I am new to these boards. I found out about five weeks ago that I have iron-deficiency anemia. I think I've been anemic for at least a year. I have definitely been symptomatic (fatigue, weakness, headaches, lack of endurance, pale gums and finger nails, tingling in hands and feet, etc.) but I attributed the symptoms to other things (a career change, turning 40, etc.). I was referred to a gynecologist to investigate why I'm anemic and we discovered that I have a "complex" cyst on my left ovary. I am looking at having an endometrial ablation in December to deal with the heavy bleeding I now get with my cycle and if the cyst hasn't gone away, that will come out then too.

Right now, I feel sad :( and frustrated :bouncing: . When I tell people (family, friends, etc.) that I'm anemic, they just brush it off with "oh, you just have to take iron for that." At that point, I feel so dismissed and hurt, that I don't even bother to tell them there is more to it. Has anyone had similar reactions from people? How have you dealth with it?

I am new to these boards. I found out about five weeks ago that I have iron-deficiency anemia. I think I've been anemic for at least a year. I have definitely been symptomatic (fatigue, weakness, headaches, lack of endurance, pale gums and finger nails, tingling in hands and feet, etc.) but I attributed the symptoms to other things (a career change, turning 40, etc.). I was referred to a gynecologist to investigate why I'm anemic and we discovered that I have a "complex" cyst on my left ovary. I am looking at having an endometrial ablation in December to deal with the heavy bleeding I now get with my cycle and if the cyst hasn't gone away, that will come out then too.

Right now, I feel sad :( and frustrated :bouncing: . When I tell people (family, friends, etc.) that I'm anemic, they just brush it off with "oh, you just have to take iron for that." At that point, I feel so dismissed and hurt, that I don't even bother to tell them there is more to it. Has anyone had similar reactions from people? How have you dealth with it?
First of all it is true, that with anemia you do just have to take iron for it. I am going to give them credit for being relieved that it is not a diagnosis of incurable cancer.
Secondly, although anemia is uncomfortable, it is very treatable and likely the feelings of being dismissed are coming from some of the distortion of emotions that are caused by the anemia.
The only reason I can say this with certainty is that I have anemia and I am being treated for it. I sometimes feel sorry for my self because I feel so tired,. It really aggravates me for my numbers to go almost to normal but my fatigue level lags behind. It feels as though I can not prove that I don't feel well when there are no numbers that are off the charts to validate my feelings.
Remember, that there are people all over the world with hidden illnesses that are not validated by the way a person looks or acts, but have to be seriously treated and controlled. When the gynecological problem is addressed you will feel better, I can promise that. I have been there before too.

I disagree that it can always be treated. I've had anemia for as long as I can remember (am 45 now). During pregnancies it became very severe. I've taken many different forms of iron (pills, liquid, shots) and have strictly done everything the doctors suggest but my body just does not assimilate iron. No known cause but definately debilitating at times.

That does seem unusual that you could not get treated. However, there are iron infusions given by intravenous means that is effective for the short term. Even if it has to be repeated, it does improve the feelings of fatigue. Sometimes there is no cure though.

My doctor has never mentioned IV infusion. hmm. Is it generally covered by insurance? Is it an expensive treatment? How long between treatments. I have been led to believe by multiple doctors that my body would just not accept iron other than through foods.

Most people I know don't know a lot about anemia or the side effects/symptoms of it all. I've been anemic for a few years - I've had all the tests done and they can't find a cause for my anemia either. My friends and family didn't seem to take too much notice (other than when I would go in to have another GI test done), but they finally realized that this was a little more than just taking iron pills when I finally saw a hematalogist and started IV iron. For whatever reason it seems just the fact that the iron is given through IV instead of supplements makes the whole situation seem more "serious" to them. In fact it isn't any more serious than it was before, it's just that I don't absorb the iron supplements so the IV's work better for me. They'll get my levels up for awhile and then when they start to go back down again I go in for another round of IVs.

You should talk with your doc about the IV option. If you read some of the other posts here you'll see that some people have had reactions to the IV iron. Personally I've never had a problem with them, but everyone's different so who knows. Good luck!

My IV infusion was in an outpatient hospital setting. I was on the oncology floor for 12 hours. The entire bill was $2500. My insurance paid all but $500.00. The infusion was about a 9 hour process for me because the side effects initially gave me chest pain. I was very deficient in iron and had been for a long time. I was so weak that when I got to the hospital, they thought I was a cancer patient and I was treated so gently and tenderly. I think the kindness and consideration of the nurses helped me almost as much as the iron. After I received the infusion, I did not feel any stronger for about 2 weeks and I ran a fever for about one week. I had to stay out of work the entire week of the infusion, which was just as well because I was at the lowest point I had been and was not going to be able to hold out much longer. Looking back on it, I am amazed I didn't have a wreck or pass out more often from the lack of oxygen. Fortunately it has never been that bad again, however, there are now times when I sleep an entire weekend from fatigue when my iron starts to drop.

Have you Dr. check you for Low B12. If you have low b12 or pernicious anemia you will probably always have low iron. Low B12 can cause your red cells not to properly mature and so they do not process iron well either. Low b12 is (Pernicious Anemia)

Can they give iron Transfusions to pregnant women? I need Iron badly for when I give birth cause of C-section that will be performed. I don't want a repeat of last time and anything that will help me recover/not have as many complications is a good thing.

