I think I need further investigation. GP doesn't.

[radiateforme]

AIBU to want further investigation? For months now my chest has felt tight. Intermittent pain. Breathlessness etc. I haven't had covid as far as I know, haven't even had a cold. I'm only 30, but am in tears because I'm just so worried about my chest. I feel like I can't inhale properly. It's almost all the time now. They think it's my low iron levels. Iron levels were 6 (should be 30) they then went up to 10. I can't get them up as my periods are so heavy and all over the place. AIBU to want this looking in to further? I've never had anxiety over my health. Now it's all I think about.

YANBU. Can they offer anything else to get your iron levels up further? If they think it is that surely they must be able to do something to get your levels up to make sure it is that?

Being anxious about your health is awful, I hope something can be done to reassure you

@EnglishRain

YANBU. Can they offer anything else to get your iron levels up further? If they think it is that surely they must be able to do something to get your levels up to make sure it is that?

Being anxious about your health is awful, I hope something can be done to reassure you

It doesn't even feel like normal anxiety I genuinely think there's something going on.

I don't feel like low iron causes sharp chest pain

Have you had any investigations?

Ok try a different approach.
Ask about your periods and get treatment for that. Then iron levels should improve. Are you taking iron tablets?
I had low iron (nearly needed a transfusion) and I was breathless.

You can get free screening via www.c-r-y.org.uk/

When my anxiety is high I feel like i can't get a full breath in and my chest hurts also light headed sometimes. I have to reset my breathing. I breathe out as long as I can get all of it out then I find i can get a proper breath in. Maybe try some breathing exercises. Might help to relieve some anxiety while you push the doctors.

When my iron was low I was extremely anxious and found it hard to breathe. Are you taking Ferrous Fumerate tablets? (You can buy them over the counter and they’re cheap as anything.) They really helped me even though I was still having awful flooding periods.

Not being able to raise your iron levels even with medication should be investigated regardless of your periods.

OP, the GP shouldn’t be dismissing your low iron. You need to get that sorted anyway. It will improve any underlying condition (if there is one), improve your quality of life etc. If GP is blaming everything on anemia then not treating the anemia, you need to get a second opinion from another doctor.

Can you make an appointment with a different GP at your practice?

If your iron levels are so low that you are experiencing chest pain symptoms from the resultant anaemia, then you need a proper assessment and treatment.

yes to iron making you breathless and feel like you can't take a deep breath.

iron tablets often don't work, you may need to workout which type of iron tablets you need.
Alongside that try iron rich food, eg dried apricots.
Don;t forget that iron needs viatmin C to absorb, so take it with a glass of orange juice.

Your periods being heavy shouldn’t mean your iron isn’t raised through medication, how long have you been taking tablets, what else have they suggested? It’s not good enough to leave you in this situation.

I’d make an appointment to see a different GP at your practice

*iron deficiency

I've taken them twice. Once for 3 months, this time for two. First time ferrous sulphate. This time ferrous fumarate. I put an iron fish in my food. I eat iron rich foods. My periods are all over the place. Slightly better after recent polyp removal. Breastfeeding obviously doesn't help. I'm in bed now and every time I take a deep breath I get a sharp pain in my chest.

@LawnFever

Your periods being heavy shouldn’t mean your iron isn’t raised through medication, how long have you been taking tablets, what else have they suggested? It’s not good enough to leave you in this situation.

I’d make an appointment to see a different GP at your practice

They haven't suggested anything else

I have to use iron (injection) plus being on hormonal birth control so no periods to keep my iron at a good level.

I've had those symptoms both from iron and from anxiety. It could be a panic attack too with those symptoms. Any of these need further investigation.

Can you really push for a gynae referral? My iron was about 11 for a long while, and I felt just like you towards the end of that period. It’s awful, I do sympathise. My GP was happy to refer me to gynae several times. The first option for reducing my bleeding was a Mirena coil, but I couldn’t tolerate it, so I had an endometrial ablation (they wouldn’t do this till I was sure I wasn’t going to have children). It’s transformed my life and my iron levels. So there are things they can do.

Please do keep pushing for help - you really shouldn’t have to be fighting your body to keep your iron levels at a place where they aren’t making you ill.

Iron deficiency anemia does exactly that, I'm forever battling with it.

I don't feel like low iron causes sharp chest pain

Chest pain is a common symptom of iron-deficiency anaemia. If your blood doesn't have sufficient oxygen-carrying capacity you will get a sharp pain in your chest in the same way as people with angina do.

What were your most recent haemoglobin and ferritin measurements? If your serum ferritin is low the GP should still be trying to get it up.

It's been months. I don't think it's a panic attack. I'm very calm in bed. Slow regulated breathing. Just feel like I've got a band round my chest and stabbing pain when I breathe in deeply

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne

I don't feel like low iron causes sharp chest pain

Chest pain is a common symptom of iron-deficiency anaemia. If your blood doesn't have sufficient oxygen-carrying capacity you will get a sharp pain in your chest in the same way as people with angina do.

What were your most recent haemoglobin and ferritin measurements? If your serum ferritin is low the GP should still be trying to get it up.

At least that's reassuring. Thank you

Your iron is very, very low if it is 6, normal range is above 12, and I would expect someone with hb under 10 or 11 to be symptomatic. If you were my (pregnant) patient I would refer you to haematology as this would require close monitoring.
Are you taking ferrous sulfate or ferrous fumerate tablets? Current guidance is to take 1 a day, on an empty stomach, with orange juice, and not to eat or to drink caffeine for another hour afterwards. I would expect this to make a noticeable difference within about 2 weeks. If there was no rise, I would be looking at b12, folate and ferritin (another blood test), as low levels of these can prevent iron absorption.
Go back to the gp, and insist they investigate further.

@radiateforme

It's been months. I don't think it's a panic attack. I'm very calm in bed. Slow regulated breathing. Just feel like I've got a band round my chest and stabbing pain when I breathe in deeply

I mean I'm currently very calm, and laying in bed 😅

I get very low iron due to blood loss and not being able to get it from my food because of gut problems.

I've had iron infusions at hospital you go in for a few hours and go on a drip - if your iron is that low and tablets aren't working there are other options to get the levels up.

I am always amazed at the difference after I have an infusion. I know I don't feel great before, but it's stuff like suddenly being able to walk up a flight of stairs without panting or just realising I was feeling like I was wading through treacle. It comes on so gradually I don't realise how awful I feel until I feel better.

Please go back to the GP and push for something more to treat the iron levels if nothing else.