Do I have anaemia, even though I test ok for iron?

[spamthecan]

I've had some health problems for a year now, and had many many tests on my heart, stomach, lungs, blood, etc. Now, many of the symptoms can be explained by anaemia, except my blood tests keep coming back ok. Is it possible for something to cause a false negative when testing for anaemia?

(For one thing: I'm a vegetarian with a fairly rubbish diet, so I don't see where I'm getting my iron from!)

TIA

[Sachs]

B12 deficiency? Look it up spam xxx

[JonnyBoy12]

Anaemia? I think I may have that too, as don't have a very good memory either!

[whifffey]

Why do you think you are anaemic? If your blood tests are ok, then you are not anaemic. Are you a very anxious person?

[Sachs]

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068868

[whifffey]

No, not B12 deficiency, not with a normal blood picture.

[spamthecan]

Blimey, lots of responses very quickly, thanks :)

Yeah, I'm going to ask the doctor about B12, just in case; I actually take B12 supplements, but I've read that sometimes you need the injections.

And I'm not an anxious person at all, other than the fact that I've been ill for a year, and my doctor's leaning towards a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - which (a) I don't want!, and (b) doesn't fit terribly well with my symptoms, in my (uneducated) opinion.

[sqad617]

Don't waste the Drs time with B12....whiffey is quite correct.

[whifffey]

You don't say if you are M or F, your age, or anything.

Anaemia is not a disease per se, it is almost invariably secondary to some other pathology.

If your blood tests are good, then stop worrying.

[Sachs]

Oops! Sorry spam!
What symptoms do you have spam? I have thyroid disease. Have you had tests for that? x

[spamthecan]

I'm male, late 30s. Just trying to build up a picture, and maybe work out what's causing the symptoms (e.g. chest pain, irregular heartbeat, orthostatic intolerance, mild but constant headaches). Anaemia seemed a good fit, that was all.

Thanks for everyone's replies.

[whifffey]

It is good that your doctor is leaning towards a sort of psychological diagnosis, because anaemia in a man or a woman beyond the menopause is a serious matter.

Anaemia due solely to poor diet is vanishingly rare in UK.

[whifffey]

Well it was before uncontrolled Third World immigration.

[spamthecan]

Sachs: yeah, been tested for thyroid, all ok.

whifffey: my doc has mentioned that it could be psychological in nature, and that it could be due to depression. I've kinda poo-poo'ed this, as I've no reason to be depressed, and don't feel bad. Plus, this all started with chest pain, which led to a stay in hospital, during which time I had some ECGs which kept the doctors concerned (one doctor told me flat out he thought I'd had a heart attack). However, subsequent tests have found that my heart is fine. So... I just don't know!

[whifffey]

If you pitch up at A/E in your late 30s with chest pain, they will take it VERY seriously indeed and fast-track you through. This in itself is alarming because it makes you think oh heck there must be something wrong with me because they are flapping around.

A serious piece of advice - get out and get some good exercise, in the countryside if possible, run yourself until you are panting a bit. The chances are, from what you say, that there is nothing wrong with you physically.

Any other symptoms? Generalised aches and pains for example, sweating, dizziness?

[spamthecan]

Other symptoms: yeah, dizziness; I feel cold a lot of the time; nausea; and I get numb fingers/toes. Exercise is out of the question, I can barely walk 20 feet without feeling like I'm about to black out.

[spamthecan]

And btw, it might come across that I'm sat here working myself up into a panicked frenzy about my symptoms: I'm not, not at all. I'm being very rational about it all, and I certainly don't think there's anything seriously wrong with me, I really don't.

[sqad617]

spam....just a bit puzzled here.

Irregular pulse with normal ECG......impossible.

[spamthecan]

I haven't had an ECG since the irregular heartbeats started, and they're not constant. E.g. I've not noticed any since 4am yesterday morning, when they were on and off for a couple of hours.

I've had ectopic beats for about 6 months, and those showed up on ECGs.

[sqad617]

Right.....so the ECG was NOT normal.

Sounds psychsomatic.

[spamthecan]

Although I don't like it (because I don't understand it), I can't rule out that my symptoms could be psychosomatic. If that IS the case, what do I do? For example, I'd love to be able to go for a run, but I am physically unable to. How do I start?