Anyone have severe anemia?

**justmeD** · 02-10-2006, 11:13 AM

I was in the hospital a week ago w/pneumonia. While there the dr came in and said that there was another alarming issue. He told me he could see that I've been anemic for a long time. When I was pregnant with my daughter I had to be on iron supplements, but dr then told me I could discontinue it.
This hospital Dr. was very adament about me following up with my OB and general practitioner and taking care of my heavy cycles. ( i don't think they are any heavier then the average woman). My dr. told me to start the iron supplements and if they don't work they will start me on shots.
I honestly wasn't too concerned until I woke up this morning with NO energy, I mean, my muscles felt like mush, i've been very confused and living in a fog, etc...and looking up the symptoms, they are all symptoms of anemia.
Do you have, have you had anemia? If so, how did you treat it? Did it go away or is this a life time struggle? I should be asking my dr. about it, but he seems clueless- seriously.
I'd like to hear first hand experiences.

**Dedlered** · 02-10-2006, 11:17 AM

No advice but a big Hug!

**justmeD** · 02-10-2006, 11:26 AM

oh Laura,
Thank you, that was very sweet & I accept the hug. (glad you don't have to deal with this)

**Mumzy** · 02-10-2006, 11:32 AM

I hesetate to reply because what works for me may not fit your need. So do be sure to go back and talk with your Dr.

I am anemic according to my Dr.s since I was young. I don't know if it is a lifetime thing or not I haven't done the research. I guess I don't worry about it. So what I do is simply keep up with regular maintanance. Which is for me the daily multi-vitamin. If I notice I am a little tired, usually around my cycle I have a trick. I cook something with my heavy iron pan. I works for me.

**guest32** · 02-10-2006, 11:43 AM

The last Dr. visit I had they did my labs and they came back that I was low in iron. I am ALWAYS tired and in a fog...but I think it is also partly my age (47). So, I have been taking iron tablets and it does help...as long as I remember to take them!!! (my memory is another brain issue altogether

)

**KimSecret** · 02-10-2006, 11:49 AM

I was severely anemic when pregnant and after. They put me on high iron supplements and I ate a lot of green foods.
I hope you get better soon!

**canadian gardener** · 02-10-2006, 12:06 PM

I am concerned. You need to have some medical follow up.

Anemia can have MANY causes.

It can for example be an early warning symptom of kidney disease. My mil for example struggled with it for years, and it wasn't till she was found to have kidney failure that we found out from the kidney foundation that it is one of the overlooked early warning symptoms.

There are some blood disorders that have anemia as their main symptom. Sickle cell, B12 deficiency, even folate deficiency to name common ones. Leukemia needs to be ruled out as well.

Vegetarians who aren't getting enough B12 for example, or people who are suffering from an inability to absorb B12 can both have problems.

Enough people have chronic blood loss internally due to slow bleeding ulcers or first signs of bowel cancer that I would say you need to have those ruled out FOR SURE before your dr relaxes.

It is OFTEN due to heavy periods in women of child bearing years, but NOT ALWAYS.

As a patient you have a right to know that your doctor isn't just going by a hunch that it's heavy periods, he or she should be tracking it down further if it's an ongoing continuing problem.

People can become accustomed to living with severe anemia and the problem is that they are used to it, then a crisis happens, and they are low enough that the crisis can be life threatening.

I URGE YOU STRONGLY if you have been anemic and have had a sudden downturn in your symptoms to show up at an emergency dept or urgent care facility.

This way you can be seen by someone fresh who will take your symptoms seriously and deal with it.

PLEASE GO TODAY.

**Vannie** · 02-10-2006, 01:11 PM

I had this as a youngster and remember going to the several times a month. I remember receiving injections, etc. and was monitored very carefully until I was in my teens. Later I took irron capsules for about two years. The one thing I remember when I was a little girl is my doctor saying to my mom "give her some liver to eat."

and let her go out to play.

If your present doctor seems clueless--maybe you should find one who is not. Not to frighten you but here is a link from the National Institutes of Health concerning anemia

**justmeD** · 02-10-2006, 01:31 PM

okay, so now I'm a little more worried. At this dr. practice there are two brothers, I seem to be seeing the air headed one. I will be switching to his brother which my whole family seems to really love.

I can't tell you how terrible the drs are here in my little town. No one has one they like. But, that's besides the point.

I will surely go back for more blood work as soon as the bruising of my veins go down. They really did a job on my hands and arms in the hospital.

Thank you all for the replies.

**leeleeaub** · 02-10-2006, 02:30 PM

I have hereditary anemia. No matter how many supplements I take or how many green foods I eat nothing will help it. The only problems it causes me is being overly tired and bleeding a lot when I get cut.
You DEFINATELY need to go have it rechecked because it can cause a lot of different problems.
The one website that my dr. says you can trust whatever it says is www.webmd.com

**PennyPincher** · 02-11-2006, 11:17 AM

You have gotten a lot of great advice but I get really anemic around my TOM due to having heavy periods so I take an iron tablet during that and then when its not that TOM I will take them only if I am feeling really run down which isnt unusual for me ..lol but I generally have a sense of when its getting bad enough for me to take a pill