Thread: Severe anemia -like really severe

So the Dr. told me this week, "You're a little anemic. A normal hemoglobin (Canadian measure) is 85 to 140. Your's is 4. " 4! And that was before the period from hell. He said he'll get me on a waiting list to see a gynie, but what do I do in the mean time? What if I start bleeding all over my friend's couch again? Can you live with NO hemoglobin. How severe do symptoms have to be before I go to E.R.?
I'm light-headed, short of breath, heart pounds, chest aches, I tremble after any effort and I'm drowsy, drowsy, drowsy. And scared. Has anybody else experienced this?

I had the same problem but not quite so severe.I am on 975mlgs a day of iron and on a drug called provera to at least slow the bleeding befor my hysterectomy.I dont know your levels there,but it sounds like you are close or at the point of a blood transfusion.I also have the fatigue,and my resting heart rate is about 110.When you are so low on blood your heart has to pump that much harder to keep up your blood volume.It can also drop you bp down.Call your docter and tell him he needs to help you befor you see the gyne! Good luck to you,
Amber

My Dr. actually called me this morning. 4 was my Ferritin level. Still very low, but not hemoglobin. He said I'm in the transfusion zone but he wants to avoid it due to problems with the blood supply. He said I should be OK as long as I don't loose any more blood. My last periods were 2 weeks apart. I hope this cycle is longer. It's better than thinking I was going to die in my sleep.