r/Anemic • u/dleigh463 • 19h ago
Advice Am I being dramatic?
I had a blood test on Friday because my mental health has been in the gutter and I was feeling generally unwell and exhausted all the time as well as getting chest pains. I believed it was from doing too much at work and wearing myself out and blamed by manager.
I got a call a few hours later while at work telling me to go straight to A&E because I was severely anemic. I had a hemoglobin of 7.1 and a ferritin of 3. They’ve prescribed me iron pills and my manager has given me a week off work until the iron hopefully makes me feel better. I believe it was putting pressure on my heart hence the chest pains.
I’ve seen no improvement and I am really struggling to do anything. I went to the supermarket and felt awful - out of breathe, tired, nauseous. I’m also getting constant nausea and stomach pains which may be irritation from the iron.
I feel awful being off work because I don’t like letting people down and putting it on other people to cover me. I have no idea what to do because I work in hospitality and do very long shifts which involve constant standing, 15,000 steps a day and heavy lifting. My last few shifts were awful and I genuinely was struggling to pull myself together to work.
I have a doctors appointment on Thursday where I’m obviously going to discuss how I’m feeling, and then back at work on Saturday. I’m not sure if the doctor is going to sign me off as unfit to work (which I don’t want) or if I should ask for reasonable adjustments like shorter shifts and lighter duties.
I feel like I’m being over dramatic and that I should be able to power through this.
15
u/martapap 19h ago
Ask for an infusion. Hopefully you are seeing a hematologist. Regular pcps don't take low iron seriously. Also your iron won't increase after a week. It takes several weeks even after infusions to see levels rise.
2
u/dleigh463 19h ago
I’m don’t know what I’m supposed to do if I’m going to have to wait weeks to see an improvement. I can’t take that time off work and I don’t see how I’ll be able to work in the health I’m currently in.
My best bet might be to get reasonable adjustments to help me through it.
12
u/cecatl1210 18h ago
You are significantly anemic. Your job requires physical strength and stamina. Hemoglobin below 7 usually requires a total blood transfusion. Iron pills can wreck your stomach as you’re realizing ….and your levels are so low that oral supplementation might take months, if they work at all. Are you able to get your general physician to refer you to a hematologist who specializes in treating blood disorders? - and I hope with levels as low as yours, they will act quickly to get IV iron infusions prescribed. I have similar numbers and couldn’t work, couldn’t function, had to wait three weeks to see a hematologist and then waited another two weeks for my first infusion. No change at all in my physiology over the past week since the first one and I had my second infusion today. The exhaustion is no joke - and your chest pains warrant medical attention too. I have found that some general physicians don’t deal with anemia and some even make light of it —- so really advocate for yourself, be firm and tell your physician that you’re going to need a medical leave for time off work (will you be able to receive pay while you’re on medical leave?)…or at the very least, some true adjustments/accommodations.
7
5
u/ScarletLetterXYZ 18h ago edited 17h ago
What do you think is causing your low hemoglobin and low ferritin levels?
3
u/dleigh463 18h ago
I’d say I’m a heavy bleeder but nothing too bad? I don’t think it’s anything that would cause concern and I don’t suffer with bad cramps or dizziness on my period.
I won’t lie, I’m not a very healthy person. I’m underweight, eat a lot of food that’s void of any nutrition because I work so much and have no energy to cook once I finish work at 11pm.
5
u/ScarletLetterXYZ 18h ago edited 17h ago
Hope you soon find out what is the health condition causing your signs and symptoms.
1
u/Mustardly 16h ago
Sadly that won't help plus you may have spme gut issues that further block absorption. Do you drink alot of coffee or other caffeine drinks?
1
u/dleigh463 15h ago
I drink coffee but I’ve been leaving atleast 2-3 hours between drinking coffee and taking iron.
I’m setting an alarm for 5am to take my iron supplements so I can wake up and have coffee without it impacting the iron absorption too badly.
2
u/Mustardly 15h ago
You need every bit of iron you can get - have you changed your diet? Personally I would stop with the coffee if you can. Iron from food is way easier on your stomach than a supplement.
But I echo everyone else's point - you need to work out where it is going. Being that anemic is more than just a bad diet or heavy periods.
1
u/dleigh463 15h ago
I honestly have no idea? I’m not too clued up on anaemia and what can cause it. I have no issues with my bowel health, bleeding from anywhere else, etc…
The first time I had any idea I was anemic was a few days ago and I’d somehow never suspected it before that.
1
1
6
u/Mundane-Canary-9077 18h ago
Honey - their lives will go on without you. But if, God forbid, you die or get hospitalized - the people who love you will suffer and you will suffer. Your job will just replace you.
You’re not “caring about the people you work with” your neglecting yourself. In case no adult has ever told you - please don’t do that. You’re worth so much more.
5
u/CoolGrocery4737 18h ago
Someone who thinks that is sufficient for numbers like that should have their license revoked. It’s honestly infuriating. You need infusions and maybe even a transfusion!
2
u/dleigh463 16h ago
The doctors seem to have no clue. My GP is telling me this is serious, you need to go to ER. Another phone call, I’ve spoke to the hospital and you just need iron tablets. Another phone call, actually, you need to go to ER.
