Health issues

[Pip]

My back problems (pain related) are finally getting better and I no longer have carers round and Rick has been really helpful around the home.  I was thinking my health was finally getting better generally despite being anaemic for the past 10 months.  Over the months I've had tests but nothing has been found.  I saw my GP today as he's concerned over how much weight I've lost - from 78Kg down to 60.5 kg - combined with being anaemic.  He's now put for an urgent request for a ct scan to rule out cancer which hasn't exactly cheered me.

I also had an echo scan done recently as a blood test showed up something to do with my heart.  He's told me that blood s being pumped through my heart but one of my upper valves is becoming stiffer and a referral has been sent to a cardiologist.  The best case scenario is I'll be monitored. the worst is surgery which can be done by a wire being put up  into the valve to ease the problem instead of open heart surgery.

[The Rani]

So sorry to read your health is causing problems and you sound braver than me.

[Amanda]

My back problems (pain related) are finally getting better and I no longer have carers round and Rick has been really helpful around the home.  I was thinking my health was finally getting better generally despite being anaemic for the past 10 months.  Over the months I've had tests but nothing has been found.  I saw my GP today as he's concerned over how much weight I've lost - from 78Kg down to 60.5 kg - combined with being anaemic.  He's now put for an urgent request for a ct scan to rule out cancer which hasn't exactly cheered me.

I also had an echo scan done recently as a blood test showed up something to do with my heart.  He's told me that blood s being pumped through my heart but one of my upper valves is becoming stiffer and a referral has been sent to a cardiologist.  The best case scenario is I'll be monitored. the worst is surgery which can be done by a wire being put up  into the valve to ease the problem instead of open heart surgery.

I'm so sorry you're going through this just as you were starting to feel a bit better.  It sounds like you've got a good team on the case though and I'm really hoping it's the best case scenario for you!

[Pip]

Thanks,  my GP has been fantastic over trying to get to the bottom of why I am still anaemic and hopefully the appointments will be soon.

[Amanda]

Thanks,  my GP has been fantastic over trying to get to the bottom of why I am still anaemic and hopefully the appointments will be soon.

Obviously check with your GP first, but would an Iron supplement help?  Do you eat enough iron-rich foods like green, leafy veg and things like that?

[Pip]

I've been taking (prescription) iron tablets since January and it's odd that my B12 level is good yet my iron level isn't. The tests I've had done this year include an endoscopy and colonoscopy done which both came back as clear. The first time I had an endoscopy was in 2016 as I was in pain when eating solid food and there is family history of ulcers - Dad and Grandma - and my Dad had stomach cancer when he was 70 which he survived from. With the colonoscopy it was my choice to take part of the pre-bowel cancer screening although the colonoscopy was only done the first time but my GP thought it a good idea to have it done again.

My appetite has been virtually non existent for several months but I do make sure I eat at least one meal a day even if it isn't a huge amount. I like healthy food as I was raised on it, my Dad used to grow all of our veg and fruit. Back then I could be a fussy eater but I would eat uncooked cabbage and spinach plus broccoli and salad. Even now I will still eat spinach provided it's not cooked. This is why my GP is stumped over my anaemia.

[In the shadows]

I've just read this and it sounds like you're having a rough time of it.  Hope the ct scan comes back clear after you've had it and the cardiologist appointment is positive news.

[Amanda]

I've been taking (prescription) iron tablets since January and it's odd that my B12 level is good yet my iron level isn't.  The tests I've had done this year include an endoscopy and colonoscopy done which both came back as clear. The first time I had an endoscopy was in 2016 as I was in pain when eating solid food and there is family history of ulcers - Dad and Grandma - and my Dad had stomach cancer when he was 70 which he survived from.  With the colonoscopy it was my choice to take part of the pre-bowel cancer screening although the colonoscopy was only done the first time but my GP thought it a good idea to have it done again.

My appetite has been virtually non existent for several months but I do make sure I eat at least one meal a day even if it isn't a huge amount.  I like healthy food as I was raised on it, my Dad used to grow all of our veg and fruit.  Back then I could be a fussy eater but I would eat uncooked cabbage and spinach plus broccoli and salad.  Even now I will still eat spinach provided it's not cooked.  This is why my GP is stumped over my anaemia.

It sounds like you are doing everything you can, but it might be wise to eat more than one (light?) meal a day.  As you are eating so little, it might be worth asking to get your vitamin B1 levels checked too, but you'd need to pay for that unfortunately.