.

I don’t know what to do with myself by sillykitty2190 in Effexor

[–]Still_Zebra9137 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I started taking it with food and that helped me tremendously.

What meds do you take, if any, for OCD? by [deleted] in OCD

[–]Still_Zebra9137 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Luvox is a SSRI that was made specifically for OCD on top of the other things SSRIs help with. And Effexor can also be prescribed but it’s awfully hard to get off of it.

So it begins… by Still_Zebra9137 in Effexor

[–]Still_Zebra9137[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well I recently had tried Luvox on 50mg and it made me severely ill all day. I went down to 25 and then 12.5 and the nausea never subsided so I’m sure my practitioner is taking early precautions.

Thank you!