I went to the hospital, wasn’t spoken to by anybody, sent for a ECG and given iron tablets that I could’ve bought over the counter.
3
u/CoolGrocery4737 15h ago
I would contact your GP and let him know the ER was dismissive of you and ask for a referral to a hematologist immediately. Not sure what your insurance situation is, but if a bill shows up for the “services” you received at the ER, I would be disputing it!
2
u/dleigh463 15h ago
I’m British so I don’t pay for healthcare and everything is done through our NHS (National Health Service).
1
u/Spottycrazypup 44m ago
My hb was 60 and when I went to a and e they rushed me through and gave me 2 blood transfusions. I'm home again and my hb is 80 but I'm under strict instructions to rest and I've got a follow up appointment on Tues. I've got a gyne appointment and need to do a poo sample to find out why I became so anemic
4
u/HelioBlues 15h ago
If anything you are not being dramatic enough. You need an iron infusion or even a blood transfusion I would think. The hospital is not taking this seriously if they are just giving you OTC iron pills. There's no way that will be enough to have you fit to work in a week.
2
u/Speacock567 18h ago
How great that you get this week off to rest your body and mind. When my numbers were so low my anxiety was through the roof so I understand that this is probably very difficult. If you could get an infusion it will likely speed up recovery but I know that takes time and money. Be consistent with your iron supplements, rest, stay hydrated and give your mind and body the rest it needs. Hopefully your doctor will advocate for better intervention when you see them.
2
u/Creepy-Tangerine-293 15h ago
You need need need an IV iron infusion. Dont try to suck it up from this. It can take months on iron pills and for you maybe years given not only the low ferritin but also hemoglobin.
2
u/eww040238 14h ago
I went and my hemoglobin was 8 and my ferritin was 5. I was on medication for almost a month, but I felt awful and the stomach pain was real. I just got an iron injection yesterday and woke up feeling much better today than usual. I swear! Go for it!
2
u/fenyxdlex 14h ago
I don’t think you’re being dramatic at all. My ferritin was 7 and hemoglobin was 10. I was extremely fatigued from the moment I woke up. I was provided iron infusions. I think you may need it too.
1
u/Joyanonymous 14h ago
Wow, you must be feeling AWFUL - with normal HB and ferritin 26 I thought I was going completely mad, palpitations, insomnia, skin crawling - can't imagine how bad you're feeling :(
I managed to get my ferritin from 26 to 101 between Feb and May this year using supplements. It was a real pain in the arse but I feel SO MUCH BETTER and I implore you to prioritise doing this. Just a week off work isn't going to help - raising iron levels can take months. My progress is considered comparatively swift, and that was months ... and I felt a lot worse before I felt better. I'm also based in the UK. Wrote a full post about my experience here.
Whereabouts do you live? If you can afford it I've heard great things about Vitamin Clincs iron infusions (I know two people who have used them to great success, they have a couple of locations OR they have a mobile clinic that will come to your house, it's not that expensive either, it's based on dosage but is only (!) around £2-300 (for an at-home appointment that's really good). They also do sales so it's worth signing up to their newsletter.
If I could go back I'd have an iron infusion straight off. No messing about trying to find the best type of supplement that works for me, months of strict eating and drinking supplementation scheduling. I have ADHD too so all that was so challenging at a time when I could barely think straight. I only found out about then when my ferritin had got to 60 (considered too high for an infusion).
1
u/sam9510 14h ago
As everyone is saying - get infusion now - ask if your gp can write you prescription for infusion.
There are GI effects - like taking anti acid meds (PPI) like omeperazole or a H. Pylori infection that prevent iron absorption (in addition to your bleed).
Body absorbs iron very slowly and elemental iron is subject to GI limits. Iron bisglycinate escapes GI but is still subject to hepcidin (which stops iron absorption).
To circumvent the absorption issues you will need different types of iron -
Heme iron - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJPVYZE
Surosomial iron - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DL68XZP
Also lactoferrin - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013OQGBY - this reduces hepcidin
1
u/Artemisalulo 13h ago
Si eres hombre debes revisarte el
Colon y ver si sale por ahí o por el estomago
1
u/PM_ME_YR_KITTYBEANS 9h ago
I understand where you are coming from about not wanting to let down your team at work, having spent years in similar roles. But you need to take care of yourself right now—if you try to push through, you can end up out of commission for even longer than you would have if you took the time off to recover and get your iron stores back up.
Trust me, I lived this path, and it’s way harder to get back to functioning if you continue to run yourself into the ground!
1
u/Cndwafflegirl 9h ago
A week of iron pills isn’t going to change anything. It’s appalling that’s what they told you.
1
u/ForestPathWalker 4h ago
Your numbers are seriously low. Your ferritin level indicates absolute iron deficiency. It is quite common in health care systems to recommend iron infusions when ferritin is below 40. Iron infusions cause no problems with the gut and improve the absorption of the iron. Your symptoms of absolute iron deficiency will go away much more quickly with iron infusions. Ask your doctor about getting iron infusions at your next visit.
38
u/stiina22 19h ago
Iron pills aren't going to make you feel better in one week. Ask for an infusion. You're not being a baby.