Advocate For Your Health

Is it burnout, is it cancer, is it stress, is it B12 deficiency, is it covid, is it…

I haven’t been as productive as I’d like lately. And that’s partly because of life stuff¹ and also because I’ve been in a fatigue fog. At first, I thought it was general burnout and so I cut back on “doing things”.

However, it got to the point where I found it incredibly challenging to do even the most basic tasks. Anything beyond the essential was pushed to tomorrow. When getting out of bed and doing the dishes felt challenging, creating content that nobody asked for was shifted to the non-essential list.

I’m all for managing your work according to the energy you have. and I was finding I didn’t have any energy at all. This resulted in shaming myself for being unproductive, feeling lazy and as a result depressed that I couldn’t seem to prioritize what was important to me. Also, I had little energy left for fun! That’s important too.

Listen to your body

Once it dawned on me that I’d crossed into “not normal” fatigue, I panicked. The last time I felt this way was before I got my colon cancer diagnosis. Everything was feeling a little too familiar and I started to hyper fixate on other symptoms and signs from my body.

Convinced I had blood cancer² I called my doctor. I’ll skip to the part where my blood work results did not show blood cancer (hooray) but did reveal a B12 deficiency and low iron.

I’m relieved my symptoms can be explained and treated simply. Also, I felt instantly better taking supplements and have a treatment plan with my doctor. As a result, I’m back at my desk working on things I’m passionate about. I’m BACK making that content nobody asked for… I’ll let you be the judge if it’s for better or for worse!³

I’m lucky I have a doctor who listens and doesn’t dismiss what I’m saying. And unfortunately, I know that’s not always the case.

Advocate for your health

This reminded me of the importance of advocating for my health. Prior to my 2022 colon cancer diagnosis, I had been experiencing fatigue, night sweats, and pain that could be explained away or minimized. At first my doctor resisted the colonoscopy as I’d had one three years prior. However, I spoke up and pushed for the referral.

I’ll be forever grateful I did that because they discovered a stage three tumour. It was just chilling in my bowel. Quietly trying to kill me!⁴

Due to early detection via a colonoscopy, they were able to successfully remove the tumour with surgery followed by chemotherapy treatment. It was gruelling to endure, and I’m now thankfully cancer free and in the monitoring stage.

However, I’m acutely aware it could have been far worse. If I hadn’t pushed for a colonoscopy the doctors wanted to wait another two years. I hate to think of the outcome if I’d accepted that initial discussion. Who knows what unsolicited advice or otherwise you could be reading right now!

My point is: it’s vital to be your own best health advocate.

At my final chemo infusion with my trusty heating pad to help with the pain.

Book that appointment

It’s not easy. Especially if you’re dismissed for not fitting the profile (e.g. younger, seemingly healthy). If you feel like you aren’t being heard, talk louder or find someone who will listen. My situation is extreme – not everyone needs a colonoscopy. However, if you do or have any symptoms, please talk to a doctor.

Colonoscopy > Cancer

Colonoscopies really aren’t that bad. The worst part is the prep. It’s a time when my university training comes into play as I scull litre after litre of the rank prep drink (chilled, to make it more palatable although I would like to see their research to back this claim up). And then, well, my toilet is the real victim here.⁵

But afterwards you wake up to a snack and cup of tea! And the knowledge that you don’t have a tumour lurking, or if you do it will hopefully be detected and treated early.

I can attest scopes are WAY better than having cancer.

Since I first shared my experience, I’ve heard from several friends who went for testing and were glad they did.

I’m sharing again in case you need the encouragement to book that appointment, look for a new doctor, or advocate for your health in some way.

As we know only too well, we all only get one shot at this.

1. Kind of rude there is always stuff to do, just to like exist as a human.

2. Blood cancer was a new one for me, got to give it up for my anxiety for its creative ability! It won’t be tempered.

3. For better, right… RIGHT? No worries if not, but pretty rude.

4. The rudest.

5. Insert the spouting whale emoji here.