Anemic Related...What's Next?

[ge0rgette2]

I SOOOOOO feel for OP and the rest of this thread.

I, too, been diagnosed with Iron Def Anemia - about 5 years ago. It's been horrible.. I have months of feeling great, then BOOM, it hits.. I take iron and it never works well for me, I have to see my Hematologist and she gives me an IV of iron - It seems that winter time is the worse for me, I start feeling cold, sweaty at times, but the best sign I get is being out in the cold, any type of activity my chest hurts.. Like I have bronchitis -- Yes, I have been checked for heart related issues, and it seems when my iron is in check and normal, it doesn't happen -- winter is definitely the worst!!! I just had an IV the other day and i'm starting to feel a tad better, placebo affect, maybe.
I go back next month to her again for another iron IV, i'm having her check my levels again and also my thyroid, which I believe is part of the problem. My PCP, about 3 years ago, said thyroid was fine, so maybe it's time to retest!

 

[stsomewhere]

I agree there may be other causes.

Are ou having extremely heavy periods?

I am. I'm getting periods nearly twice a month now and they last forever. I thought it was simple "periomenopause." After a check up & testing with my gyn, I have found I need to throw out that word. Turns out, I have hypothyroidism, which causes heavier bleeding, which caused fibroids, which caused more heavy bleeding, which caused the severe anemia I got.

I'm taking Hema-Plex iron supplements, which is vegetarian. I get it from health food stores. It has worked on my anemia. But, mine is not as severe as yours. It might be something to talk to your dr. about. But, of course follow his regimin.

This! I was diagnosis anemic for about a year. Talked to GYN. Turns out I had fybroids and thickening of uterus. I had a Hysterectomy a few days ago. Dr. told me it should solve most of my health issues.

 

[coltsfanatic]

Like prior posters have stated, there are other links to anemia, which doctors should test you on.

I, too, was severely anemic after I became vegan, to the point where my hair was falling out, my OCD came back stronger than ever, my skin was extremely pale and I started to crave protein excessively. One thing that has worked for me, though was the natural liquid iron supplement, Spatone, which I picked up OTC at CVS, and to this day it works wonders. It slowly absorbs into the bloodstream causing relief! Since starting to take it, no more hair loss and I actually have some color to my skin!

Hope you get treated fully-anemia sucks!

Oh, and word of the wise, don't mix it with water, only juice! If you take it with water, it literally tastes like drinking pure blood, but with the juice I can't tell the difference.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

This! I was diagnosis anemic for about a year. Talked to GYN. Turns out I had fybroids and thickening of uterus. I had a Hysterectomy a few days ago. Dr. told me it should solve most of my health issues.

I'm dealing with this right now. I'm scheduled for major surgery on January 24th to remove a 7cm cyst from my ovary, FOUR fibroids, and a D&C to remove the 3cm thick (and growing) uterine lining (we're going to try to save all of my needed organs, as I haven't had children yet). I had surgery back in 2000 already, to remove a 10cm cyst from the same ovary, so I'm ticked that this happened again. Anyway, back in August, I suddenly started bleeding so heavily that I was filling up an overnight pad every 1-2 hours, and it continued for more than 6 weeks.

My iron level dropped to 6.8 - my doctor told me that the threshold for transfusion was 7. She didn't order a transfusion, however; she put me on medication that is supposed to stop the bleeding (at this point, it's slowed it down A LOT, but it has not completely stopped). But with my iron level that low, I actually lost my job! I couldn't keep up, I was always tired and out of breath; I couldn't walk from my office in the back of the building to the shipping department in the front.

My level is up to about 9.8-10 now, which apparently is still low, but the doctor says she'll take it. And now I sit here, unemployed and awaiting major surgery...

(Sorry for the pity party. I can't stand sitting here like this...I want to work and be pain- and fatigue-free!)