Health Scare - or Hypochondriac ?

[cessna152towser]

Forgive me if this post is silly, BUT
I've always passed every health check easily whether its a Civil Aviation Authority medical, a screening at the health centre, or going to give blood. That is until I went to donate blood this time and they refused the donation because my haemoglobin level was too low and giving a pint of blood would have left me anaemic. The nurse told me I'm perfectly well and healthy but just not fit enough to give blood right now and to leave it for six months. Well I felt really fit and healthy until I went into the donor centre but now I can hardly eat or sleep and can't concentrate on my work as I have convinced myself of the possibility that the unexplained fall in haemoglobin since my last medical could be caused by an early stage cancer starting somewhere in my gut causing slight blood loss by internal bleeding but so far no other symptoms. I feel I've just got to go to the doc and ask for further tests. I've always assumed it was God's will that so long as my wife is here I would continue in exceptionally good health for my age in order to be able to care for Ann, but suddenly for the first time I am fretful as to my own mortality. Not helped by the fact that a friend of my own age has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer, when he went to see his doc about what he thought was a hernia. Others here must have come through this point in life too, when for the first time in their lives you stop to consider the possibility of serious illness or death. Please tell me how I can expel these morbid thoughts from my mind and get back to normal life and let any necessary tests and treatments take their course without worrying about the eventual outcome.

[sorcererdale]

That is just the opposite of what I had. I had too much blood and too much iron. My blood was one point away from not donating. Ask your doctor for a coloscan-Es kit and test your self. Or maybe you haven't eaten enough meat. I wouldn't worry yet. And think positive, worry can hurt you.

DALE.

[McMurdo]

Alex
I am not sure how to banish thoughts like these. The first step as I see it would be to book an appointment with your physician, and then go from there. This might be something, and it might be nothing, however until you find out then nothing can be done about it. I sincerely hope this is nothing to be worried about but if you are having these feelings then what you are going through is real enough. Again I hope and pray that this is nothing to be worried about. All the best.

[ccga3359]

My wife went through something similar with her blood test for upcoming day-surgery. We'd gone through a cancer scare years before, ended up not being cancerous) but the seriousness in a medical secretary's call to come see the doctor as something has been found in the tests. Needless to say it ended up her being iron deficient. Doctor prescribed her iron pills and the fatique she used to feel went away. My Dad was told to eat more red meat at the age of 82 to build up his iron level. Alex take this as a sign, go see your Doctor, run a few tests just to make sure that everything is ok. perhaps you're suffering the same as my wife (except for her plumbing problems, that is ). You're probably run ragged taking care of Ann. You should realize though, that to take care of your wife you must take care of yourself. I feel everything will be alright.

[DTrain]

Whoa! I think you are "worrying yourself sick." A little anemia is very common and probably nothing significant. It could be a vitamin or an iron deficiency, as simple as that. If you don't have fatigue (worse than normal, that is--do you know anybody who's NOT a little fatigued?), or passing out episodes then it's probably just something to watch.

Echoing the others, just to be safe, get it checked with your local physician. Is it difficult to see a physician under the UK health program? I confess that I know very little about your health system. In the U.S., you would start with a general practicioner and then maybe a GI doctor for possible colonoscopy (if you have never had one). Over here, Katie Couric even televised hers.

[pdcorlis]

Could be one of dozens of things - but - unless there is a qualified physician here willing to diagnose by distance I think its best to sit down with your doctor and try to get to the bottom of things.

Here's wishing you the best.

[pdcorlis]

The sad truth is that the vast majority of health problems we may face can be solved with diet and exercise. I say sad because its almost always less of the first and more of the latter.

[Arlen]

First off, thank you for giving blood! there are too few folk in the U.K who do.
Second, I have been refused a few times because I am Anemic on and off.
Don't worry about it. Some days it is just as simple as not having got a lot of protein the week before and they want to be careful.
I am usually just fine giving blood, but had one occasion where my iron was juuuuust above the required level and I passed out half way though my pint.
Better safe than sorry.

[ccga3359]

I am usually just fine giving blood, but had one occasion where my iron was juuuuust above the required level and I passed out half way though my pint.
Better safe than sorry.

Well you're not supposed to go to the pub right after!*


*Although we used to go give blood in high skool then go for a couple of drafts afterwards, then go back to english class totally hammered! We ussually met a few teachers at the bar doing the same thing !

[Macman]

Alex, I've just now got back from giving blood, and there was a lady there with the same thing as you (low haemo). The nurse said it's not unusual. You are doing the right thing by getting it checked out by your doctor. If you were feeling fit and healthy before you went in, I'll bet you are!