Is being out of breath a sign of being anemic?

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Originally Posted by GPMS She shouldn't take an iron supplement prior to consulting with a doctor first and have blood work to confirm or rule out anemia. Being overweight can cause shortness of breath, we should not speculate based on a very common symptom for many things.

In the context of heavy bleeding, it's a logical conclusion. Anyone who is menstruating should take a vitamin w iron anyway.

The post implies being seen and followed by a doctor pre surgery. Anemia is a logical reason for shortness of breath. The question was "can anemia cause shortness of breath?" The answer is.

Yes.

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Originally Posted by Beth0810 In the context of heavy bleeding, it's a logical conclusion. Anyone who is menstruating should take a vitamin w iron anyway. The post implies being seen and followed by a doctor pre surgery. Anemia is a logical reason for shortness of breath. The question was "can anemia cause shortness of breath?" The answer is. Yes.

I think the issue was the sequence of instructions: 1) take iron supplement; 2) see doctor. If you're going to see a doctor to run a CBC to test for anemia, you don't want to start taking iron supplements beforehand because that will affect the results of the test.

The other issue is that a true answer to the wrong question can be misleading. Anemia can indeed cause shortness of breath. However, not all instances of SOB are caused by anemia. Myself, I would wonder if anxiety over upcoming surgery could cause SOB.

So myself, I'd suggest that the original poster check in with her doc before assuming anemia is the cause of her SOB and starting on iron supplements.

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Originally Posted by SurprisedInNB I think the issue was the sequence of instructions: 1) take iron supplement; 2) see doctor. If you're going to see a doctor to run a CBC to test for anemia, you don't want to start taking iron supplements beforehand because that will affect the results of the test. The other issue is that a true answer to the wrong question can be misleading. Anemia can indeed cause shortness of breath. However, not all instances of SOB are caused by anemia. Myself, I would wonder if anxiety over upcoming surgery could cause SOB. So myself, I'd suggest that the original poster check in with her doc before assuming anemia is the cause of her SOB and starting on iron supplements.

She said in the original post that she IS anemic. So iron supplements would be a logical suggestion. I'm out. Good luck, OP!

Just confirmed I am severely anemic. They want me to take a short course of high dose bcps or Lysteda. Surgery in 2 weeks. May have to postpone. Right now just have to stop the bleeding. Thank you!

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Originally Posted by staceylynnc Just confirmed I am severely anemic. They want me to take a short course of high dose bcps or Lysteda. Surgery in 2 weeks. May have to postpone. Right now just have to stop the bleeding. Thank you!

Hopefully the bleeding will get under control and they will be able to raise your levels. As a person who lives with anemia I know that the symptoms are horrible. May the physicians hands be guided to give you relief. May your surgery be as soon as possible once everything is under control.

Thank you! My level is 8.8 I am taking 2 iron pills a day and the Lysteda stopped the bleeding. What level is safe for surgery? My Dr hasn't mentioned a transfusion and says there won't be much blood loss with a LAVH.

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Originally Posted by staceylynnc Thank you! My level is 8.8 I am taking 2 iron pills a day and the Lysteda stopped the bleeding. What level is safe for surgery? My Dr hasn't mentioned a transfusion and says there won't be much blood loss with a LAVH.

I think every doctor has their own safe number. For me my doctor wanted m me to at least get to a 10 I am at a 9 currently. However my primary doctor says that the surgery is possible at an 8. Their are people on here that were lower then a 8 and still had the surgery. I think you should ask your doctor. I know I did and was told worst case scenario I would get a blood transfusion to try to boost my numbers. So I go next Thursday to see if the iron infusion and the iron supplements have boosted my number and then we wil go from there. Is this the first time you have been diagnosed with anemia?