unexplained anaemia

[skettle]

I recently went to the doctors for a blood test due to headaches and dizzyness. When the results came back I was told by the receptionist that I was "a bit anaemic" and they had a prescription of iron tablets for me.

Thing is, this anaemia is completely unexplained, I am not pregnent, do not suffer heavy periods and otherwise (I hope..) am healthly. Surely we should be finding out what is causing it? is it normal for them to just prescibe iron tablets without looking into it?

Also very recently I have started to suffer from chest pains (seems to be in the chest wall rather than the chest itself) and pains in my legs...when I googled this it came up with "extreme anaemia"!!

Should I go back to the doctors and get these chest pains and everything in general investigated? I dont want to come across as a hypocondriac but I have also become really thirsty lately, especially in an evening.

Any advice apretiated.

i assume you're also not a vegetarian/vegan?

a bit anaemic is different from extreme aneamia

do you know what your hb level was on your blood count .. you should be able to call up and ask them to tell you

iron tablets can be quite harsh on stomach and need to be taken with vit c (ie glass of orange juice) .. I'd recommend flouradix (from health food stores instead) and upping your red meat / green leafy veg and vit c intakes

as for the other symptoms .. can't hurt to ask a doctor can it?

skettle i've been having chest pains too! and have also been prescribed iron tablets!

i was really worried about my chest pain (had a thread on it) but the GP didn't seem that concerned! lol

anyway, this isn't a very informative post.. but just to let you know that there are people in the same boat... i didn't get an explanation for the anaemia either

Women of child bearing age can tend to be a bit anaemic without having heavy periods, it is usually due to dietary insufficancy. (and usually not worried about)
As the twig said it is different to extreme anaemia and i would not expect this to be the cause of you chest pain.
Did you have your thyroid function test done?
As you had a routine set of bloods done I would presume they would tell if you glucose was abnormal, so your prob no diabetic....

although glucose test is different check box from blood count isn't it? so they may not have done one .. and also they are most accurate when done as a fasting test

so if you are worried about diabetes then I'd ask for a test

Routine bloods would be urea and electolytes and a full blood count.
Your right, only a fasting blood test can determine diabeties but this is usually done if the routine glucose has been high (or if diabeties is suspected).
When in doubt phone back and ask the surg
Cheers twig!

sorry .. I'm not medical .. have just been kind of ill recently and what I don't know about tests .. snurk

you poor soul, prob know more than i do then i have placenta brain

Hope you feel better soon
(both of you)

Thanks everyone

I thought about diabetes as both of my grandmothers have it so it is in the family...

I dont really know what type of blood test they did...just that they took about 4 tubes of it!?

The chest pain isnt severe, its just short stabbing pains around the breast muscle/bone but it usually comes on in an evening...same with the thirst...

I dont want the doc to think Im a hypocondriac Ive been to see him 3 times since christmas and each time Ive been sent away and told not to worry lol

tell him to stop being a patronising git and do his job ... it is not his job to make you feel like a hypochondriac

I hate many many gps

skettle, these can be a sign of many things including stress, this does not make you a hypochondriac. Your Gp is there to help you feel better, not judge you.
It can be a vicous circle sometime, the more you worry, the worse you feel.
You have to know and belive there is nothing wrosng before you can deal with the symptoms
If your not happy go back and chat.