I Am Anaemic, Having Muscle Weakness And Pressure Around Head. What Should I Do?

Posted on Wed, 10 Oct 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 Answered on

Fri, 2 Nov 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi! In october, i was severely anemic! But i still don't feel well after taking the iron tablets. 650 mg of iron pills each day. i don't feel well at all. i keep having muscle weakness, i can't barely make two steps and i am out of breath. after four steps i feel like i am going to pass out! i have been having severe tightness and pressure all around my head for 6 months now! as i am typing i might go the ER. i feel feel cold a lot of times. i feel joint pain all the time! i have been taking those iron pills i still don't feel well! thank you in advance!

Answered by Dr. Robert Galamaga (25 hours later)

Hello and thank you for sending your question.

Your question is a very good one and I will work on providing you with some information and recommendations regarding what is going on.

Anemia can cause a lot of different symptoms including fatigue and weakness which it sounds like you are experiencing.

There are many different possible causes of anemia including iron deficiency. I suspect that your doctors have tested you for this which is why you are taking iron. Other things can cause this type of anemia including vitamin deficiencies. For a young female such as yourself the most likely cause is bloodlust during menstrual periods.

If you are not able to tolerate the iron supplementation sometimes your doctor might recommend intravenous iron infusions.

It is obvious that you're having significant symptoms related to your anemia. I would suggest that you talk this over with your doctor to see if he or she might recommend that you get intravenous therapy.

Thanks again for sending your question. I am available to discuss this further with you if you have additionalfollow-up concerns.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar