Hi just got here and I'm a noob I need some answers - Anemia Message Board

Pillbox · 09-10-2006, 05:03 PM

Hello guys, Let me first start out by saying that I'm a 23 year old male and I've felt pretty good most of my life, but here lately I've felt like crap. It started out by me having bad chest pains and nausea after I eat. So I finally broke down and went to the doctor after about two weeks of this, I just couldn't take it anymore! Anyways the doctor told me I had a ulcer in my esophogas. He gave me 3 weeks of prevacid and some pills that I have to stick in water to disolve and then have to drink (it tastes like drinking chalk water!). He told me that after about 3 weeks of this the pain should go away. Well the pain is going away, I don't get nausated much anymore, but I still do sometimes after eating. Also when I swallow it used to hurt right behind my sternum. It still does sometimes but I can tell it's starting to get a little better. I guess what I'm really getting at is, I still feel like dog crap everyday, I look at myself in the mirror and I'm pale all the time and I have black circles under my eyes that I cannot get rid of to save my life. I have ate good here in the last 3 weeks but the black circles do not go away they just diminish a little bit and I get a little color back in me. I'm always tired and feel bad. I was wondering what the symptoms of anemia are? I also cannot gain weight to save my life. My mom and grandma say it's because I have a very high metabolisim and my dad was very skinny at my age also. I'm just tired of feeling like crap and being tired all the time. Do any of you have symptoms like this?

bella31 · 09-10-2006, 06:09 PM

I have been anemic for a year due to low iron,My symptoms were no energy,depressed,shortness of breath,palpitations,hair loss,anxious.I know you can become anemic from a ulcer.Did the Dr do a full blood count to check.I have been on iron pills for a year and I am just starting to feel a little better.My Dr did a ferritin test and that will show if you are anemic from low iron,which can be from a bleeding ulcer.Good luck I hope you feel better.

Pillbox · 09-11-2006, 08:31 AM

No the doctor didn't do a blood check at all, none of this started till I came down with this ulcer thing. I've always had black circles under my eyes but just recently started to feel really like crap, so I didn't bring it up to him when I went for the ulcer. I haven't noticed any black tarry stools or any what the medical community calls "coffee grinds" when I was throwing up. But my symptoms are:

General fatigue (Even after getting out of bed I feel like I haven't slept much)
When I wake up back pain that is radiating all around my back
The Black Circles around my eyes
Pallor
Lose of Appetite
When I do eat I don't eat much and feel full very fast
Sometimes I do feel lightheaded or dizzy.
My friends all ride around with the windows down and I'm all the time complaining it's to cold even when it's pretty nice outside.
Most recently I've had problems remembering things, Sometimes it's a hassle to carry on a conversation when I can't find the right words and I lose concentration.

I do believe I read elsewhere on here that proton pump inhibitors (I think thats what they are called) eg: Prevacid ( Which I take daily) Nexum and other stomach pills can help cause anemia like symptoms because they are preventing full absorption of nutrients and minerals. I don't know if that is what caused this or not but I've just recently started feeling more like crap when this ulcer came about and I started taking the PPI's. Should I start taking multivitamins and iron and B12? Also from what I understand vitamins and other pills can be rough on the stomach, do you think I should take them on top of this ulcer? I don't want to go back to the doctor because I have no inurance but if I have to I will. Another thing I have thought about is a hiatal hernia, I move a lot of heavy things at my work and about 4 months ago I really messed my chest up and had to go to the doc over it. I think I may have a hiatal but have never been tested for it. I'f I'm thinking correctly I thought I seen an article on the net saying hiatal hernias can cause anemia in some cases because some types of HH'S can compress the stomach causing it to put less acid out and you don't absorb all the nutrients that you eat. So if that is the case the PPI's on top of a HH can really be screwing me over.

ChristineVA · 09-11-2006, 08:50 AM

Before you start taking supplements, I think it's wise to go back to your doctor and ask for a CBC (complete blood count), otherwise you may doing stuff unnecessarily.

I have been on PPIs (Nexium and Prilosec) since 1998. I just had my B-12 checked last week and it's fine.

The B-12/PPI worry is just a "theory". Theoretically, this could happen but if you read the research that have very little proven cases if any at all. Even taking a daily dose of PPI, you are still getting stomach acid and with stomach acid you will get the B-12 absorption. There are some people who take MEGA doses of PPI and they would be of concern. Also, in 3 weeks time you are not going to deplete your B-12 stores.

There are many things, including anemia, that could cause your symptoms. I would go back to the doctor and explain it all and have him run some basic blood chemistries like a CBC, thyroid panel, kidney function, liver function, and B-12 and ferritin. Then you will have some answers.

I will tell you that I suffer from acid reflux and have many symptoms you describe. When it is acting up, it can make you feel REAL bad.
Christine

Pillbox · 09-11-2006, 08:58 AM

Thanks Christine, I guess I'll bite the bullet and go back for some bloodwork. At least then I can be assured what is going on