Symptoms are a finicky thing, aren’t they? So many diseases have ones that overlap, so you really have to be mindful of any changes that may go on in your body as time progresses.
Exhaustion, which is common in fibromyalgia, is one symptom that is especially problematic, because so many other disorders have that same problem. One issue that has this symptom overlap (and others) is fibromyalgia. Let’s take a look at the two and compare them.
What Are the Symptoms of Anemia?
Before we really get into the symptoms of anemia, first, let’s take a look at what anemia actually is. Most of us know at least one person who struggles with anemia – it is estimated that it affects between 2 and 4 million people in the United States alone, with estimates of over 20 million people all over the world. What happens when you have anemia is that your body is not producing enough red blood cells for your blood stream to function appropriately.
Without enough of these red blood cells, it’s difficult for your body to get oxygen from place to place. Oxygen helps the different organs to be able to do their jobs, and if you aren’t getting enough, those organs are going to struggle in doing what they are supposed to do.
Many times, anemia occurs because of deficiencies in a person’s diet – most times, it’s associated with a lack of iron, but it could also be a lack of certain vitamins as well. Other causes of anemia could be genetics, chronic diseases (yes, including fibromyalgia), and particular medications that an individual may be taking for particular chronic illnesses.
It is also incredibly common for women who are pregnant to end up being anemic during their pregnancy, because the baby is taking some of their nutrients. There may be other causes as well, but these are the main ones.
So, now that we understand what it is and why it happens to certain people, how do you know if you have anemia? One of the most obvious symptoms that you may have to deal with is fatigue, which, as you know, is also a problem that people with fibromyalgia usually deal with as well. It’s hard to make your body work when it’s already in a lot of pain, and it can be exhausting.
Other symptoms can include an inability to stay warm, mental health struggles like anxiety and depression, difficulty breathing, weakness, and cognitive problems like trouble remembering and/or concentrating. And, if you’re familiar with all of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, you will notice that a lot of those symptoms overlap, which makes it difficult for doctors to notice if anemia is going on. The good news is, anemia can be discovered through blood tests, so if there seem to be any symptoms going on, the doctor can order the blood test and determine what exactly is going on with your body.
Why Do Those with Fibromyalgia Seem to Struggle with Anemia as Well?
So why do anemia and fibromyalgia overlap? One of the main reasons is because there are a lot of nutrition issues that come alongside fibromyalgia. Either we aren’t paying enough attention to our diet in order to make sure that we are getting sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals, or we have digestive issues that make it difficult for our body to actually get all the nutrients out of the food that we’re eating. With disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, it can really end up messing up your body, so you have to be more aware of what you’re ingesting and how much of each nutrient you are getting on a regular basis.
That being said, treating your anemia can actually make a significant difference in your fibromyalgia. Anemia shouldn’t go untreated in the first place, because it could end up causing damage to your organs and could cause you to develop other chronic illnesses in the long run. But when you’ve got fibromyalgia and anemia together, it’s that much more vital. Many people who have fibromyalgia and anemia will work on treating their anemia, and then realize that their fibromyalgia symptoms are lessened and they are a lot more comfortable than they were before getting their anemia treated.
It begs the question – do most people with fibromyalgia have low iron? Should all people who have fibromyalgia also be treated as if they have anemia, so that they can see some relief from the symptoms that they are trying to overcome and deal with? These are important questions to consider, because if we can give people more relief from their fibromyalgia symptoms, it will be a lot better in the long run.
All in all, anemia isn’t a frightening thing, as long as you catch it in time and you treat it properly. And if you pay attention to your symptoms, you will be able to notice if things start to swing one way or another with your fibromyalgia symptoms. It can take some time and practice for you to be able to do so.
Use a journal or some other way of keeping track of the symptoms you deal with regularly. Overall, when you figure out that you have anemia, you need to start dealing with it as soon as you can. Your doctor will be able to help you out with all of that.
Anemia and fibromyalgia often go hand in hand, which is why it’s vital that we understand the symptoms of both in order to ensure that treatment is doing what it should. Getting on a regular sleep schedule, eating right, and taking supplements can all play a significant role in helping you to feel better and have more energy.
Your doctor can also give you other suggestions that should help you feel better and have a higher quality of life than you would have otherwise. Don’t change your diet and/or exercise routine without their agreement and consent, so that they can keep track of things as well.
Further reading:
Anemia and Fibromyalgia: http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/fibromyalgia_anemia.html
Fibromyalgia Associated with Higher Rate of Iron Deficient Anemia:
Anemia & Fibromyalgia: How’s Your Iron Level?:
http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2012/04/13/anemia-fibromyalgia-hows-your-iron-level.htm
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