My dad took me to have a blood test, (as he is heamophilic, and i complained of heavy periods.) The hospital told me i was anemic and referred me to my doctor. My GP told me to take 3 iron tablets a day. They're called Ferrous Sulphate but i have been reluctant to take 3, and have started taking one a day because i think that seems rather alot, especially as i don't yet know HOW anemic i am. I need to have a few more tests and a gyno appointment (much to my protesting!!) But anyway, it's a relief that i've found i'm anemic because i've always been concerned about my moods. I think i suffer from depression and i always feel so anxious and sick. Recently the anxiety has gotten very bad. I attend university and i find it hard to sit in lectures because i get so panicky for no reason, which in turn makes me feel sick. I also think the tablets are making me feel ill too, and i have experienced a loss of appetite since taking them too. I know this is definitly not the worst problem to have in the world, but feeling sick/rundown/headachy/tired and anxious has been a part of my whole life, and i am beginning to get fed up of the whole thing. I feel i can't do certain things because i feel faint and claustrophobic when put in certain situations, such as a club, venue or even classroom! I just want to feel awake, happy and normal for more than only short periods of time!! Does anyone else feel like this? I feel like i'm the only one...

Hey :wave: Jetblacknewyear, I just had to responed to your post. I too found out I was anemic 2 years ago because of heavy periods. I had headaches, my heart would race with very little exertion, and sometimes, it different happen often or I would have gone to the doctors alot sooner, when I would get up form a sitting postion my head felt like it had a ton of pressure on it, it only lasted a couple of seconds but it should didn't feel good. Anyway I finally wnet to the doctors, had blood work done and found out I was anemic. I was told to take 2 iron tablets daily and no sooner did I start them I could feel a difference in the way I felt. I couln't believe all I needed was these 2 little pills! Well it's been 2 years and I still have to take the iron tablets daily because my periods are still heavy. I don't want to take birth control pills to lessen the bleeding seeing that I'm 43 and don't want to be taking the pill because they have there own risks to them. So I continue to take th iron pills and I feel pretty good but my iron levels are always around 40, which is on the low side. I think the total iron levels are 35-150. So you see I'm just making it in the iron levels but it's enough that my blood levels always come out normal. Anyway I really wanted to let you know that I to in that time period started to get very anxious for no reason at all. I would start feeling anxious driving in traffic or when I went out to eat. This went on for about 1 1/2 years until I finally couldn't take feeling like that anymore. My doctor put me on Zoloft and now I feel like my old self again! I don't feel anxious anymore! Anyway that's my long story and everyone is different, just keep going to your follow up apps with your doctors and take care,

Patty :angel:

Hi there jetblack,
I read your post and felt like id written it about myself. Wow, someone with all the same symptoms as me.
I couldnt tolerate iron tablets and have ended up having a course of iron infusions.
I too suffer with terrible anxiety which my gp has always said is related to my anemia.
My periods are extremely heavy and my gynea has scheduled me to have an endometrial ablation (where they remove the lining of the womb) in hope to stop my periods and get my anemia under control.
I truly sympathise with you and know EXACTLY what your going through, i was unlucky in that i was undiagnoised anemic for a lot of years and my body cant tolerate oral iron - hence the infusions.
Do try with the iron tablets though they will help in the long run.
Lots of love and best wishes to you and please post back if you want to chat or for any advice.
Linds :wave:

Thanks guys for your response. It is good to know there are other people out there who are going through the same thing. I am continuing to take one tablet each night, with food, and have experienced the constipation and sickness that i've been told i would get, but i'm gonna carry on taking the medication and hopefully they will fade...