I've copied my last message (have edited it a bit) from a thread I created about my heavy periods but basically this is the whole story.
I blacked out 6 months ago and my Doctor diagnosed me as anaemic due to my heavy periods. I'm over 40 and my periods have been getting sightly heavier over the past few years. My haemoglobin was 9 and my ferritin (iron stores) were 4. I went on iron tablets but they made me ill. I also started to get the following symptoms: I felt like my whole body/system went down - I had joint pain, stomach problems, rashes, loss of balance, faintness, nausea, fatigue, weak limbs, dodgy bowels, pins and needles, etc. My Doctor thought I had a virus on top of the anaemia. I have gradually started to feel a bit better over the months. My haemoglobin is now 12 but my iron stores are still low at 20/30. I did some research and decided to go on a gluten, wheat and dairy free diet which seems to have made a difference to the joint pain, rashes and loose bowels but I still have the following symptoms:
heavy periods (usually get these every 3 1/2 weeks but the first day of my last period was only 14 days after the first day of the period before that), racing heart, lower back ache, pain on right side of body at the bottom of ribs, achey bowels.
I have been backwards and forwards to the Doctors, seen various consultants and have had the following tests:
Gastro-enterologist Upper GI endoscopy and biopsy for celiacs - both clear.
Neurologist - MRI brain scan - clear.
Cardiologist - I have sinus tachycardia - means my heart is beating a bit too fast, nothing wrong with heart, usually caused by things like thryoid condition or anaemia.
Have had numerous bloodtests for liver function, kidney function, thyroid, diabetes, addisons, can't remember what else now, but all the usual ones - all clear.
I'm sure I've missed something out now but can add it later. I spent weeks thinking I was going to die. I have spent literally hours googling my symptoms. The only two things which I found which were similar to my symptoms was an article about a lady with a severe B12 deficiency, and another article about a lady with severe perimenopausal symptoms.
Would love to hear your thoughts ...