Abigail O – My Anemic Story:

Why is it so important to monitor your iron levels? I first learned from a test that I had stage 1 anaemia before an upcoming laparoscopy. At the time, I didn’t pay much attention to the CBC blood test results, but deep down, I always suspected that I had ruined my health with two years of strict veganism and a rather indifferent attitude towards meat. So what. It’s not fatal is it?

However, the specialists examining me didn’t think so. Before the operation, the CBC Doctor looked through a stack of my tests and made big eyes:

“What’s wrong with the iron? It’s a nightmare! It needs to be treated.”

I just shrugged. In that situation, when anaesthesia, surgery and long-term treatment were looming before my eyes, some seemed like a completely insignificant problem to me.

And only after laparoscopy, I understood what was being discussed. It was low iron + my slight gastritis that seriously slowed down the recovery process. Also, with low iron coupled with hypotension (hello, that’s me), the risk of thrombosis after anaesthesia increases. Therefore, I was strictly prescribed to treat it under observation and, of course, to keep in mind my gastritis.

What is life like with it?

Looking back, I can make a personal list of symptoms that accompanied me for many years, greatly reducing the quality of life:

  • Eternally icy limbs; even in warm weather. The slightest breeze sends chills through me, and my hands are permanently “painted” in a violet-blue hue. After I had cured my anaemia in three months, I stopped feeling cold almost immediately. For the first time in thirty years. It’s an incredible, wonderful feeling…of warmth, you know?
  • A constant feeling of weakness, drowsiness, apathy and general lethargy. I have always tried to combat such conditions with discipline, sports and morale; however, my “auto training” still could not eliminate the true root cause of the ailments.
  • Apots before the eyes, dizziness when standing up, sudden movements and a feeling of ebb/flow to the head. These symptoms have intensified over the last year, causing numerous inconveniences. You get up from a chair – you fall again, swaying and clutching your head. If you decide to leave bed, you must do this carefully, slowly and without sudden movements. Otherwise, the floor will float under your feet.

I noticed the first results of treatment after just one month.

I caught myself thinking that I no longer see flies and do not lose ground from under my feet when I rise. Also, my extremities stopped freezing, and it seems I fell in love with winter. In terms of drowsiness and apathy, the situation has not changed much, but in this context, the essence is not only in anaemia but also in hormonal drugs that I have been taking for more than three months.

P.S. a bit off-topic, but the most common side effects of my hormonal drug include the development of clinical depression. Surprising, of course. Thank you, of course.

In principle, it is possible to live with it, but the quality of life, well-being, mental health and basic sense of comfort is significantly reduced. I am not a doctor or a specialist in this field, but now I know I will regularly donate blood for iron and monitor the dynamics of the CBC indicators. There is nothing romantic, beautiful or aesthetic about the pale snake – insidious anaemia – as it was considered, for example, in the Middle Ages. After all, we live in the twenty-first century…

Stay healthy, friends! Take care of yourself, and don’t risk your health.

———

Grace

My story about disease. My medical record since my teenage years has said “chronic iron deficiency”.

That’s how I lived: headaches, which I eventually got used to, dizziness, constant fatigue, and a desire to sit and lie down instead of doing anything active. I practically believed that I was “lazy”.

Of course, I was treated in every possible way. I even liked some treatments, for example, chocolate.

Early Struggles

Already at the age of 20-23, I again tried to cure it, even staying in the clinics of the medical university. I went there for a consultation and examination, and the doctors refused to let me out; they said that with haemoglobin 70, I needed a blood transfusion and did not go to work. They raised my haemoglobin, but it dropped with or without reason.

They raised it for me, but it fell again.

Pregnancy

In this state, with varying success in the fight against it, I entered both pregnancy and labour. I gave birth twice with haemoglobin 65.

All my pregnancies and births were wonderful.

But now I know what it cost me.

I learned about ferritin when I already had three children. I began to study this topic. My arsenal included pharmaceuticals, homoeopathy, and dietary supplements. But even when my haemoglobin was normal, my condition did not improve much: see the symptoms of anaemia in the photo.

The Impact of COVID-19 on me

After the new crown disease, my ferritin dropped to critical values ​​- 3, but it should be at least equal to a person’s normal weight.

To say that I did not feel very well is to say nothing.

A Breakthrough with Supplements

Everything changed when I started using dietary supplements from NSP. A nutritionist recommended a regimen, and after four months, my ferritin rose from 3 to 77.

It was a real victory!

Living with it: A Message of Hope

If you’ve received a diagnosis of anaemia, don’t let it overwhelm you. Remember that life continues, and many tested individuals with CBC lead vibrant, fulfilling lives. While it’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations, such as dietary changes or supplements, focus on the positives.

Embrace activities that bring joy, connect with loved ones, and explore new interests. Your journey may have some adjustments, but you can still experience beauty and happiness in everyday moments with the right care and support. CBC is just one part of your test story, not the whole narrative. Keep shining and living fully!