Anemia: How I Handle It And The Different Types
Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

Anemia: How I Handle It And The Different Types

Looking for the Light

Anyone can have a short bout of Anemia during their life, young girls and women can also get Anemia from their menstrual cycle, vegans have to ensure they eat plenty of alternatives to red meat and there are health conditions that can be serious to your health. I’ve had Anemia on and off most of my life but in recent years it’s an ongoing problem. I don’t eat enough red meat although I’m not vegan and I don’t eat many leafy greens.

Many people may not even know they are Anemic because they have a mild case and they bounce back. I on the other hand can’t seem to shack it even while taking an iron supplement, a good one at that. I have taken prescription iron but it doesn’t help any better than over-the-counter. Three key symptoms are hard to deal with, severe leg cramps, fatigue and I’m always freezing. When I sleep at night, I pull the covers over my head and this week started wearing wool gloves to bed. It’s way into the early morning before my hands thaw and no longer feel like ice.

During the day I wear a tee and sweatshirt and when I’m in my office I have a wool blanket over me and wool gloves on and still shiver. I have a sheepskin run over the back of my chair to add warmth and have my vent half closed. Nothing seems to matter and it’s in the dead of summer here in Texas.

I eat red meat a couple of times a month but I like a variety of meat and eat fish every week as well. It’s not like I don’t eat greens but because I’m so cold salads haven’t been on my menu and I prefer hot foods. I’m eating soup for lunch most days to keep me warm.

I also have the Immune Disorder Hypogammaglobenlemia which is the lack of red blood cells and hemoglobin to carry oxygen to my body. I’ve been taking monthly Antibody Infusion treatments since the Spring. My red blood count is still very low and I may have to continue to take Infusion Treatments for years maybe all my life.

An Overview of Anemia

Anemia is a problem of not having enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all other organs in the body. Having anemia can cause tiredness, weakness, and shortness of breath.

There are many forms of anemia. Each has its own cause. Anemia can be short-term or long-term. It can range from mild to severe. Anemia can be a warning sign of serious illness.

Treatments for anemia might involve taking supplements or having medical procedures. Eating a healthy diet might prevent some forms of anemia.

What Are The Different Types Of Anemia?

  1. Aplastic anemia
  2. Iron deficiency anemia
  3. Sickle cell anemia
  4. Thalassemia
  5. Vitamin deficiency anemia

Here Are The Symptoms Of Anemia

Anemia symptoms depend on the cause and how bad the anemia is. Anemia can be so mild that it causes no symptoms at first. But symptoms usually then occur and get worse as the anemia gets worse.

If another disease causes the anemia, the disease can mask the anemia symptoms. Then a test for another condition might find the anemia. Certain types of anemia have symptoms that point to the cause.

Possible symptoms of anemia include:

  • Tiredness.
  • Weakness.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Pale or yellowish skin, which might be more obvious on white skin than on Black or brown skin.
  • Irregular heartbeat.
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness.
  • Chest pain.
  • Cold hands and feet.
  • Headaches.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, check with your doctor right away.

Melinda

References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360

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13 thoughts on “Anemia: How I Handle It And The Different Types”

  2. I’ve had anaemia on and off for many years, too. I think – can’t prove – that iron supplements I was given age 19 by a GP (for a minimal drop in ferritin picked up when I was donating blood, for which they should have told me to eat more steak, not give me tablets) stopped my bowel working. Over the years since, iron has been a real problem and all the more so with the stoma. It gets complicated with other issues on top of diet, doesn’t it? I’m sorry your immune disorder additionally complicates things for you. How’ve the antibody infusions been going now you’ve had a few? I hope they help and you’re not getting any unwanted side effects. 

    Really good post, Mel. It’s so important to be aware of the symptoms and to fight for your health because so many GPs (certainly here in the UK anyway) won’t acknowledge a problem with iron unless your levels are so low you’re about ready to drop. 

    Caz xx

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    1. I recently for a Thorne Iron supplement that doesn’t cause constipation. I’m already having sever issue from the Zofran I’m taking for my Esophagus and was happy to find one that didn’t add ot the problem. It’s called Ferrasorb Bioavailable Iron with Essential Nutrients. The caps are small and you only have to take one a day. That would be a huge issue with your Stoma. A couple of weeks ago I was afraid my bowels were going to lock up and ran out to pick up some enemimas. They helped, I’ve only been on the new ones for a couple of days but can tell a difference. I can’t tell my Infusion Treatments are helping but they must be because I’ve not been hospitalized with a major infection. I have another treatment in a week and the doctor is doing more blood work to see if my immunity has improved. I’m eating more soups with Kale and adding more beans to my diet but nothing takes the place of red meat. I like red meat but I don’t want to eat it several times a week. Take good care and rest up during the day, you working way out of your limit and you can’t afford to go down. Thaink about you. Hugs.

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      1. I thought Zofran was banned? Maybe it was a particular dosage or for a certain use. I’m glad you’ve got an iron supplement that’s decent though. One a day is good, I hate when you get huge capsules of something and even then the recommended dose is two or three a day. It’s ridiculous. I hope those infusions are working some magic underneath the surface – like you said, no hospitalisations for major infections is a good sign. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for your next blood tests.  xxxx

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    3. I’m having a few issues off the top. One I can’t find an About Me page which would help and I’m having trouble getting a link for a post I really like. Any thoughts. You don’t have to write out everything but if you could give me an outline that would help since I don’t remember everything. Hugs.

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      1. Aww, that’s very kind of you to want to do that! You don’t have to, but that’s certainly lovely of you :) You know, I’ve just realised I don’t have an ‘About Me’ page. All this time and I never did do one. What’s the post you wanted to find about? 

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          1. Caz is a 30-something chronically ill blogger from the UK with a penchant for American crime thriller books, Dr Martens, chocolate and Hello kitty. She writes about life with chronic illness and pain, product reviews, tips and general health information to raise awareness.

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