Living with anemia...

As I spoke about in an earlier post this year, I was diagnosed with severe anaemia. It seemed the previous year had taken a toll on my body in more ways than one and something which I could normally have dealt with, without even realising, became something quite serious. After finding out just how low I was I was still in denial and continued to think I was fine. Yes I took the iron tablets but I continued to have the cloud of last year hanging over me. Little did I know at the time, anaemia symptoms are very similar to those of depression - partly why it took so long to diagnose.

I am sure many of you have heard of anaemia before, possibly even had some kind of small drop in iron levels. But the place I have been with it was not just 'a little drop'.

If you're not familiar I should share the symptoms I have had:
- Major fatigue
- Stomach pains
- Paleness
- Broken sleep
- Restless legs
- Months of illness due to low immune system
- Shortness of breath and heart palpitations
- Dizziness (I struggled sometimes to just stand up from sitting)
- Tinnitus (at my worst)
- Unwilling to socialise
- Not being able to concentrate and memory loss
- Constant cold hands/feet
- Headaches daily

Lack of red blood cells means decreased oxygen throughout the whole body. [Source]

Amongst all of this I continued to teach and I can safely say thinking you're about to faint is not a fun feeling to have in front of 30 kids aged 9-10. I think they'd be scarred for life seeing their teacher pass out. Put all these symptoms together and I have found it to be quite debilitating on my lifestyle.

I have found weekends go by in a blur of sleeping and not being able to get off the sofa. Going out with friends? That was a big no no. It meant having to actually get dressed and brush my hair. Something I couldn't face. Of course this made work difficult and I began to struggle.

Me every single day - Just  a lot less glamorous.

We've all felt tiredness but anaemic fatigue is something else. It was awful. I did wake most mornings and cry at the thought of having to get out of bed and if people asked me to do anything I would instantly get a surge of anxiety and wonder how I would cope. I almost feel that words can't describe it. Most people just say, "Get some sleep." But it didn't matter. I didn't need sleep.

The final straw came when I developed a sever case of tonsillitis. I had had it for a week but told myself it was a sore throat and continued to work and even completed two parent's evenings! When I went to my doctor she was quite rightly worried and sent me off with medication and told me I had to rest. She uttered the words, "Missy... you look knackered. You need to stop."

I think at this point I was just happy to feel like it was 'allowed' for me to have a break. 'Allowed' to feel weak. 'Allowed' to put myself first. I worked the rest of the day and then was off for two weeks followed by two weeks half term break. I rested up- the first week I slept for at least 14 hours a day at various points. The double whammy of tonsillitis and anaemia took it course. That is for sure.

I felt rested and ready to go. My iron levels had raised (nothing massive but definitely to a level which I could be classed healthier: 8 to 32), I was finished my course of tablets and back to work feeling like a different person. It was such a difference to feel like I wanted to do things and have a drive back. However, after having a blood test a week after finishing tablets, my levels had dropped back to 18. This again was not as low as previous but back to near borderline severe once again. So, after two weeks I was back on tablets and now 6 weeks later I can feel myself on the spiral again. This time round I feel so much more prepared for the iron battle.

I am hoping to blog again this week to talk about how I have been inspired to become a healthier me with all of this. Until then I am resting up and making small to do lists to make tasks easier to complete.

Have you ever had any issues with anaemia? How did you cope with the lifestyle change if it became long term?

I think I'm Wonder Woman...

Friday brought a day of relief. After a few months of being unwell and having to deal with sever exhaustion on a daily basis, I was finally given some sort of answer. I received the results to my blood tests, which was met by an, "Oh no..." by my Doctor. As you can imagine, this is not the words you want to hear before results.

In my panic I let out a nervous laugh and asked if my results were missing. She then explained they were there and that I was anaemic. She continued to explain that my iron levels (8- normal level is 14 and 8 is the level where you are considered for possible transfusion) were severely low and that she doesn't know how I managed to have got out of bed on mornings lately, let alone go to work everyday and teach. It also was some sort of explanation as to why I have been catching every illness and suffering from prolonged sinusitis.

This has led me to the conclusion that I am indeed 'Wonder Woman'. What else would explain my ability to push through this?I also have a WW mug. Ok, so I may be over-reacting but I am beginning to realise I am a lot stronger than I ever thought I was.

Each day lately, has been a struggle and I have found myself clawing to the end of the day. When teaching children this has been so difficult but I have not wanted to take time off. The tiredness has hit me from the moment I awake to the moment I go to bed. I am not even sure I can fully explain it, in fact when telling people I have felt like I was making it up and sounding just plain lazy. This is obviously not the case and one that has been proven today. 

This has been me: morning, noon and night for the past couple months! [Source]

I am now in possession of a number of iron supplement tablets to take to increase my levels then I will be back to the doctor for follow up blood samples to check it's all improved. In the meantime, I will continue to think I am Wonder Woman... but maybe one who should slow down and rest up a bit. 
       

Have you ever suffered from anaemia? Did you find anything else to help as well as tablets?