HomeAnswersGeneral PractitioneranemiaAre headache, nausea, confusion and pale skin symptoms of anemia?

Can I have headache, nausea, fatigue and pale skin due to anemia?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. K. Shobana

Published At November 21, 2020
Reviewed AtJanuary 5, 2024

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am a 21-year-old female who needs your help. I have been sick for almost a year. This condition happened two years back while writing my second-semester exams. At that time, I can recall my assignments and works to be done for two to three weeks as I was drinking Powerade and energizers. I am not an active person in terms of work out. During the morning, I waked up with a feeling of lightheadedness as I was going to die. It was accompanied by headache, nausea, shaking hands, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and a pale body. I consulted a general practitioner and he assumed that I have anemia. He gave me pills and it helped me slightly. Everything came back to normal. I returned to my studies. After three months, my gums began to recede and I started to bleeding in my teeth while brushing. Gaps began to form between my teeth and it was alarming me. I consulted a dentist and she took a scan. But she could not rule out the cause and so she referred me to a periodontist. He ruled out the cause saying that I have gum problems and told me to have surgery. I underwent surgery after a month. I took only soft foods for two months. I was taking antibiotics and pills to prevent my stomach from becoming upset by the antibiotics. Finally, my stomach ended becoming upset causing permanent itching in my anus. My bowel became constipated. It became worse to a point where I need to see a gastroenterologist and he ruled out the cause as pruritis ani. He gave me a cream to apply and it provided some relief for two weeks. Still now, I experience itchiness in my anus. After four months, I started to have similar symptoms. I waked up one morning with a feeling of lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, confusion and the condition was intense. It happened after taking a drink of a small can that night. Finally, I concluded that energy drinks are my triggering agents. Some days went away and I convinced myself of anemia again. After a month, I went to see a physician. He did some physical tests and everything was normal. He told me to do some blood tests and CT brain scans. The doctor told me that if both are normal, then I need to consult a psychiatrist and if not, then I need to see a neurologist. I did these blood tests and it came back normal. I am planning to do CT brain scan after a month. But my body was getting worse and so I went to a hospital to do CT brain scan. I did the scan and they told me to come back after a month. I was waiting for the results for a month. Then lockdown came and so I was not able to get my scan results. After a month, my body condition became so worse and so pleased with the hospital to get my scan reports. I was told to come on that day and waited for some hours inside the hospital to get my scan reports. After some time, I came to know that my scan reports were lost. I do not have any improvement in my body and my symptoms get aggravated when I am near my periods, or when I am furious, or when the weather is cold. Everyone around me has different suggestions about my condition. Some people think that I have an anxiety disorder, migraine and my mum thinks that I have this issue due to stress. I lost my father at nine years old and my dad's sister bewitched me after fighting with my mother for the funds left by my father. It happened around 12 years of age. At 14 years, my mum sent me to a boarding school. Life became hell and at that time, I attempted suicide by taking an overdose of pills on an empty stomach. But later on, I changed my mind and ate food as I heard my mum telling about my aunt who was worried about me. After three years, I came back home. I had to stay with my mom and stepdad for the first time. They were toxic towards me. I cooked for them and did all the chores. I handled all my house chores with my school works. My stepdad harassed me sexually and I am not able to forget it and it happened for two years. I was not able to tell this to my mum as she believes my stepdad in everything. She talks with me about house chores only. I was not allowed to visit my cousins and aunties who stayed an hour away from me. When I outed my stepfather for his behavior two years, my mum told me to forgive him. My stepdad never came to apologize and he mistreated me. My mum always says a word that I am a girl. She never remained supportive of me. Even my current state also does not alarm her at all. Before few weeks, my aunt called my mother and my mum told me that I am living a strange life and our relationship is not like mom and daughter. Again she blamed me. My aunt called me for talking and she told me that they are suspecting you to come out. Even yesterday, my mum fought with me. Her closing words that I need to oblige her words and she is the woman of the house and my stepdad is the man of the house. Does my stress play any role in my condition? My exam commences tomorrow and I am not able to focus on my studies. Please help.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Therapy and lifestyle modification are the best solutions for your condition. I suggest you take some medications. You can take tablet Zincovit (multivitamins) twice a day for a month. Take tablet Vitamin C chewable 500 mg twice a day for a month. Continue taking your iron supplements. Stop taking sugary drinks and sodas for a few months. Reduce your sugar intake in the diet. Do some exercise. Do walking or stretching for 20 minutes thrice a week. Do meditation. Close your eyes and sit in a comfortable position. Do this for 10 to 20 minutes every day. Try to go through thoughts passively and keep breathing. Maintain a gratitude journal and write five things that you are grateful for every morning before starting your day. Have a follow-up every week. Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Kanitkar Nishant Rajeev
Dr. Kanitkar Nishant Rajeev

General Practitioner

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