Yesterday's appointment was, as expected, largely uneventful. My weight was up a little more than would be ideal, but the reprimand was pretty mild. I forced myself to go to the gym yesterday, which actually felt good. I've been exceptionally gym-lazy lately, so perhaps it will start a new habit. I also ate a real dinner (i.e. not cereal or snacks), which I rarely do when P works late, which happens very infrequently but happened last night and will again tonight.
The doctor commented that I looked run down. I told her that I had never really gotten that burst of energy that people claim comes with the second trimester. I also mentioned the whole fainting on the bus episode (and a few near-fainting episodes before and since), since I had spoken to the nurse and the midwife at the time. She decided to send me for bloodwork. Note that I told her at my 16 week appointment that I have a history of anemia and that I was feeling run down, and she said then that they normally don't run another round of bloodwork until 28 weeks and that I should try to ride it out. And so I did. Needless to say, yesterday's bloodwork came back this morning and my RBC, HGB, and HCT are all low. Shocking. She hasn't called yet to tell me whether they are low enough to justify doing anything and if so what. I'm going to have to resist the urge to say I told you so.
Anyone know at what point one's RBC, HGB, and HCT are sufficiently low to bother with supplements? I know that the "normal" range is lower for pregnant women, but I had trouble finding a pregnant-person range online anywhere.
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8 comments:
I hope the bloodwork results get you some action that makes you feel more energetic. I hate when doctors don't listen to us. I've gotten better at telling my normal doctors what to do, but I'm not there yet with the new OB.
I second Jen's wishes that there can be some benefit to knowing this info- that they'll DO something.
Congrats on your pregnancy! I also cannot stand when doctors think they know all! I wish more would really listen to their patients! Hope you are feeling better soon! NCLM
Hopefully your bloodwork results will motivate your doctor to take a more proactive approach. Feeling run-down over a long period of time can be hard on both your mind and body - hopefully there's an easy fix for you.
I'm here via NCLM, with nothing really notable to add to your questions I'm afraid. Completely useless, me.
I will say that I was exhausted in my second trimester, and also wondered who those lying liars were who said I wouldn't be tired anymore. You're not the only one!
Yay for an uneventful appt. except for the levels that is. Seriously I (and my husband who is in medicine) completely agree that the patient knows their body better than anyone. Except that is within a 2 week wait. Then you really don't know Jack. ;) Hopefully things will be straightened out now.
I don't get why docs don't really listen. What harm would have been done by just running the test when you asked for it.
But hoping now they give you something to make you feel a little bit better
I can't remember the ranges off the top of my head, except to say that yes, there is a physiological anaemia of pregnancy.
But.
If you're symptomatic, that's probably enough to treat it, anyway.
J
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