“But didn’t you notice how tired you were all the time?”
This was the silly question my doctor asked me, when I was diagnosed with low iron levels – anaemia – several years ago.
At the time, I had a two small children; of course I was tired! But I just thought it went with the territory.
I’d always had heavy and painful periods – something that all the women in my family seem to suffer from – so didn’t realise that this wasn’t “normal”.
I’m not a medical professional, so I can only share my personal experience of what it feels like to be living with low iron levels.
When I was initially diagnosed, I had such low iron levels that there was some talk of blood transfusions. Instead I was given needles in my butt; it’s such a long time ago I can’t remember if they were injections of iron or Vitamin B12. However I *do* remember the doctor warning me that it would leave a stain on my skin, which could take a long time to disappear.
She wasn’t kidding! Only a few months ago, I went for a massage and my therapist was alarmed by the bruising on one of my cheeks (the other has disappeared) – and believe me it’s faded a LOT over the years. The hubster used to joke that I had two black eyes on my rear 😉 .
I also took iron supplements, although from what I’ve read, the jury seems to be out on whether they are actually effective or not.
Years later, at another doctor, I mentioned my concerns about my low iron levels and the injections I’d had in the past. The doctor checked inside my lower eyelids, and proclaimed I was “fine” as they weren’t pale – a verdict I naively accepted, when I *should* have insisted on blood tests.
Signs I was Living with Low Iron Levels
So I continued to live my life in a state of perpetual exhaustion. In fact, in the album I was given for my 40th birthday, one of my best friends wrote about my “endearing habit of falling asleep anywhere, anytime”.
There were other signs – I sometimes felt dizzy and found it hard to concentrate. Then there was the fact that I really felt the cold, particularly in my hands and feet, and came down with whatever bug was going around. I experienced a form of pica, where I had strange urges to chew on gravel (not that I ever did!); and suffered from restless legs at night. But all of this just seemed “normal” to me.
The turning point was when I visited a cardiologist in 2011. With a family history of heart disease, and a grandmother who died at 45, I wanted to be checked out thoroughly before I reached that age myself! My cardiologist picked up on my anaemia from the CT coronary angiogram and ultrasound I had done – the wear and tear on my heart indicated that I had been anaemic for a long time. Upon learning of my heavy periods, he recommended I see a gynaecologist, and within months I’d had a hysterectomy.
No More Anaemia for Me!
Has having a hysterectomy solved my problems with anaemia?
To be honest, I haven’t had a blood test to check my iron levels so I can’t say for sure. I still like a nanna nap on the weekend; and need much more sleep than the hubster. But I *do* feel I have more energy and seem to get sick a lot less (which is just as well, now I run my own business!). I also don’t feel the cold anymore, or crave gravel (!), so I suspect I’m no longer anaemic.
If you suspect you might be living with low iron levels, please consult your medical professional for diagnosis and treatment.
Linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT; and with thanks to The Fifo Wife, and Peachy Keen Mumma for inspiring me to share my experiences.
That must have been very frightening to learn of the damage it has done to your heart??
My youngest gets low iron and I myself for the first time in my life have been getting low lately so this was a great read – thank you.
I think I should get a blood test because I have been soo tired lately. I’ve been blaming the cool weather, but maybe there could be more at play? I’m glad you no longer feel like eating gravel and that the hysterectomy helped.
Hi Bec, it’s definitely worth getting checked out … it’s horrible to feel lethargic all the time. I really feel like I missed out on a lot, I never had enough energy to do fun things on the weekend when my kids were primary school age. I remember taking them to the pool one Sunday arvo instead of having a nanna nap, and feeling sad that we didn’t do it more often – but I knew it was my fault and that I just didn’t have the energy. 🙁
Mine was because I actually had Coeliac Disease which wasn’t picked up! Finally a doc who understood and sent me to a Gastroenterologist and yep….had probably had it since I was young. I was not able to take in any vitamins at all, so no wonder I was always exhausted and sick.
Thank goodness it’s been picked up now – I’ll bet you’ve noticed a HUGE difference!
The inside of my lids are pale but my iron levels always check out okay. However… I was an undiagnosed coeliac for ages so I guess that had something to do with my iron levels.
My periods are problematic and are heavy and painful. I had endometriosis years ago and had surgery but know it returns. I figure I’ve been perimenopausal for a while now and I can’t afford (financially) to have the surgery again so I’ll hang in there until they disappear this time around.
I’m really glad you got yours under control!
I thought the same thing Deborah – “Oh I’m nearly at menopause so I’ll just try and wait it out”. I’m glad now I didn’t wait. It’s worth getting checked; there might be a wait for the op in the public health system but it will make such a difference to you x
Oh dude, this is me. I am always chronically low in iron. The fatigue and cold hands/feet is constant, and I actually had pica with my second pregnancy. That was weird, to say the least…. You’ve just reminded me that I haven’t taken my liquid iron supplement today. I hate that stuff. It has this yucky metallic taste – the taste of blood. GROSS.
It does taste foul doesn’t it!
With my low iron count some times I cannot donate blood. With so many uses for blood nowadays eg cancer it is frustrating and iron pills everyday do not seem to help much. Aging brings many changes.
I never felt the iron supplements did much good either to be honest. I can’t give blood anyway because of a certain medication I am on 🙁 .
Thanks for sharing Janet.
I give blood every three months and they test your iron then, so I think I’m ok. They haven’t sent me back yet!
Good on you for donating blood so regularly!!!! They won’t take mine 🙁 … due to a regular medication I take.
I have a history of low iron levels too and have had to take iron supplements. They were never able to find the cause but my then undiagnosed coeliac disease may have been a contributing factor. I’m also feeling better now so hopefully my levels are now back in the normal range. Glad to hear you are feeling better now too x
Oh how frustrating for you! I’m so glad they finally figured it out and you’re feeling improved now. It’s hard when you have small children to figure out the difference between tired because of kids and tired because of something else. It certainly delayed my PND diagnosis – I figured I was just tired and cranky and not coping because… babies and toddlers. Turned out it was much more than that.
WHAT?! Your eyelids?!! #speechless