Hello everybody,

I can very well understand that many of you think that other´s don´t take your anemia seriously. I am in the same situation. I am in my second year of College now and very often I have a kind of "my-heart-is-too-tired-feeling", meaning, I try to study, but i just cannot pay any attention to the lecture because I get sleepy (I am not bored, but I get tired easily when I have to listen to a person for a long time) and when I e.g. try to read a text, I read through it, but I cannot remember anything, that really sucks. But the worst thing of all are my parents, who do not take my anemia seriously, for them, it is just a result of a bad eating-habit, not an illness (i eat vegetables and things, but it doesn´t help). Whenever I talk to my parents and mention something about being to tired for studysing, the say things like "you are just too lazy" or "many people are very ill and still graduate from College with good grades" or "We pay for your College and we want a good result, otherwise you can leave College or pay it yourself"......
I really do not know what to do, I have to find a way to keep myself and especially my brain awake (Does anybody of you know this situation when you have the feeling, that you do not remember anything you are trying to learn?). Currently I am trying to dink lots of coke and coffee, I know that this is not the best thing to do, as it can make anemia worse, but I do not know anything else to do, because i HAVE to study and pass my exams.
Does anybody have an idea what else can help to keep me awake? i do not want to go on with drininkg so much coffeine everyday.
i would be happy about any idea.

With regards, Jenny

Hi all,
New to the site and thrilled to find you! Quick question to Marimac...do you remember what your iron was down to when you were so short of breath? I called my ob/gyn asking if the incredible amount of blood loss could be causing my shortness of breath. Her nurse said "what would shortness of breath have to do with anemia?" I've now switched docs!
Thanks!

Hi everyone i'm Lizzy. Ive been aneamic since i was a baby, i am now 21 and still aneamic, i found out i was very aneamic when i was 18 and was trying to give blood, i'm still trying...they told me i may never give blood...! :confused:
i am a student and i'm trying to eat well, im on prescribed ferrous sulphate 200g, i have to have four a day for a minimum of 6months, so i'll be on them a long time....i have had to stop taking them though as they are giving me awful stomach pains everytime i take them, i cant concentrate, they make me feel even worse and i constantly feel like i need the loo. i need something else but am worried about talking to the doctor about it as they dont know ive stopped taking them, i can feel myself getting worse, and i'm starting to faint again...i know i have to go to the doctors but can anyone give me some advice about what i should ask for instead of iron tablets[fs]?
thanks
lizzy

yeah I hate when people try to shut you up by acting like anemia is nothing. they have not experienced it and can't relate.its easy for them to say take iron, but what about those of us who do not tolerate it well. i also heard you can get a heart attack from an iron infusion.

I know exactly how you feel..I have been anemic since 1985, but no one ever attempted to find out what was causing the anemia...Now, 20 years later, I finally find out that I have pernicious anemia...NO ONE took it seriously recently until you could no longer see the whites of my eyes from the jaundice, and I couldn't get out of bed without hyperventilating from lack of oxygen...I am recovering now, but I still don't look WELL...I lost 35 pounds, and I am still losing...So when most people see me, they immediately ask what is wrong...(because of the weight loss)...and when I tell them Anemia, it is almost as if they don't believe me...Most people do not know how serious anemia can become if not monitored and taken care of...I am finally progressing enough that I don't have to have b12 every week...Once a month now...But I noticed this morning while making the bed, that I was breathing hard...

I agree that anemia isn't always cureable. I was diagnossed w/anemia during my first pregnancy. The doctors associated it with that. Many years later, after taking slow fe, stool tests, b-12 shots, my doctor finally discovered the underlaying problem. I appartently have some blood disorder that I was born with. My blood cells are abnormally small in size and the iron, calcium or whatever else, will not store in my system. My highest count was once in the 9 area. I always live in 6's or 7's. They suggest I get a tranfussion, but I won't. The dizziness and fatigue I am finally used to it.

Hi all,
New to the site and thrilled to find you! Quick question to Marimac...do you remember what your iron was down to when you were so short of breath? I called my ob/gyn asking if the incredible amount of blood loss could be causing my shortness of breath. Her nurse said "what would shortness of breath have to do with anemia?" I've now switched docs!
Thanks!
Hello, I am so sorry it took so long to find your post. Unfortunately, professionals sometimes answer off the top of their heads and do not thoroughly think through the answer but that is a result of too much information and not enough time to process. But, yes, anemia does cause shortness of breath and severe anemia can cause irregular heart beat that mimics a valve problem. When I was diagnosed with anemia, they did an entire cardiac work up from carrying the heart monitor for 24 hours to nuclear heart scanning. They wanted to make sure I had not suffered any heart damage because my anemia went so long with out being addressed.

i have anemai and i am getting the infusions
the pills and diet didnt help
my dr didnt worry it thought
but i landed up in the hospital in Jan for a blood clot in my lungs and the drs there said i needed to fix it cause if i ever needed surgery, i would need a transfusion first
so maybe see a blood dr and get the right kind of help
sandi