Is there any way to know if you're anaemic apart from a blood test?

Symptoms can be weakness and lack of energy but since they can be indicative of so many other conditions, a blood test would be needed for confirmation.

You need the blood test.

I’m going to assume you’re talking about Iron Deficiency Anemia. I think the main symptoms are weakness and fatigue. But some people might also have heart palpitations, look very pale or might have difficulty with sleep and/or concentration. But you can’t make a diagnosis off of symptoms only. It’s just a simple blood test to look at your red blood cells.

A blood test is the only certifiable way to diagnose anemia, but, I have a friend that found out she was iron deficient and she chews ice all the time.

Are you craving ice?

@Coloma No frikkin way! It’s freezing here.

My adult daughter was feeling very droopy recently; a blood test confirmed anemia. She is taking iron tabs. plus vitamin C (not on an empty stomach please) and starting to eat meat again and dark greens like spinach mixed with orange slices.

Thank you for your answers everyone :)
I think I’ll go for one, and I’m gonna start having more of the stuff you mentioned @gailcalled :)

@queenie: Google “foods with iron.”

Like everyone said, you need to blood test to be certain. Symptoms can be a clue, but they could be caused by other things as well. Glad you decided to go in for the test. Anemia is commom in women and is pretty easy to “fix” if it’s not severe – and it makes a big difference in how you feel.

If we are talking about iron anemia, besides being tired, muscle weakness, and if you get sick often, your lips and especially tongue will likely be very light pink, rather than red. Your face might tend to be pale and washed out looking also, if you are caucasian.

I am anemic. My doctor did a blood test but while I was in he office he also told me another quick way some people test to see if they need a blood test or not. Squeeze your palm together then release it and look at the lines on your hand. Are they invisible, or are they more red-ish?

@queenie: Afterthought; According to my daughter there are several different kinds of iron supplements…verify which one makes sense for you.

@gailcalled I don’t know if I’m anaemic or not, so don’t really know which iron supplements I need. I’ll tell you when I get it done though.
@kb12345 I think they’re invisible…

Just be warned that too much iron is very dangerous. Don’t take mega doses of supplements until you get the blood tests. My GYN can do a finger prick blood test for iron in her office in less than a minute. A full CBC she needs to send to a lab.

I’ve been extremely anemic in the past. So much so that at least one doctor on Fluther said it was “nearly incompatible with life.” And I agreed. I was lethargic, I craved ice, I had trouble concentrating, a bad memory, I was pale, weak, shaky and my heart pounded randomly. Sometimes I felt fine, other times I couldn’t open a soda can. My grip was just not strong enough.

At the time apparently I wasn’t absorbing Vitamin C well and I wasn’t picking up the iron I was eating. I won’t go into how fucked up that combination is – but it was seriously not good. I ended up getting a Vitamin C Powder from Whole Foods, I mix ¼ teaspoon in cold water – about the size of a double shot, and take my iron with it. I then eat a meal as soon as possible avoiding all dairy.

Apparently, calcium works against the absorption of iron, vitamin c works with your body to absorb it more efficiently. My way doesn’t taste like heaven, the Vit C/Water shot is a bit bitter, kinda gets you in the jaw but it’s over fast and it’s given me the best results.

And now I only have to take two Nu-Iron pills a day. I usually do it when I wake up with breakfast. As far as which supplement to use, I’ve used a ton of them but Nu-Iron is my favorite. Try a couple. Nu-Iron just doesn’t upset my stomach as badly, seems to give me better results but it’s more expensive. To me, it’s worth it.

You can do a quick home assessment too (not a replacement for pro diagnostics) On an area of your skin that is normally colored (the gums are good) press for a few seconds and let go. It should be pale and replenish before you can say “one, and a”. If replenishment is slow, there’s an issue.

I think your nails get affected too and are more curly – as they grow they upturn and become dipped on top.

when you give blood they test your iron there.

@asmonet I’m glad you’re better now.
@Blueroses I’ll definitley try that thanks :)
@Stinley Hmm, I don’t grow my nails :-/

@asmonet I don’t know about the calcium, certainly could be true, but dairy in general inhibits absorption of everything, some morenthan others. The acid in citrus and the c helps the iron. Also, iron supplments absorb better without food. Never drink citrus, especially grapefruit juice with any medications that could be dangerous if absorbed too quickly, certainly medications have resulted in death when combined with grapefruit juice, Seldane was the famous one. Just thought you might want to know.

@JLeslie Do you have time for anything else but medical knowledge in your life?

@janbb Is it annoying? I don’t know why that knowledge stays in my brain. My mom is the same. Neither of us have any science education, except high school.

@asmonet I thought I would mention that one concern with very low iron is possible blood loss in the colon. If your bowel movements have been bloody or black and tarry, that is something to definitely address. Although, tons of people, including myself, have low iron and no specific bleeding ailments.

@JLeslie Oh, I know! I can’t take iron on an empty stomach or I just throw it up. So I eat it with breakfast which is usually oats or grits and fruit. And believe me I’m well educated on possible causes of anemia. I have no discernible cause for it, but it’s still a major issue for me. As long as I take my supplements I’m all good. :)

But thank you! Good information to share nonetheless. :)

@asmonet I meant to address that last post to the OP, sorry for the mistake. Yeah, it is very common for people to get an upset stomach without eating something with iron.

I call myself anemic (but I know I’m not actually) during my period when I’ve lost blood. Mainly I notice that alcohol and caffeine hit me harder than usual, and I get winded easily. If these symptoms happen a lot, I would suspect someone is anemic.

@sliceswiththings You just said you know your not, so why are you using those symptoms for anemia? There is also evidence that women have a lower pain threshold during their periods, but it is not because of anemia, evidence shows it is likely due to prostaglandins.