Skip to main content

Anemia? Huh.

Those that know me and maybe some of my readers here know that I have been struggling with health issues for several years now, the worst being the past 2 years.  Extreme fatigue, chest and abdominal pain, heart palpitations, numb hands and feet, dizziness, gastrointestinal problems, hair loss, low thyroid, high blood pressure, racing pulse, shortness of breath, off balance when walking and just plain feeling beyond crappy.  I've seen my physician many times over the past few years and he's treated me for each of these symptoms with medication and it seems that my stock of pills just keeps growing and I don't feel any better.  This past week I decided to schedule another appointment since I had been having severe gastrointestinal problems, a pain in my upper right abdomen and awful nausea.  What I was basically told was I probably just needed to change my diet, exercise more, oh and by the way it might just be psychological.  So now he thinks I'm a nut case?  Great.  Wonderful.

Since I am sure he was covering his bases, blood tests were performed and expanded this time to include testing for vitamin B12 levels and an abdominal ultrasound.  Now I've been trying to get to the bottom of these health issues for quite some time now and having a doctor who thinks you're "too young" for problems like this or "crazy" in the head is just plain ANNOYING.  Plus, I don't want to take more pills!!  I want to know what's wrong with me because it's just not normal to feel the way I do!!

After ultrasound I am informed that my liver is "abnormal" or enlarged.  Ok, what does that mean?  No one explains it other than to say you probably need to change your diet.  Great.  One day later a nurse calls to tell me I need monthly B12 injections because my levels of B12 are "extremely low".  What does that mean?  Oh, you probably just need to change your diet.  Ok....?


Two days later I go to get the B12 shot but ask the nurses why do I need this, what caused it, etc.  They stutter, glance at the floor, look confused at me and say they don't really know.  Mind you, the doctor has not talked to me at all since the blood tests, just the nurse.  Then I'm told I have Pernicious Anemia.  Pernicious Anemia?  Um, ok.  So again I ask, what's that?  And again I'm told I probably need to change my diet.  Are you kidding me?  For the record, my diet is not great but not that bad.  I eat plenty of dairy products, milk, yogurt, etc., eggs, a variety of meats but mostly chicken and fish.  I eat a variety of vegetables and fruits, try to pick whole grains and carbs that are high in fiber when I can.  We do eat fast food sometimes, I drink too much pepsi but I seriously don't think that is causing my body to be completely depleted of vitamin B12.  And guess what???  I did some internet research.


Pernicious Anemia is an auto-immune disease where the body's immune system has mistakenly destroyed the cells necessary for the body to absorb vitamin B12.  This results in the body being unable to make enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your organs.  The result is you feel tired and weak, out of breath, have digestive tract problems, may suffer nerve damage and risk damaging the heart, brain and other organs.  And as a side note, an enlarged liver (which is where stores of B12 are!) is also a complication of Pernicious Anemia.  Joy.  Why would my doctor neglect to bring this to my attention and not take the time to explain?  Many years ago, this disease was fatal.  FATAL!!  It can now be treated with success through lifelong B12 injections.  But, seriously, I am very unhappy with my doctor.  First of all, why did he never test for this if I have been complaining of these very symptoms for years.  Second, why would he not talk to me personally to explain this condition.  I could go on and on and but will refrain from the rant.

Time for a new doctor and a 2nd opinion!!

Comments

Lesli said…
The anemia in your title caught my eye.

I am also anemic with a high B12 deficiency! I also need monthly B12 shots. How is your iron? Did they check that? Mine was very low so I also take iron pills. My doctor said I was very close to needing a blood transfusion.

I can so relate to the dizzy spells and numbness in hands and feet. People thought I was making it up when I said I was dizzy all the time.

I went through TONS of tests for the heart palpitations. That was the WORST!

Let me tell you that the B12 shots really help. I notice a huge difference after I get mine. Could you tell? At about the 3rd week I can tell I need another one. I can feel it.

My symptoms are pretty much gone now with the exception of numbness in hands and feet. When that starts I know I did not take my iron pills like I should have been or I am about due for my B12 shot.

I also still get dizzy sometimes but not as often as I used to.

I will be curious to see what your 2nd opinion is going to have to say! Good luck!
A.Marie said…
Pernicious Anemia is very serious. I had to be treated for severe anemia at one point in my life, and my doctor referred me to an oncologist. It was the best decision EVER! An oncologist is better trained to deal with these types of blood problems. My Oncologist was wonderful!!

http://www.medicinenet.com/pernicious_anemia/article.htm

Good Luck and I hope you find a really good doctor that can help you!
A.Marie said…
Ooops....As I was sitting here, realized that I used the wrong word. It's not an Oncologist, it's a Hematologist: A medical specialist who treats diseases and disorders of the blood and blood-forming organs.

That's who I went to: a Hematologist, not an Oncologist! :)

Popular posts from this blog

Close To Home Event Kick-Off!!

We're so excited to have you here participating in our April blog event... "Close To Home Camping and Nature Art" Just in time to get ready for summer! To find out more about all the fun stuff we will be doing this month, please visit the Close To Home Event page for all the details and upcoming goodies. We'd like to start with a bang with our sponsor HealthyHikerGear.com !  Sound good?  We think so. There are so many things to do and places to go for a vacation close to home.  I've heard some refer to this as "staycationing".  Camping, hiking, picnicking or even hanging out in the backyard with a fire pit and some marshmallows can be loads of fun for you and your families. This picture is one of my very most favorite places in the whole world to go and it's just over an hour away! There are so many products which make camping, picnicking and hiking easy and affordable and shopping is right at your fingertips.  HealthyHikerGear.com is an onlin

Endo Review and Giveaway!

We're so excited to introduce you to Endo ! Endo is here for all your outdoor t-shirt needs with incredible graphic designs to wear.  Cyclist?  Camper?  They're here for us all.  Seriously, what's better than a bright yellow tee with a huge tricycle on it?  Yes, a huge yellow real tricycle would be nice but hey, you couldn't wear that and it would undoubtedly be much harder to come by! We were happy to discover that the Endo t-shirt is longer than some which is definitely a bonus.  You know, no risk of the bad "low rise jeans - shorter tee - don't bend over or sit" dilemma.  It's also pretty dang soft and comfy. In addition to this great t-shirt, Endo also sent their logo tote bag.  These kind of backpack tote bags, or "man bags" as all the local teens call them (because all the boys in junior high have them!) are perfect for a light backpack to carry a water bottle, camera, cell phone, snacks, etc., for an impromptu hike, nature walk

Sit-upon Tutorial By Rachel Beyer

As a former Girl Scout, I have lots of fun camp memories. I remember learning to tie knots, set up camp and to cook over the campfire. An essential Girl Scout tradition is making a sit-upon. A sit-upon is a homemade waterproof cushion. They are easy to make and I remember using them every time we did any activity while sitting on the bare ground, which most often was damp or scattered with uncomfortable sticks and pebbles. A sit-upon is great for sitting around the campfire, your backyard, or even a sporting event.  There are lots of ways to make a sit-upon. When I was a Brownie Girl Scout, we made ours from old vinyl tablecloths and foam. But in a pinch, you can use a plastic garbage bag and a stack of old newspapers for padding. To revisit this simple craft project, I decided to use a roll of vintage vinyl wallpaper I found at a thrift store and some foam I bought at my local craft store. Essential Supplies: Waterproof Material (vinyl tablecloth, or other store-bought vinyl or