Chapter 26
I visited my new family doctor that Dr. G had arranged for me. I relayed a brief family history and the fact that my father had died of a heart attack at age forty-nine immediately sent up the red flag. I already knew my family history would be a major strike against me, Dr. M just confirmed it.
She explained that if I ever did survive a heart attack, I would be on multiple expensive medications most likely for the rest of my life. She suggested it would be a good idea to begin taking a low dosage cholesterol statin tablet. It would keep my bad cholesterol levels in check while at the same time lowering my borderline high levels.
I was never one for taking any medication, but I agreed I would start with a daily dosage of 20 mg of Lipitor. This is a very common medication taken by millions of people around the world and 20 mg is a very low dosage. The generic version would cost me $30 for ninety tablets while the name brand Lipitor would cost over $200. They were the exact same medication confirmed by both my doctor and pharmacist.
Fuck those big pharma companies, they are nothing but corporate thieves.
She explained that if I ever did survive a heart attack, I would be on multiple expensive medications most likely for the rest of my life. She suggested it would be a good idea to begin taking a low dosage cholesterol statin tablet. It would keep my bad cholesterol levels in check while at the same time lowering my borderline high levels.
I was never one for taking any medication, but I agreed I would start with a daily dosage of 20 mg of Lipitor. This is a very common medication taken by millions of people around the world and 20 mg is a very low dosage. The generic version would cost me $30 for ninety tablets while the name brand Lipitor would cost over $200. They were the exact same medication confirmed by both my doctor and pharmacist.
Fuck those big pharma companies, they are nothing but corporate thieves.
I will be taking the generic brand.
The past year saw me having so many blood tests and injections; it just never seemed to end. Although I was sick of being jabbed with needles, I’d now be having a few more jabs courtesy Dr. M. After a battery of blood tests including my annual PSA test for prostate cancer, most had come back within the normal levels. There was however one test that had come back higher than normal.
The past year saw me having so many blood tests and injections; it just never seemed to end. Although I was sick of being jabbed with needles, I’d now be having a few more jabs courtesy Dr. M. After a battery of blood tests including my annual PSA test for prostate cancer, most had come back within the normal levels. There was however one test that had come back higher than normal.
My ferritin level was extremely high.
I had never heard of ferritin before that day. Apparently, doctors are now requesting a ferritin test more often for their patients.
Ferritin is the iron storage level in a person’s body and not the actual iron. It is all very complicated, but this simple blood test had confirmed that my iron storage levels were extremely high. If left unchecked the iron storage would continue to accumulate in my body, potentially causing organ failure. For example a high iron storage level in the liver can if left untreated lead to irreversible cirrhosis which can quickly progress to liver cancer.
I would now be referred to a blood specialist, also known as a Hematologist.
We needed to find the reason for my high ferritin levels. Was it lifestyle, diet or was it hereditary?
I had never heard of ferritin before that day. Apparently, doctors are now requesting a ferritin test more often for their patients.
Ferritin is the iron storage level in a person’s body and not the actual iron. It is all very complicated, but this simple blood test had confirmed that my iron storage levels were extremely high. If left unchecked the iron storage would continue to accumulate in my body, potentially causing organ failure. For example a high iron storage level in the liver can if left untreated lead to irreversible cirrhosis which can quickly progress to liver cancer.
I would now be referred to a blood specialist, also known as a Hematologist.
We needed to find the reason for my high ferritin levels. Was it lifestyle, diet or was it hereditary?
A gene test was needed to determine if I potentially could have Hereditary Hemochromatosis, a common under diagnosed liver disease. The results would take a few weeks, but in the meantime I would be having an ultrasound on my liver.
After another ferritin test and with the ultrasound results in hand, it was confirmed I had both another spike in my ferritin and a mildly enlarged liver or fatty liver. I would now need phlebotomies on a regular basis to get my ferritin levels back down to the acceptable normal range.
A fatty liver is very common and is usually associated with excessive alcohol consumption, bad diet and lack of exercise. In my case it most likely was from all my chemo treatments over the previous year. Fatty liver is a very common side effect of Folfox treatments.
A phlebotomy is the removal of blood from your body. It is equivalent to donating blood at a blood donor clinic. Since I had recently had chemo, I could not donate blood for five years. I would now need to visit the infusion clinic at the Bracebridge Hospital for my twice monthly one pint withdrawals. Each phlebotomy was at least an hour long procedure.
Having regular phlebotomies is the only safe way to lower your ferritin levels without medication. Once the level is lowered, ongoing phlebotomies are the only way to keep them lowered.
Dr. G’s office called to arrange a date for my second colonoscopy. My first one had been the worst day of my life colonoscopy back on Halloween 2013. This is part of the standard follow up protocol for a rectal cancer patient. If this upcoming colonoscopy was all clear, I would have my next one in three years. I would then be having colonoscopies every five years thereafter, whereas the average person would go every ten years after a clear scope.
Because of my cancer history, Dr. G told me I would never be on the ten year plan.
My reconnection and reversal recovery had gone well. It was great to be living bagless again and I was not dealing with any major issues. My biggest issue was that I was still going to the washroom multiple times a day. I found it extremely odd that bowel movements never interfered with my daily activities. However, once I was at home in a relaxed state usually in the evenings they would start up. One of the nurses at the Cancer Centre told me it was most likely a mental issue as my mind sensed I was more comfortable and at ease in my own home environment.
