Ok I went in last june thinking my thyroid was out of whack, I spent last winter in bed and could barely function. I gained 20 lbs and thought it had to be since I felt so horrible and didnt have the will to do anything but stay in bed. But I found out I am "just anemic". Very anemic. It has been 6 months now and they are telling me I am STILL anemic. Even though I have done everything they tld me to do, take prescription iron, go on birth control, everything. I am an emotional wreck and STILL have no energy or will to do anything. I have two small kids at home whom I home school and this is effecting them. I tried explaining to them how frustrated I was and what I was supposed to do when they said to give it another 6 months. I feel like I am at the end of my rope and they don't care.

SO my question is how do they know if it's just more than my anemia? How do you all even bring up things like depression with your doctor? I was in tears just trying to explain to them I didnt feel good let alone give them a medical reason why I think I am this way. Arent they supposed to be the doctors and recognize things like that?

I am just so sick and tired of not feeling good and everyday that I don't get what I need to get done I just feel worse and worse.

Medical issues can most certainly lead to depression. Especially when the medical problem is long-term. Fatigue and apathy often set in. Feelings of exhaustion often lead to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. It is very frustrating and depressing when we don't have the energy that we need to keep up with our daily routine. For me personally, I'd get to the point that I couldn't do what I needed at home and feel so depressed to have to ask others to pick up the slack around here. With chronic anemia I can easily see how you wouldn't have the energy that you need to be able to home-school your children and I'm sure that worries you and causes you even more stress. I don't have anemia , but do have a liver disease that the number one symptom is fatigue. Hugs, I hope you get to feeling better. Hope it helps to know that you aren't alone.

thank you lilybelle! You really made me feel better, I have come across a lot of your post on here thank you!!

My doctor knows I am frustrated but another lady called to tell me my iron hadnt changed. (a different doc) and I fell apart trying to get her to understand, she said maybe a b12 suppliment might help and shrugged me off. I am taking the b12 now. But needless to say it hasnt helped. I feel like I am bugging them by calling and complaining so much. I feel like I am a crazy half brain LOL.

You are very welcome. Don't feel bad at all for calling them and complaining if your current treatment isn't working. That's what we pay them for is to help us keep feeling at our best.

Your health is THEIR job......ask for a referral to a specialist? dietician? who can help to bring your levels up to a normal level.....ask LOTS of questions....IN WRITING i suggest.....this way you can exactly detail your concerns and get an in-depth accurate answer about what treatment you should pursue.

Your internist is probably part of a group if another doctor called you....often one hand doesn't know what the other is doing. Address your issues to your doctor who knows your H&P best. good luck!

Thank you marblefly!! I was thinking I might call my normal doctor and just see what she thought about my labs. I have to be reffered to a specialist though and they mentioned it once and then it never came up again. OK I am going to call, right now. UGH. GULP. --Sumi

Your body might have trouble storing and using iron. I was reading a little on it on the thyroid forums I go to. I'm hypo and sometimes low iron comes with it. I'm still waiting to find out if I need iron or not, but I'd try elemental iron. They said it's easier on the stomach and doesn't cause as many problems. You can check out this link to see what they say about low Ferritin. It's worth a read, if nothing else.
http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/ferritin/

Thanks Love the avatar I remember watching him when I was little with my dad. I dont think my parents knew the word inappropriate LOL Still George is great! Not to get off track haha I will check the link, I thought I was hypo at first so I know I have been to the website, just not sure if I read the article or not.

sumi, there is NOTHING to be afraid of....if it helps you to be more assertive, think of yourself as a CUSTOMER/CLIENT not a helpless patient.

many times, one doctor is covering while another is off/away. your results come in, the staff (often not even a real nurse) hands your labs to the covering physician who just verbalizes them to you....no extensive detail or treatment plan. You need to be pro-Active, because they don't give you enough time or information....

depending on where you go, office visits are double-booked, the doc is scheduled to see 2 patients every 15 mins....it's a common complaint. feel free to PM if you need anything.

Keep calling, keep asking, keep on until you get answers in a way you understand. You might be depressed. Most women, if the live with chronic anemia, kinda get used to it. I think there is something else going on and don't you ever feel bad or intimidated about asking questions. They are there to help you and to teach you.

I hope you feel better soon.

Ok well I guess I will be looking for a new doctor. I called and I guess the reason why the other one called me is because mine no longer works there?!? So my only choice with them is the lady I already talked to, the one who said maybe a b12 vitamin might help. Do you know if you can go to your obgyn as a primary care? I have no idea. We are so rural there just isnt very many other options out here. i really hate to start from square one with someone else, I hate the damn bloodwork and being run around. Just thinking about it makes me want to scream.

Well so much for that LOL ---Sumi

Sumi; Call the doctor's office tomorrow, tell them that you want copies of all lab tests (and office notes if they will release them) to take to another doctor. You can also ask them where your original doctor left to go, maybe it's not too far?

Ask your OB/gyn for a recommendation to a good Internist. when you have your first appt., hand-carry your info. This way, they will not repeat work that doesn't need to be done.

I hope you feel better soon, good luck.

Do you have anyone of greek/italian/other mediterranean heritage in your bloodline?

You might be a carrier for genetic thalassemia...it is common in mediterranean populations, and is generally characterized by anemia that won't go away despite iron treatment. Sometimes doctors don't look for it in non-mediterranean looking patients (like me - they thought it was so odd that i showed up with the trait despite no known mediterranean background) but mine showed up when they analyzed my blood cells for some other purpose. Basically, thalassemias are conditions that cause your blood cells to be shaped differently than the blood cells of normal people. They can't hold as much iron, so even a small dip in your iron stores can make a big difference in your energy. There isn't much you can do about it, though, but if you have the trait, your children should also be evaluated for it.

You might also want to get an appt with a OB/GYN to evaluate for fibroids if you have any of the other symptoms, as they can also cause severe anemias that can't be treated with iron. My mom had this happen - she had big uterine fibroids that were taking a lot of her blood/iron supply out of her bloodstream and once the fibroids were treated, her anemia normalized and she is just fine now.

Thank you mandalinn

No, I am just about everything but that LOL mostly irish, japanese, american indian, then a ton others just to spice things up like swedish and I here tell eskimo hehe

They checked for other things they told me and I had my first transvaginal ultrasound to be sure I didnt have fibroids. Which they say I dont. But I am getting an ablation in less than a week to try and stop my periods. THey chock it up to heavy menses. I guess it could be that but it seems weird to me since even though they are heavy it wasnt anything I ever complained to a doctor about. But its cool with me if they want to stop it LOL I dont want any more kids anyway, I doing just fine screwing up these ones. LOL

Marblefly: Thank you, that is exactly what I am going to do. I am even going into that town tomarrow so I can pick it up then. I was going to call the obgyn anyway since I am starting to freak out about the thing I am getting done too. I wish they would have been honest with me last time i went in as to why I didnt see my usual doctor. THanks again!

--Sumi

Stopping those heavy periods will make a huge difference. Since I had an ablation, my periods are very very light and I'm not anemic!