I've been wondering for awhile If I've been anemic. Some of the signs fit and I'd really like to know for sure. Im sick of feeling sluggish all the time catching dizzy spells and never being able to fully concentrate.

Are their any ways to check without the help of a doctor? I dont have insurance right now and I cant afford to spend the money. Even if their isn't what Could I start doing to help myself just in case

There's no way without a blood test - a CBC or Complete Blood Count.

But if you want to feel better in the meantime, you could start taking a Vitamin B complex. It might help until you can get insurance.

We have B-12 would that work? We also have multi vitamins

hi theres any anemia test on ebay you could buy i think its roughly £20

You also might try iron supplements they are very good for anemia, if the symptoms don't improve after all of these things you have tried I would definetly see my doctor and have a blood test done.
Hope this helps!

If you are feeling unwell you need to go to the doctor, if you have anemia you need iron or B12 depending on what type of anemia, but you need to be monitered by a doctor as too much iron is dangerous. I am regularly low in both iron and b12. My hair started to fall out and cause thin patches and I went for blood tests and luckily it showed my iron was deficient, so try to get to the doctor. You dont want to start losing your hair.

I'm going to second what Cinderella said. If you feel you may be anemic, you really need to get checked, it is a serious disease, def. not something to mess around with. There is an auto immune anemia AIHA, that does not respond to iron or b12.

You can work out payment arrangements and/or have some or all of it written off.

Good Luck. :)

Are their any ways to check without the help of a doctor?
Yes. You can buy a Rapid Anemia Test. I know you can purchase them online but I'm not sure if they're sold in pharmacies yet. I think a test kit costs around $25. Even if you took the home test and it showed you were indeed anemic, you'd need to see a doctor to determine the type of anemia you have and the type of treatment you'll need. You can check in your area for clinics that base their fees on what you can afford to pay (sliding scale).

The symptoms of iron overload can mimic the symptoms of anemia so taking extra iron could actually worsen it if it's not anemia. Not only that, but the symptoms you describe could be something completely unrelated to anemia. Being sluggish, dizzy, lacking concentration - those are the symptoms of a whole host of illnesses.

Please please please please please do not purchase a home anemia test. Good grief, this is the perfect example where just because they can make it doesn't mean they should. There are nearly 100 different types of anemia and only some are related to iron deficency. Some have underlying causes even where just treating the anemia won't do anything. Hematology has got to be one of the most complicated areas of medicine, yet we continue to try to diagnose ourselves. As the previous writers said, get yourself to a doctor and find out what's wrong. It's likely nothing, but if there is something, the people on this board will provide you with great advice and comfort.
Les

Go and see a good nutritionist they can help you probably something is missing from your diet minerals or vitamins dont go and see the regular physicians they dont heal they just want to get red of the feeling with a pill

These home diagnostic kits are the same ones prescribed by doctors. I have one for anemia. My mother has one for diabetes. The home test kits are great tools but as always, they're meant to be used as an adjunct to medical care.