Q&A

Question:

Anaemia Symptoms – any anyone have the same?

Hi everyone –

I have had low haemoglobin for as long as I can remember, on and off. These have been my symptoms since December, and I am curious if anyone has had the same.

  • heart palpitations in December of 2023 (relieved of this after taking iron supplements)
  • starting in January, I started getting twitching in my legs, and since then have had sporadic body-wide muscle twitching almost everywhere but lots in my legs and butt cheeks and currently have a hotspot behind my knee that’s been on and off for the last 2 days like rapid fire muscle twitching (I had asked my Drs about this and they said it could cause muscle twitching – but I wanted to see if any other people have suffered with this?)
  • achy hands and legs
  • exhaustion
  • nails curving
  • a feeling of fluid build up in calves some days but no swelling of anything

My ferritin was at 4 when I got blood work done in late April, and my haemoglobin was at 108.

I’ve dealt with the regular low iron symptoms, but this muscle twitching is a new one for me. I am on Feramax 150 once daily. But I think it’s just keeping my levels the same instead of increasing them.

I appreciate any help you can provide.

Answer:

OMG, you sound just like me. I recently had blood work done, and my doctor suspects some anaemia, but they haven’t pinpointed which one yet. I’ve also had this crazy twitching in my calves and my stomach. I’m exhausted all the time with fatigue and shortness of breath. I’m hoping that it’s just my iron. I know they are checking my B12 and Ferritin levels as of today, and I’m waiting for the results to come back. I’m 53 and a female, so I’m worried about other things like myeloma and crazy crap like that. Yours is the first post I’ve come across that sounds identical. I’m almost happy to see you have anaemia, as I’m hoping that’s what my outcome is. Maybe with adjustments, we will both feel better.

Question:

Haemoglobin Normal But Weird Iron Levels Anyway?

I don’t know if this is a possibly stupid question, but people keep asking me if I’m anemic, and I’m unsure whether I should explore this further. I have been tested for CBC and hemoglobin levels multiple times, but I have never had my iron levels tested in my life. Several nursing and medical student friends are shocked that I have never had my iron tested despite being screened for anemia 3-4 times, which always included just CBC and hemoglobin tests but never anything else.

Still, when I talk to doctors, they insist that’s just how it is, and if your haemoglobin and CBC are fine, everything is fine. Has anyone ever had an experience where this isn’t true? Is it worth trying to get my iron ferritin or folate tested? I deal with severe anxiety, pushing doctors to do tests that I feel I need, and I nearly didn’t get a CRP test done that showed my levels are higher than normal because of it. Thanks in advance, you all.

Answer:

You can be iron deficient (low ferritin levels) without being anaemic (low haemoglobin). Your ferritin levels tend to deplete before your haemoglobin levels do. However, it is very common (and true in my own experience) to fully feel the symptoms of anaemia while “only” being in a state of iron deficiency.

It wasn’t until a good PCP referred me to a haematologist that I understood how wildly uninformed most PCPs are about anaemia. Healthy levels for most people exist well above the thresholds given for minimum values. Please advocate for yourself and insist on getting an iron panel and corresponding tests done (Vit D, B12, thyroid) if you feel symptomatic. I have undergone iron infusions on multiple occasions, and I cannot describe how life-changing they were for me.

If you are comfortable sharing your numbers here, we can help you further.

Question:

Is this anaemia?

I often have this issue at school, where even if I eat a lot for lunch, I get lightheaded during the afternoon classes, which are just right after lunch. Well, the problem only resolves if I drink some sugary drink, eat one chip or crumb or just something edible. Where my headache goes away, my stomach isn’t growling anymore, and I feel like I can stand again

on Fridays when there’s pe in the afternoon class, even if I eat a lot for lunch I would almost faint after the class. The only thing saving me from cracking my skull open was that I bring a sugary drink every time it’s PE class.

I think this also links to my family (?) and me because me and my brother sweat a lot, and we would get dehydrated very easily.

Also, I had a blood test around a year ago, and it showed I had very low haemoglobin levels. though my brother says it’s outdated

I think I have had low blood sugar since I was young(?). Because I remember there was this one time when I was in PE class. And the teacher told me to sit down because I was pale, my lips were almost blue, and my head hurt so bad I couldn’t even stand and needed to lean on a classmate for help.

I’m also really pale, and my hands and face are paler than most people, even though I rarely do skincare.

Answer:

It sounds like your symptoms are related to low blood sugar levels. Instead of sugary drinks and snacks, try eating a balanced meal with complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats. This will provide a slow and steady release of energy throughout the day. You may also benefit from increasing your water intake, especially during PE class days. Additionally, consider getting regular check-ups with your doctor to monitor your haemoglobin levels and overall health. Remember to listen to your body and take breaks when needed.