Health Matters: Part Two

So since I last spoke about my health (or lack of it), I have been to see the doctor (as I got ill AGAIN) and was referred for blood tests. And yesterday I got the results. I had the tests last week and casually rang the doctor's surgery on Monday to see if they were back. The woman on the 'phone said yes and I was to make an appointment as the doctor wanted to see me. Cue immediate panic. Over the top panic in fact, where I found the 'C' word (no not the rude word) circulating around in my head. I had 48 hours from the 'phone call to the actual appointment to wait and in that time I had dreamed up all sorts that it could be and was certainly a bit of a nervous wreck.

Anyway, I get into the doctor's office and he is as cool as a cucumber, waiting to deliver my long awaited results. Turns out I have 'enlarged red blood cells.' Hmm ok. Don't quite know what that means and to be honest, he wasn't that clear in his explanation. The words 'anaemia' and 'folates' and 'folic acid' were bandied about before asking me I was a vegan, I certainly am not! (Not that there's anything wrong with it, but I could not give up bacon or chicken curry!) Because of that, he didn't really have an explanation as to why those red blood cells would be like that. From the little bit of research I have done, it could have started when I was pregnant as I had to take iron tablets then as I was low on iron. He says I must have had it quite a while as they are very enlarged and if left untreated I would basically become officially anaemic. Even though I already have the symptoms of anaemia anyway. The whole conversation, in truth, was quite confusing and lacking in detail and explanation (I'm an English teacher so I live for detail and explanation unfortunately). He did say though, that I would be feeling poorly and lethargic until we could get it under control. I worked out from the NHS website, that I would have a lowered immune system too, so would be catching all sorts.

So at least I now know why I have felt so dreadful since the end of September. I have a course of tablets to take, for about four months and then see how it is then. I have to have more blood tests in a month to see if the cells are any different after a month of tablets. It seems that this is something I possibly could have to live with forever, again, from what I can see from the research I have done. So I will have to wait and see.