Anaemia

Former Member

Hi all,

I went to give blood yesterday but couldn't because I don't have enough haemoglobin (or enough red blood cells, whichever). I've never had that problem before, and the nurse said it was significantly below healthy levels so she has to send it off for tests.

Has this happened to anyone else before? Should I go to my GP or wait to hear from NBS?

Former Member

go to the GP, because they might be able to speed things up. never rely on the NHS getting back to you...

Former Member

im anaemic, i have been on and off since i was a teenager recently but im in my 20s now and im still struggling with it a bit. i get cheilosis (cracks at the side of your mouth that dont heal up ) and shortness of breath, im paaaale (although i have pale skin anyway) and bruise veeeeeeery easily.

if you go to the doctors about it im guessing all they will really say is to up your iron intake. they'll give you information on changing your diet to include more iron rich foods and probably advise you to take iron tablets too. you're meant to take one a day but im taking 2 at the moment, the side effects arent very nice! they'll probably send you for a blood test too :] taking iron tablets with a drink of orange juice helps too because apparently vitamin C helps the iron absorb.

Former Member

I'm anemic on and off similar to Fiery, I get shortness of breath and very very tired (sleeping for 10 hours a night and still tired in the day), also eating loads of paper and other non-food things which I found out recently is a symptom of anemia!

is iron deficiency the same as low red blood cells?

Former Member

Low red blood cells is usually a result of iron definiciency because your body uses iron to make red blood cells (that's a very simplistic summary but its the right jist).

The NBS have always been very good at getting back to me, but if it's a nightmare to get a useful appointment at your GP then it's probably worth trying to make one at your convenience.

Unless the levels are really worryingly low the first response is usually to give you some dietry advice on upping the iron in your diet (red meat and green leafy veg being the two main sources) and seeing how it goes from there. A one off low iron level is usually from having low iron in your diet in the preceeding time, repeated ones are where problems lie.