“There’s a crack in everything, that is how the light gets in.”
Leonard Cohen
Out of Whack
What sucks about turning 40 is that your body goes out of whack. Three-week-long heavy periods led me here. For a year, that’s been one of some discomforts.
“You’re 40. This is normal.” I remember telling myself this one morning when I had no choice but to buy a pair of black trousers, anxious and stressed because the pad I was wearing had given up on me. My only mistake that day was not putting on maternity pads. I had to get this done quickly because people at work were waiting.
Going through whatever hung on the racks, I felt even worse because I knew I’d needed a pair with a 30+ waistline. The annoying weight gain is another thing that nags, you know? I can say, “I was thin once,” (10 years ago) and be happy with savoring that moment. But when the daily routine includes feeling stuck and stressed when deciding what to wear, happy thoughts can be depressing. Many times, saying “Oh, well. It is what it is,” helps shift the perspective.
***
On July 2022, I needed to complete the pre-employment medical requirement. Writing “40” as my age on the form means additional tests like an ECG and more blood chem tests. Naturally, I complied. Everything looked normal, except for the hemoglobin count. The long and short of it is, I needed clearance from my OB because my hemoglobin levels were extremely low. Without clearance from her, I may not be hired back.
So I went, and it was good she was there even without setting an appointment. She read my results and said that the hemoglobin count qualifies for a blood transfusion.
“Do you feel weak? Do you feel any pain?” she asked. I said no and I wasn’t feeling any pain whatsoever. “Nasanay na ang katawan mo kung ganun.” (Your body got used to it)
She gave me a prescription: 2 tabs of Hemarate ®FA a day. I also needed an ultrasound and some additional blood work to see what was going on.
Thankfully, she did give me clearance to work, but I made sure to send her the ultrasound results:
- thickened endometrium consider endometrial…
