Polyps and Periods
a tale in two parts: uncovering my iron deficiency's root cause
Discovery
About a year ago, I went to my annual physical. I didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary, but as a natural hypochondriac, I was cautious.
In many ways, this is why I love a doctor’s visit. I get someone IRL telling me to calm down. Therefore, my anxious thoughts that I’m constantly ill, had no standing. right? right.
This particular doctor’s trip was a little bit different though. As it was my annual, I got a full blood work up done, which led to some inconclusive results.
My iron levels were a little low. My doctor, being the excellent doctor she is, decided to inquire a bit more. She ordered a test for me to take to assess my ferritin (protein that stores iron in the blood) and TIBC (total-iron binding capacity).
*note these are common tests that most doctors should be able to complete upon request*
Both came back alarmingly low. Suddenly, I started to piece some things together. For the few months leading up to this visit, I had been fatigued almost all the time. I thought maybe it was me aging? or maybe not having enough caffeine? doing too much? going out too much? A million and one reasons that I was the issue.
The thing I want to hammer home in sharing this piece is that iron-deficiency is not your fault. You did not bring it on to yourself. Though this particular affliction is not often life-threatening, it can be the difference between making it through a full day of activities or having to call it quits early in the day. It sucks.
So when I found out I was severely anemic, my mind immediately went to my grad school classes. In my nutrition program, we learned quite a lot about the severity of anemia in women between the ages of 15-49 years old (peak ages for menstruation).
*if blood makes you squeamish pls skip this next section*
For as long as I can remember, I had pretty heavy periods. I’ve bled through more pairs of underwear and sheets than I’d like, starting from the young age of 12 when I was in pre-algebra class and stood up, only for a teacher to rush me to the office to get me a change of pants. Embarrassing stuff!!!
I didn’t think much of it. I didn’t have lots of cramping or pain, so I thought everyone just kind of bled like this. When I found out I was anemic, I thought mmmm perhaps not.
This, I fear, is a common experience for menstruating people. Growing up, I don’t remember really discussing what was the “normal” amount you should be bleeding. And after getting these results back, I quickly realized maybe I should know?
*end of blood section for now*
After many consults with my doctor, my GI doctor, and my gynecologist, an attempt at birth control, an endoscopy + colonoscopy later - it seemed the root of my anemia was my period.
So we dug deeper. Birth control just felt like an easy way to cover up and underlying issue, so I sought more answers. My gyno thought it could be a few things, fibroids, cyst, polyp, etc, all the scary words. A few ultrasounds later, and it was confirmed. A polyp! A uterine polyp to be specific.
To my surprise, this was apparently very common? I found my way to reddit, where tons of people went on to say that they had only discovered they had a polyp till trying to get pregnant. What I ALSO found is that it could sometimes lead to heavier bleeding.
As stated previously, I am in fact a major hypochondriac and when asked what I wanted to do, there was no hesitation I needed it gone.
Surgery
In my lifetime, I had only been put under anesthesia once before. A few months prior for an endoscopy and colonoscopy, which was recommended by my GI doctor after discussing my IBS, iron deficiency, and ~interesting~ bowels.
*note: no matter your age, if you find yourself having similar symptoms with blood in stool in any way, always seek an opinion from a gastroenterologist or primary care physician if possible. these symptoms can be indicative of more serious and chronic diseases, so get them checked!*
Luckily, everything came back normal aside from mild irritation in my upper digestive tract, nothing to write home about, but still required me going under. Needless to say, going under anesthesia for the second time in a matter of 6 months was weird and anxiety-inducing, but as one must, you persevere.
I arrive to the hospital early with my friend (to Grace if you read this, a true gem <3), trying to maintain some semblance of peace and normalcy. I scroll through my Instagram.
Post paperwork, they take me back, I change in to those very strange hospital gowns that truly do not make any logical sense to me, but sure. And so begins the weird 3 hour long waiting, talking to doctors, having people talk around you, but not necessarily to you.
This whole process was a bit out of body, since I had not had any food in probably 12+ hours due to the fasting needed before surgery. By the time I got into the OR, I was simply ready for it to be over. So much was running through my mind, mainly about what would happen when they ran it for a tests.
The last thing I hear and see if my gynecologist holding my hand reassuring me that I’d be completely fine.
Results and Recovery
I wake up to what feels like both minutes and hours later. Apparently the surgery only took maybe 15 minutes, which was news to me who felt this was a huge, hairy deal. It was apparently a very tiny polyp. I have since forgotten the inanimate object she compared it to, but nonetheless, it was gone.
They also tested the tissue around it as well, just to be safe. Something that left me reassured, but also nervous. It’s a delicate balance of being a hypochondriac. You simultaneously want every test, but also none because what if they results come back … unsavory?
Either way, I was discharged the same day and given the post-birth diapers, which was objectively comical to put on half high with grippy socks on.
I arrived back home, surrounded by my friends and roommate at the time, and things were okay.
The Next Few Days
I woke up the next few mornings feeling good, shockingly spritely, feeling very undefeated by this evil little ball of cells that had caused all of this commotion.
I was told recovery would be relatively chill, but with some minor cramping and potentially spotting. As I previously mentioned, I was never one to cramp much during periods. So I didn’t expect much on that end.
I was wrong lol. Maybe two days later, I was sitting with my friend at a coffee shop, yapping away as always. and BOOM. the cramp from hell began. I like to think my pain tolerance is rather abnormal comparatively, so I of course, ignored it.
It went away. and then BOOM. It came back harder and more intense. For a split second I thought, is this labor pains??? Was I secretly with a random child that had somehow been missed for 9 months??
No, Lauren, you were not.
Either way, I decided it was time to head home. Luckily I was prescribed 800 mg Ibuprofen and some painkillers. Painkillers have always kind of freaked me out, so I was determined to forego them as much as I could. So to the Ibuprofen I went! And let me tell you about the magic of those little pills lol.
I took only one once a day for maybe 3 days, and only when those superhero level cramps came.
About a week later, I felt pretty normal. I got my period, only slightly lighter, but once again nothing major to report back on it.
~2 months later~
I was scheduled to see a hematologist two months later to discuss potential iron infusions due to my severe anemia. This was all post surgery, so the first step was to test my levels.
Aside from removal of the polyp, during this time period post-initial blood test, I began taking liquid iron and making a concerted effort to increase leafy greens in my diet (see my post iron-deficiency for more on this).
I went to see a very kind hematologist who was more than happy to work with me pending results. Not even a day later after my blood tests, I got the call that my levels were essentially back to normal and looked great!
A major relief and reassurance that maybe, perhaps, just a little….. taking care of myself could do wonders.
*final note: none of this would have been possible if I did not have compassionate and caring physicians, healthcare access, and support from my friends and family. getting comprehensive care in the US is absurdly hard, and I hope we one day move into a world, where all doctors take that extra step, and people don’t have to pay thousands of dollars to get preventative care.*
*p.s. I also just finished paying off this surgery 9 months later, and that was with insurance, so the American healthcare system can absolutely **** ***.
Thanks for reading as always!