Maybe she was right, I don’t know.
What was most peculiar was as soon as I would park in my garage and get out of my car, I’d have an almost instant urge to have a bowel movement.
After another ferritin test and with the ultrasound results in hand, it was confirmed I had both another spike in my ferritin and a mildly enlarged liver or fatty liver. I would now need phlebotomies on a regular basis to get my ferritin levels back down to the acceptable normal range.
A fatty liver is very common and is usually associated with excessive alcohol consumption, bad diet and lack of exercise. In my case it most likely was from all my chemo treatments over the previous year. Fatty liver is a very common side effect of Folfox treatments.
A phlebotomy is the removal of blood from your body. It is equivalent to donating blood at a blood donor clinic. Since I had recently had chemo, I could not donate blood for five years. I would now need to visit the infusion clinic at the Bracebridge Hospital for my twice monthly one pint withdrawals. Each phlebotomy was at least an hour long procedure.
Having regular phlebotomies is the only safe way to lower your ferritin levels without medication. Once the level is lowered, ongoing phlebotomies are the only way to keep them lowered.
Dr. G’s office called to arrange a date for my second colonoscopy. My first one had been the worst day of my life colonoscopy back on Halloween 2013. This is part of the standard follow up protocol for a rectal cancer patient. If this upcoming colonoscopy was all clear, I would have my next one in three years. I would then be having colonoscopies every five years thereafter, whereas the average person would go every ten years after a clear scope.
Because of my cancer history, Dr. G told me I would never be on the ten year plan.
My reconnection and reversal recovery had gone well. It was great to be living bagless again and I was not dealing with any major issues. My biggest issue was that I was still going to the washroom multiple times a day. I found it extremely odd that bowel movements never interfered with my daily activities. However, once I was at home in a relaxed state usually in the evenings they would start up. One of the nurses at the Cancer Centre told me it was most likely a mental issue as my mind sensed I was more comfortable and at ease in my own home environment.
Maybe she was right, I don’t know.
What was most peculiar was as soon as I would park in my garage and get out of my car, I’d have an almost instant urge to have a bowel movement.
It was like clockwork.
My diet was basically the same as it always was; I ate whatever I wanted when I wanted and I had no restrictions. I don’t drink alcohol, although I probably drink too many Cokes. I was no longer drinking them daily like I used to. I was cutting down on my sugar intake which definitely was better for my health going forward.
I was also back hitting the gym with no restrictions and I was back to my buck ninety-five playing weight. Sherry and I attended our annual Killbear Provincial Park snowshoeing weekend in early February 2015. I felt great traipsing all over the Georgian Bay wilderness for hours in three foot high snowdrifts while breathing in all that cold fresh air.
I sure as hell did not feel like a cancer patient on that weekend.
On February 19th Dr. G performed my second colonoscopy. Just before I was sedated he confirmed that I indeed had been diagnosed with Hereditary Hemochromatosis. He had seen the results from my gene test that morning.
Phlebotomies would now be part of my life for the rest of my life.
Later when I came to in the recovery room, Dr. G confirmed my scope was all clear and my next scope would be in three years. I remember wishing that my first colonoscopy had also been all clear. Oh, how I wished it had been all clear.
But then again if it had, I would not be back in this same recovery room on this day. I would be nine years too early.
It is what it is.
A volunteer once again wheeled me out to the waiting room where Sherry was once again waiting for me. It was so déjà vu, but this time I was smiling when I saw her. She too was smiling back. There was no poker face needed on this day and we were both starving as we exited the hospital that early afternoon.
This time we skipped Subway and we went to Swiss Chalet for lunch.
My diet was basically the same as it always was; I ate whatever I wanted when I wanted and I had no restrictions. I don’t drink alcohol, although I probably drink too many Cokes. I was no longer drinking them daily like I used to. I was cutting down on my sugar intake which definitely was better for my health going forward.
I was also back hitting the gym with no restrictions and I was back to my buck ninety-five playing weight. Sherry and I attended our annual Killbear Provincial Park snowshoeing weekend in early February 2015. I felt great traipsing all over the Georgian Bay wilderness for hours in three foot high snowdrifts while breathing in all that cold fresh air.
I sure as hell did not feel like a cancer patient on that weekend.
On February 19th Dr. G performed my second colonoscopy. Just before I was sedated he confirmed that I indeed had been diagnosed with Hereditary Hemochromatosis. He had seen the results from my gene test that morning.
Phlebotomies would now be part of my life for the rest of my life.
Later when I came to in the recovery room, Dr. G confirmed my scope was all clear and my next scope would be in three years. I remember wishing that my first colonoscopy had also been all clear. Oh, how I wished it had been all clear.
But then again if it had, I would not be back in this same recovery room on this day. I would be nine years too early.
It is what it is.
A volunteer once again wheeled me out to the waiting room where Sherry was once again waiting for me. It was so déjà vu, but this time I was smiling when I saw her. She too was smiling back. There was no poker face needed on this day and we were both starving as we exited the hospital that early afternoon.
This time we skipped Subway and we went to Swiss Chalet for lunch.