By Jeanni Ritchie
I wasn’t doing well. Already run down from grief and stress as I navigate a new normal, I caught the flu as well. In a matter of weeks I’d dropped 20 lbs. and could barely go upstairs to my bedroom without feeling completely wiped out. I was dehydrated, my electrolytes were off, and I found myself too sick to push through but not sick enough for the E.R.
Life was rapidly passing by and I was spending more and more of it on the couch or in my bed. I wasn’t sure which came first—the chicken or the egg. Or, in my case, the dehydration or the depression. But I didn’t survive my own personal tornado a few years ago to go down without a fight now.
But I was so worn out…
I’d finally had enough. I called my son-in-law Dom and asked him for a ride to the emergency room. I was just going to have to apologize during triage—it didn’t seem like an emergency just yet but it would be if I didn’t get fluids soon. However, Dom had another plan.
“I’m gonna take you to my place,” he said. “It beats spending hours in the E.R. and you’ll feel better immediately.” His place was Dripsy IV Bar, and he drove me straight there.
Opened by RN Deanna Smith two years ago, the wellness bar is the love child of a medical clinic and day spa. Bright pink accent walls and art deco furniture pop against the row of cream-colored rocker recliners used by clients. The ambience immediately put my heightened nervous system at ease.
After a required telehealth visit to ensure I was a good candidate for IV therapy, I was approved for treatment. An IV was started quite easily, to my delight. I am not an easy stick when I am dehydrated. Before the bag was even halfway through, I started to feel better. I’d walked in feeling slightly zombie-fied, and left feeling better than I had in weeks.
Even better was the peace of mind in the labs that were drawn. Had they shown critically low levels of electrolytes, I would’ve known I needed to follow-up in the hospital. Instead, I went back three days later for another bag of saline.
The IV treatments are in conjunction with—not a replacement for—regular doctor visits. For me, Dripsy is one of the highest forms of self-care in my arsenal right now.
There are a variety of reasons people use Dripsy. General wellness, energy, strength, hormone therapy, weight loss… They offer a drip bar, a peptide bar, and a shot bar. B12 shots are a top seller, and monthly memberships are available on their website, getdripsy.com.
A list of nearly 60 health concerns appear in a drop-down menu, along with between 1-20 treatments offered for each. Frequent deals and collaborations with other local business owners can be found on Dripsy’s Facebook page, along with sweet shout-outs from local organizations supported by Dripsy, like Tioga Indians Football.
Longtime readers of my columns know that I love supporting the businesses who support the community!
Dripsy IV Bar has three locations:
1020 MacArthur Drive Suite D
Alexandria, LA 71303
2946 Front St.
Olla, LA 71465
