xxambellina

I was adopted when I was an infant and it was never disclosed that methemoglobinemia ran in both sides of my biological family. I went a very long time without having my methemoglobin spike high enough to turn me the blue color, and when it did I went to the ER where they put me on oxygen. The problem is, no matter how much oxygen they give me- my red blood cells can't carry it-- so I destat rapidly. The first two times it happened I did not get methelyene blue in time and it resulted in me clinically dying. The first time I was in a coma for 12 days protected with a plastic sheet like the damn outbreak monkey. They finally called the CDC who sent a representative that finally figured out it was methemoglobinemia.

However, anyone can have a one time episode from exposure to certain substances, so they did not realize I had the genetic disorder (as it is extremely rare). The second time I just waited way longer to get to the hospital than I should have. Luckily the doctors were able to bring me back each time.

It's odd because I'm not blue all the time. Normally when my skin is a very blue color it is because the methemoglobin levels in my blood are so high I require hospitalization. When I'm blue and in the hospital I call myself a "sick-lebrity" because all of the hospital staff come to my room to get a peak at me and the doctors and residents all want to write case studies on me.

When I have a blue hue in public people really stare. It's strange because, as I stated before, I'm not always blue-- so I forget I'm blue and I wonder why people are staring..

When your pulse oxygen drops very low your brain doesn't work correctly (I don't remember but friends and family tell me I act like I'm WASTED). When I woke up the morning of the second death (also the second bad reaction I'd ever had) my pulse oxygen was already very low so my judgement was impaired. I remember looking in the mirror and deciding that I was blue because I drank too much cranberry juice the day before and laying back down. I ended up calling a friend (this was like 7am) and they thought I was wasted and since I was acting so funny they came over to check on me and saw the blue and took me to the hospital. It just happened because I waited way to long to get help.

Thanks! If you are able please give blood and encourage your friends and family to do so as well! The only way I can stay alive is through the kindness of strangers who donate.

It's actually pretty funny, but no. I am not nearly blue enough to fit in with them- and with my disorder one of the things that I should never ever handle (because it will raise my methemoglobin) is anything with blue, green, or purple dyes that isn't food-grade. Essentially applying blue paint like they wear would kill me without quick treatment.