To wonder what to say to the doctor? (Sensitive)

[Worriedobsessive]

Namechanged.

I am NEVER unwell. I'm 45, regular cycle, and last two weeks I'm out of breath a lot, absolutely knackered and taking naps every day, and v bloated lower abdomen. I'm wearing normally I think, but always feel so bloated. I've got indigestion if I eat too fast (again never a problem previously) and I've got constant lower back ache. And one elbow hurts too!

I'm not celiac, not anaemic, not b12 deficient (had recent blooods for something else) but something feels different.

If I see the doc they're likely to say "hormones, go away" aren't they?

Well done on going and thanks for letting us know. Good luck with the tests.

Glad it's getting looked at. Good luck with the tests.

Good on you looks like the GP was a good 'un:-)

Not well. Properly not well. Have had the chest X-ray done, and they'll write to me with a date for the ultra sound.

Called in at docs (they're in same building as clinic) and dropped in a other water sample which they've dipped and am now in pharmacy waiting for script of nitrofurantoin.

Hope you feel better soon and good luck with the tests.

Sounds like the dipstick showed a UTI then? Hopefully that is all it is and you will feel better soon, but also pleased to hear you are being properly checked out xx

Hopefully it's just a urine infection then, that would be a relief for you.

Hmm. The nitrofurantoin is keeping things just about at bay. Got my bloods back and everything was normal (including CA125) apart from the following:

Low ferritin
low iron 2.4
low trans something iron, 3% against a ref of 15-55%
haemoglobin concentration 8.2 (should be over 11)
cell volume 69
mc haem 19.1

please excuse my probably non sensical notes, this is what I managed to eek from the receptionist. The urine sample was normal! Xray not due back till next week and not had a date for ultrasound.

Still feel like shit, still swollen.

What now?

transferin saturation was the thing that was 3%.

So you're anaemic? No wonder you're tired! How long ago were the tests that said you weren't anaemic?

Unless you have heavy periods or a terrible diet (unlikely if you were not anaemic on your last tests), you will need further investigations to find out why your blood count is so low.

Get coeliac screen. That can cause iron deficiency anaemia especially with abdominal symptoms. Scan still good idea. Bowel investigations too if no obvious cause for blood loss too. (Eg heavy periods)

Hope you’re ok op x

Defo not got celiacs - my mum is a celiac and I was tested end of last year.
Completely ordinary periods. What else could cause it?
I lack Intrinsic Factor, as do my dad and his sister.

Sand snake I had bloods done in May, all fine, hb slightly low at 10.9

No bowel troubles either. What else could it be?

Waaaahhhhhhh Dr Google is scaring the shite out of me! 200 fold increase in cardiac death! Omfg!

I don't think people here listing things it might be will be any more reassuring than the worst of google. You can recover quickly from anaemia once the cause is found though. I had a rapid onset of anaemia related to hellp syndrome (it's pregnancy related so yours isn't not that.) I was back into normal iron levels two weeks later.

Make another appointment (or walk in) and ask the doctor about the results. No need to wait for the other results when you're this worried.

Dr Google AND Mumsnet guesses are the last thing you need!

Forgot to say you might be able to get a phone appointment with the doctor to discuss test results. My surgery offer that.

Dr Google AND Mumsnet guesses are the last thing you need

This. There are at least 100 possible causes, many of which are easily treatable and nothing to worry about.

Maybe its just that you are stressed/mentally drained and this is spilling over into a bout of IBS?

You need to get off the internet and deal with this directly with your GP. You have an iron deficiency anaemia which sounds as if it is of recent onset and will need investigating and as PPs have said treatment of this will make you feel better but the underlying cause needs to be investigated.
You have made assumptions about how your GP will handle this from the word go - you just need to make another appt and get referred on. As you are anaemic they may well do it under a 2 week cancer wait (which does't mean that you have cancer but means that you need to be assessed urgently)
Stop googling and get some proper advice!

Can see Iron supplements being considered here but let your Doc and his diagnoses lines take their course!

Do however bear in mind that sometimes there may be more then the one simple cause so correct diagnoses is required and a lot of that is eliminating and ruling out various causes/conditions etc..

That'll be why you're out of breath being anaemic. Keep on at the docs. Hope all is ok