anemia symptoms

Nurses General Nursing

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I was just wondering about something. I just found out I am anemic, my MCV was low, my question is could this have been an on going problem? I mean does the blood cell become smaller when in advance anemia that has been going on for years?

I remember about 10 years ago one doctor said do you know you are borderline anemic? but he didn't explain it and I didn't pursue it as I figured if it was important he would of did more then just make the statement.

I was also wondering, can anemia really make you feel so bad? I feel aweful all the time that is why I went to my doctor about it and he did a complete blood and urine panel and every thing was okay except the mcv.

I feel like I am sick, like I have the flu, but no fever, all the time now, before it was feel bad for a few days recover repeat for months and months. I thought maybe I had a thyroid problem or immune system problem. but I just can't imagine why such a minor health problem can make you feel like crap.

any comments on this?

RR

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Here is an excerpt from http://www.anemia.com below.

Anemia can make it hard to find the energy to enjoy hobbies or other leisure activities, or even to complete basic tasks at home or at work. Particularly for a person with a serious disease, the fatigue, weakness and other symptoms associated with anemia can compound the challenges of coping with the serious disease.

Major symptoms of anemia include:

Extreme fatigue

Weakness

Shortness of breath

Confusion or loss of concentration

Dizziness or fainting

Pale skin, including decreased pinkness of the lips, gums, lining of the eyelids, nail beds and palms

Rapid heart beat (tachycardia)

Feeling cold

Sadness or depression

Click on the link below to read the rest.

http://www.anemia.com/overview/overviewsigns.html

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Hi Curious Joe: I don't know for sure what the MCV is about. What is your H&H and Ferritin? I found out I had severe iron deficiency from occult bleeding in my stomach. Felt the very same way you do. Fatigue, flu-like, depression. When these bleeders were cauterized I felt like a totally different person. Don't know the cause of your deficiency, but one thing you need is a good H&H and Ferritin level. My Ferritin level hovered around 15, normal is 270. My hg is up to 14.1 now from 6. But my Ferritin, indicator of iron deficiency, the amount your body stores iron is up to 31, but I will have to take iron supplements for a long time to get it up to normal. But with a great H&H, I feel great. Also with low Ferritin levels you can lose your hair.

Shame on your doctor. He should have explained what the low MCV level meant. I get my cbc monthly and my doc calls me with the results and tells me all about the values. Start asking questions.

Darn, I know how it feels. I went for about 2 years before I found out what was going on. Ask more questions! Only telling you you have a low MCV is not enough! Go on line also and see what you can find. Did he have any plans for treating it other than the usual iron pills? Find out what is causing it. Or go to a hematologist.

Good luck, because iron deficiency anemia is very debiliating.

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he asked me if I had heavy periods, which in fact I have for years, that is why I started on seasonale, when I say heavy I mean flooding periods, where you have to wear two overnight extra size pads at night because it would flood over in a matter of a couple of hours. I went to the gyn for a complete exam, he didn't find fibroids or anything out of the ordinary, he thinks it was hormonal, they did a complete panel, my reg doctor who told me about the mcv did a complete panel too and he said everything looked okay, he didn't mention ferritin or the other stuff.

I would go through 30 or more overnight pads during my cycles.

this would explain why all these years I seem to get gradually weaker, in fact it was so gradual I started to accept the fact I have lack of stamina and am more tired then my hubby who has always been healthier than a horse.

I thought it was my diet, changed that for the better more fruits less junk, a good quality vita supplement (without iron) and such. never guessed all my problems was anemia, I thought maybe thyroid, but that was okay, I also increased my exercise and at first I seem to get some energy afterwards but then I found I was getting sicker and sicker after each exercise bout to where the pauses between exercise was getting longer since I felt so bad.

I even did some jogging there for a few months. so I hope it is only because low iron and not some other condition, my doctor is a very good doctor he has been my physician now for 10 years or more and I go there for hypertension management, he had always been helpful when I tell him things he needs to know, and I can understand that even doctors sometimes forget to tell you eveyrthing you know being so distracted on explaining to me mcv and what that means and such he probably didn't think about telling me about the ferritin thingy.

RR

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The reason you may feel soo crummy and lethargic is because the blood cells that you are lacking when your anemic are also the blood cells that carry and supply oxygen though your body. Did your MD reccomend an iron supplement or suggest eating more iron rich foods...that may help depending on the type of anemia your having...MCV measures the size of your RBCS....perhaps they are too small and dont have the carrying capacity of "normal" sized RBCs...

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he wanted me to take iron supplementation.l and retest in six months, by the way can low mcv values mean you are closer to death than say having larger but fewer blood cells.

I was wondering because I have chest pains, I told my doctor about them and I have had complete exam on my heart and such, and it is fine, bp is controled very well. can anemia cause heart attacks or something?

oh yea how long before I start to feel better? does the body continual make red blood cells as others are destroyed? or is mostly a flush of new cells every so many days or weeks? and for compete recovery?

RR

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Specializes in IMCU/Telemetry.
he wanted me to take iron supplementation.l and retest in six months, by the way can low mcv values mean you are closer to death than say having larger but fewer blood cells.

I was wondering because I have chest pains, I told my doctor about them and I have had complete exam on my heart and such, and it is fine, bp is controled very well. can anemia cause heart attacks or something?

oh yea how long before I start to feel better? does the body continual make red blood cells as others are destroyed? or is mostly a flush of new cells every so many days or weeks? and for compete recovery?

RR

Yes, anemia/blood loss can cause a heart attack or angina. I have seen more then once a pt with a hg of 6 or less with chest pain and positive troponin. They got blood transfusions and were fine. Chest pain is the heart being starved of oxygen (normally from a clot), the lower your hg, the lower the oxygen carrying capacity of your blood. Ask your Dr what your hg is, if it is less then 10 (which is by itself low), I would be concerned.

You might also think about getting a 2nd opinion.

Good Luck. I hope you kick this.

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If you are having chest pains, you should go to your Doctor or get a second opinion. I was just a bit anemic for a while, and I had tachycardia with it, but I started iron supplements, and that seemed to work. From what I understand, anemia can become a big health problem if it goes on for too long. Take care of yourself.

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