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Posted 3/4/2014 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
So I've been getting rather dizzy when getting up. My vision goes black to a pinpoint on occasion. I was anemic at the end of January (hemoglobin 9.8 when 11.5-15.5 is normal). Other values were off too. So at this point I figured I should go to the doctor.

The doc comes in (my primary) and starts asking me questions. Then I get the sit down blood pressure, prone bp, sit bp, stand bp. All the time telling me to let him know if I get dizzy (the answer is always). Tells me I'm just under the qualifications of orthostatic hypotension. I'm like, are you going to send me to the ER? He paused quite a bit and said no.

Then he takes my pulse. Tells me that it's just under tachycardic (98). Then he goes and gets the pulse ox monitor and that's fine. He has me walk down two small hallways and my heart rate spikes to 120 just walking. He looked he was worried I was going to fall over at any time!

Anyway, he told me that I didn't have to go to the ER yet but if anything comes back off more than it already was that I would need to go in. I'm sure I'll be going in sometime soon. Final verdict was blood volume loss due to either anemia or dehydration. I honestly didn't think I was that bad until he started pulling out all the tests.

Anyway, after that I went shopping at the bookstore and got some coffee. Moral of the story, I'm an idiot.
Posted 3/5/2014 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
I have chronic anemia. It's the only thing that hasn't resolved my j pouch surgery. I'm really bad about keeping on top of it. I have to go for iron infusions since that's the only thing that helps me. Right now I'm walking around dragging my butt because I know my numbers have dropped. I'm just in no mood to go sit once a week right now for an iron infusion. Too much to do! But I know I need to get to my doc. I'm dreading finding out what my levels are.

Hope you get yours resolved.
Posted 3/5/2014 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
take lactoferrin and as you know, water water water. Take care of yourself . Hope you improve soon, I hate dizziness!
Posted 3/5/2014 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Ugh, even with the jpouch! Booo!

Mine is still low for predictable reasons. Up until recently I was on TPN so I didn't worry about vitamins/etc. Guess I need to start worrying more now! I'll probably ask for an iron script for awhile if I don't get sent to the ER.
Posted 3/5/2014 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
Found out I had iron-deficient anemia in my last blood test. I was like ah so that's why I'm always exhausted. And possibly why my hair is falling out. My doctor told me to take 1 iron pill twice a day. That's 90mg lol. Normal is like 10mg per day. I've been trying to keep up on it. Been taking them for a couple weeks now and today is the first day that I haven't had to take a nap. Got up at 8 this morning without an alarm and I've been up ever since.
Posted 3/5/2014 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
When I got diagnosed with Anemia from all my bleeding out my butt... i was told to take an iron pill.
My bleeding stopped for 4 weeks and my levels all went back. So I never took the pill (got enough pills to take!!)
But now the bleeding is back and the dizziness is coming back.
Bleh... should probably take an iron pill... boo.
Posted 3/5/2014 9:23 AM (GMT 0)
Are you on any iron supplements?
Posted 3/5/2014 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
If your anemia is really bad they could give you iron infusions as well. After many blood tests showing I was iron deficient and anemic and complaining to my doctor of constantly being tired, he decided I should receive iron infusions (called venofer). I had this done a couple of months ago and it did improve my iron in lab tests and overall gave me much more energy. You have to get a certain amount of infusions every other day or twice a week, so it's a bit of a pain in the butt. But if it will help why not?
Posted 3/5/2014 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Up until a month ago, I was on TPN, or liquid nutrition through an IV. So my vitamins/minerals were covered. I had surgery at the end of January and was a bit anemic even before then. Then when I was discharged I was even more anemic. Now I'm even more anemic than that! So I was on iron but not anymore, haha.

I have had an iron infusion before (hospitalization after my first flare). I've also been on iron supplements before (script and non-script) but I need to reintroduce them! My results will determine what they will do with me I'm guessing.
Posted 3/5/2014 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
A somewhat random question: If your CBC results come back normal, can you still be anemic? I've had most of the symptoms of anemia for some time now (and have historically had a below-normal hemoglobin count) but I had my bloodwork run just about two weeks ago and my GI said everything was normal (this included CBC, CMP and sed rate).
Posted 3/5/2014 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Well, there is the theory that your reserve iron levels (ferritin) can impact your feelings of well being in a similar way to actual anemia. Iron would be used to build red blood cells. It's not supposed to, but they have done studies that have noted the impact of low ferritin levels on athletic performance.

Many of the symptoms of anemia are similar to the symptoms of dehydration.
Posted 3/5/2014 9:36 PM (GMT 0)

vitaka said...
A somewhat random question: If your CBC results come back normal, can you still be anemic? I've had most of the symptoms of anemia for some time now (and have historically had a below-normal hemoglobin count) but I had my bloodwork run just about two weeks ago and my GI said everything was normal (this included CBC, CMP and sed rate).

You can have a normal hemaglobin number but have low ferritin levels. If your iron stores are low, you can still feel tired and lethargic even though your hemaglobin number is in normal range. It's when your ferritin levels hit rock bottom that your hemaglobin starts to drop. I see a hematologist who typically will look at the whole picture of your blood work more so than your regular GP or GI.
Posted 3/5/2014 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
Oh thanks ByeBye. I had read some random things on the internet but I'm glad to hear what the doctor has told you.
Posted 3/5/2014 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
A fun fact about ferritin though is that sometimes in the presence of active inflammation (anywhere in the body) it will be sky high. Science!
Posted 3/5/2014 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Great...
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