Anaemia is a tricky one when it comes to blood transfusions and iron shots.

My Medical Choice members are equipped to legally refuse transfusions for surgery and other blood loss issues and are educated on the well-established alternatives to transfusion.

However, when it comes to anaemia, the healthcare system seems to offer only transfusion and/or iron shots.

So, if you have anaemia and are concerned about transfusion and injections, what can you do? Especially if you need surgery and they won’t operate until the anaemia is under control.

First of all, members concerned about anaemia should read their Help Sheet, Optimising Blood for Surgery – particularly the section on supplements. However, it’s helpful that the information in the Help Sheet regarding the type of supplementation to take has been validated by a recent Tik Tock video by Morley Robbins in which he explains what really causes anaemia, the problems with iron shots, and the fallibility of blood tests.

The potted version is: taking iron shots and supplements doesn’t work and makes things worse in the long-term, So, rather than try and balance essential mineral and vitamin supplements, such as copper and vitamin A, it’s far more effective, safer, and easier to go to nature’s version, such as liver (or desiccated liver if you can’t bear the stuff, like me.)

This is because nature’s version has all the supporting vitamins and minerals in the right proportions needed to do the job in one product – and it doesn’t come with nasty side effects and invasive procedures.

Understanding Anaemia:

Anaemia is a condition characterised by a decrease in the total amount of red blood cells or a reduction in the level of haemoglobin in the blood. This can lead to a reduced ability of the blood to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues, resulting in various symptoms such as fatigue and weakness.

Key Takeaways:

• Definition: Anaemia is a reduction in red blood cells or haemoglobin.
• Types: There are several types of anaemia, each with its causes.
• Symptoms: Common symptoms include fatigue, paleness, and shortness of breath.
• Diagnosis and Treatment: Blood tests are essential for diagnosis, and treatment depends on the type and cause of anaemia.

What Causes Anaemia?

Anaemia can result from:

• Decreased production of red blood cells.
• Increased destruction of red blood cells.
• Loss of blood.

Types of Anaemia

There are several types of anaemia, including:

• Iron-deficiency anaemia: Caused by a shortage of iron in the body.
• Vitamin-deficiency anaemia: Resulting from a deficiency in vitamin B12 or folic acid.
• Aplastic anaemia: Where the body stops producing enough new blood cells.
• Haemolytic anaemia: Where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they’re produced.

Symptoms of Anaemia

The symptoms of anaemia can vary depending on the cause and severity, but common symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Pale or yellowish skin
• Irregular heartbeats
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or light-headedness

Diagnosing and Treating Anaemia

Diagnosis

A complete blood count (CBC) test is typically used to diagnose anaemia. It measures various components of the blood, including haemoglobin and hematocrit levels.

Treatment

Treatment for anaemia depends on the type, cause, and severity of the condition. Treatments may include:

• Dietary changes or supplements: For deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12, or folic acid.
• Medications: To increase the production of red blood cells or to prevent their destruction.
• Procedures: Such as blood transfusions or bone marrow transplants.

 Sarah’s Unexpected Diagnosis

Sarah, a 28-year-old teacher, always prided herself on her active lifestyle. However, over a few months, she began to feel constantly tired and found herself out of breath after climbing a flight of stairs. Assuming it was stress, she tried to push through, but the symptoms persisted. A visit to her GP and a subsequent blood test revealed she had iron-deficiency anaemia. With the right supplements and dietary changes, Sarah was back to her energetic self in a few months. Her story underscores the importance of listening to one’s body and seeking medical advice when something feels off.

My Medical Choice is all about your Medical Autonomy in healthcare and making sure the emergency team treating you follows your specific wishes. When used correctly, it is a powerful system that can notify medical teams about allergies, procedures etc., right down to more personalised decisions such as people concerned about mRNA in blood, and/or, wanting a solution to vaccinated blood (as listed in the examples in some articles).

My Medical Choice is not here to judge your decision, it is about empowering people to have control over their own healthcare.