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What Causes Severe Syncope, Sweating And Weakness In An Iron Deficiency Patient?
Question: I am a 70 year old woman with severe iron deficiency. Am taking iron tablets, 1 twice a day, ferr.sulf.(iron 65mg) 325 mg. at least once a day I go through a period of feeling very faint, get very pale and break out in a sweat that soaks my hair and upper body, to a point where the sweat is just running off my head and down my back and front. I feel very weak through this. It may last about 45 min then I am ok. I also suffer from severe depression and anxiety and have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and have had several Tia's or XXXXXXX strokes. Also about every few weeks I develope bleeding in my left eye. Can you help me?
Brief Answer:
Anemia primary cause for most of your symptoms; BP next
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I can understand how you must be feeling with a lot of mixed symptoms presenting, but let me try and address each of those symptoms for your better understanding.
1. If you do not mind, please do share your haemoglobin level so I can accurately answer your question. But judging from your query, I am sure it is at an unhealthy level.
Anemia (especially moderate or severe) can cause severe lethargy, fainting spells, weakness, loss of appetite, pale skin, sweating, headaches, loss of libido, hair loss, etc.
I am sure you can relate to many of the above symptoms, and they are all related to your anaemia (low haemoglobin levels), which needs to be addressed in a more appropriate manner. Just 2 tablets of iron supplements will not help for sure. For moderate or severe anaemia, blood transfusions along with oral supplements are the best management option.
In patients who have moderate-severe anaemia, cancer also needs to be ruled out as it is one of the most common causes for poor haemoglobin levels.
2. The micro-haemorrhages in your eyes that you keep experiencing are most probably due to your blood pressure, which is the primary cause for your TIA's. Please request your doctor to monitor your lipid profile, stress levels, and blood pressure at a more frequent interval; and also send you home with a Holter's ambulatory device for at least a 24 hour monitoring.
I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Anemia primary cause for most of your symptoms; BP next
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I can understand how you must be feeling with a lot of mixed symptoms presenting, but let me try and address each of those symptoms for your better understanding.
1. If you do not mind, please do share your haemoglobin level so I can accurately answer your question. But judging from your query, I am sure it is at an unhealthy level.
Anemia (especially moderate or severe) can cause severe lethargy, fainting spells, weakness, loss of appetite, pale skin, sweating, headaches, loss of libido, hair loss, etc.
I am sure you can relate to many of the above symptoms, and they are all related to your anaemia (low haemoglobin levels), which needs to be addressed in a more appropriate manner. Just 2 tablets of iron supplements will not help for sure. For moderate or severe anaemia, blood transfusions along with oral supplements are the best management option.
In patients who have moderate-severe anaemia, cancer also needs to be ruled out as it is one of the most common causes for poor haemoglobin levels.
2. The micro-haemorrhages in your eyes that you keep experiencing are most probably due to your blood pressure, which is the primary cause for your TIA's. Please request your doctor to monitor your lipid profile, stress levels, and blood pressure at a more frequent interval; and also send you home with a Holter's ambulatory device for at least a 24 hour monitoring.
I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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