Hair loss.
It all began with losing my hair.
For a latina who has had thick THICK hair the moment she was born this was definitely disconcerting. In early 2012 I was losing hair at the front of my head and I could see my scalp under certain lights.
[SPOILER!]
The following becomes a bit TMI so don't continue reading if you are grossed out about bodily functions!!!
In Sept 2012 I went to the doctor who sent me for a blood test - my iron levels were "borderline" (normal ferritin levels is 12 - I was 11) Referral time! So I went to a dermatologist and he said that I needed my iron level to be at least 40 to produce hair follicles. He said I should go back to my regular doctor for more help.
Mistake #1 - I put off going to the doctor.
Being mindful of my steak intake I finally go in Sept 2013 to get my (somewhat) annual check up. The blood test comes back. Iron/Ferritin levels are now at 4.
"But some labs use different values so it may not be that bad." the doctor said airily.
Either way I am officially anemic. Now we have to figure out where I am losing blood.
"Women your age (41) tend to have heavier periods so sometimes this makes them anemic."
This is true. My sister was diagnosed anemic and she's in her 40s as well. She took supplements and seems to be fine.
I almost accepted this and would have left the office just at that moment until I remembered that I had occasional bleeding "down there" and this had been going on since I was 15. The doctor back then said I didn't have hemorrhoids so the occasional bleeding should clear up. It never did, in recently got worse and I never brought it up with the doctor again until today.
Mistake #2 - Should of talked to my doctors more!
She said that was very odd and unusual to have bleeding going on for such a long time. Referral time again!!! I went to see the gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy. By the way prepping for a colonoscopy is NOT fun - you have to drink a giant jug of solution and fast the day before. Wish there was an easier way to do that but hey, has to be done! On arriving at the clinic I must of been nervous because I was babbling like a maniac (ie Oh your name is Dr Salter?! My husband is a Salter too.. maybe you are related...blah blah blah!) the doctor mentioned that normally the procedure goes fine and if I don't see him when I wake up then everything went well. If I did him then they found something.
Guess which scenario played out?
I let out a big "OH CRAP!" when I saw him by my bed - folks in the recovery room peeked around their curtains to see what the hell was going on. He told me that they had found a polyp and it was close to the "exit" so I was going to be referred to a general surgeon. REFERRAL TIMEEEEE!!!
"But it's nothing to worry about, it doesn't seem cancerous!"
Mistake #3 - Don't believe everything your doctor says until you get the facts!
Colonoscopy number 2 and this time it's at the hospital. The surgeon said at first he wasn't entirely sure they could remove the polyp but they would have a "look and see".
In recovery I wake up.
"Good news! We got it all!" He seemed pleased with himself. Even took pictures. I got to keep one.
"I have been doing this for 30 years and it doesn't look cancerous!"
Please see mistake #3!!!!
Made an appointment to get the result of the polyp they removed. On Tuesday the doctor's secretary calls.
"Can you come in Thursday instead of next week?" she politely asks.
The bottom of my stomach falls out. It's cancer. I know it. You don't bring forward an appointment just for fun. I hope that the doctor has plans to go golfing or something.
I go to the doctor's and I hear the words I don't want to hear. While he's explaining the next steps for treatment I somehow don't completely break down. I walk out of the room and see my mother in the waiting room and I don't break down. I get in the car and clutch the steering wheel and I don't break down. I make it home. I sit in the living room and I tell my husband and my mother that I have cancer.
I break down.
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