I'm in a bit of a pickle..

I don't know whether I should be concerned or not. I've been feeling crap for ages, and this last week I've been feeling crapper than normal. Dizzy spells worsening and now I'm having chest pains, but maybe that's just indigestion. I don't know. I also sometimes feel like I don't have enough air, and have to take big, deep breaths to compensate. The pain goes after I rest for awhile. They've noticed at work that I've slowed down and sometimes my chest hurts so much I think I should take myself off to the hospital...

BUT..

My haemoglobin isn't THAT low, it's 11.2 last count and I've upped my iron and been eating lots of red meat, so it's probably improved since then. And my ferritin has improved from 2 to 16. And it could be anxiety, I've been known to have the odd anxious moment. I just don't want to go to hospital and be told I'm being a hypochondriac. Especially since I'm gonna be working with these people at some stage because I'm now a student nurse (1st year, that's why I don't know much about these things yet).

I've made an appointment with the doctor, but can't get in for a few weeks. Do I go and possibly make a fool of myself and lose their respect before I've even started? Or do I just sit tight and wait for my doctors appointment? :confused:

When I went to the doc with palps the first thing they ask me is "Do you have chest pain?" I've never experienced this with any panic, only breathing thightness in my chest area and weakness. If there is pain it most definitely needs to be evaluated by a doc. Only you can make the call of going to the ER sooner. A simple EKG and ECHO is called for when symptoms of pain persist. I wouldn't worry about what people think because it's your life and that doesn't compare. Indigestion on the other hand does give me small pains behind the breastbone area and later I will burp. I had this at the same time as palps and it did scare me at first. When my Hgb was around 11-12 I still had symptoms. Last time checked you were anemic too. If you do decide to go I promise they will not feel like you are a fool, it's their job and I'm sure they take it seriously too. Good luck to you. Keep us posted. FLFLOWERGIRL:)

MissPos,
I have hemolytic anemia, and I can tell you that when my hemoglobin goes down to 11, they don't mess around, they treat me. You're not a hypochondriac, and if your dr makes you feel that way, you need a new dr! 11.2 hemoglobin can give you chest pains - your heart is having ot pump harder to get the oxygen it needs.

Have they checked your B12 levels? Once I started getting B12 shots, the chest pains went away.

Get it checked out. You have a real problem, and you shouldn't feel bad for trying to get it corrected.

Jill