Was wondering if someone can help me explain these episodes

[Tlevert]

Hi I'm a 35 year old female with the sickle cell trait and been experiencing episodes of feeling faint since I was 18. I still have not figured out why I get so out of breath. When I was working out it seemed to make my chest hurt so I had to slow down. I'm not sure what's going on. The doctors can't seem to find out what's wrong with me.

[bluebug]

Get your iron tested. You need both haemoglobin and ferritin done.

If the haemoglobin is lower than 120g/L and/or your ferritin is lower than 30 then you need iron supplements. However some doctors disagree with where the ferritin level should be and think that as long as you are in the range you are OK. As the range for ferritin can start at 7 then you can see that there is a large difference from someone at 7 and someone at 30.

If your GP refuses to do the tests then you are going to have to pay a private provider. It is possible for the GP to do just these two tests only. They do not need to do a full blood count so ask for the tests by name.

Once you have the test ask for a copy of the test results and their ranges within 7 days. It is free and your legal right to have them as a patient if you ask for them in the UK.

[twyishawalker]

I go through the same episodes. Also I have real bad body pain. I used to try to tell my family members and the doctor. But everyone thought I was being dramatic. Until one day I told my husband all day long that I'm having very bad body pains. I wasn't feeling well at all. He didn't believe me. I guess the pain got so bad I passed out. All I remember was him waking me up and telling me he pick me up off the floor. Anytime I tell him I'm in pain, he listens to me.