Struggling With Anemia

In medical terms, anemia is a "condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness". In simple layman terms it is being deficient in blood aka low blood.

About four years ago, at age 15, I was hospitalized for the first time that I can remember and I was diagnosed with Anemia.

Anemia has been in my life for a while now that it has become my normal.

I don't have an extreme form of anemia, but as young female, its essential for me to have a normal blood level.

Living with anemia...

It is

why I breathe so heavily after a few strides of steps, making me feel like I am so unhealthy for a person who tries to stay active.

Living with anemia, is sudden dizziness and slight blackouts,

its lacking energy or not being able to run for two minutes without being completely out of breath.

Yes, anemia is extreme fatigue, weakness, pale skin, lightedheadness, headaches and I ....

I am just a college student who wants to go out on runs when its sunny and climb flight of stairs without being completely out of breath every time.

Anemia is my normal but I want to familiarize with another normal, a good type of normal.

So about a month ago I went to the hospital to see my doctor for my 3 month follow up. It was nothing unusual, the nurse came in, a bit chit chat while she took my vitals. She said everything was okay and I patiently sat down scrolling through my phone waiting on my doctor.

A couple minutes passed, she came in and we spoke, analyzed my previous results as the nurse drew some blood.

The nurse came back in again, after a few minutes and announced that my blood raised from an 8 to an 11. I was happy because we were just discussing the possibility of my system resisting the iron supplements.

I was honestly ready to get my keys and leave and then my doctor added "well thats very good, seems like the iron supplements are working" and I smiled and sat probably .

Then she said " unfortunately you've to stay on the iron supplements for 30 something more years" and everything else she said after that, my mind couldn't grasp, her words just faded after that sentence.

Her words felt heavy, and I just slowly nodded as my face dropped whilst she laughed a little, lightening the sudden dull room.

I processed the information, shrugged it off and later shared the good news about my blood level on my family group chat and simply accepted Qadr (fate ).

Yet I still think about it, her words keep repeating in my head every now and then.

I am scared, perhaps a little too scared to even admit to myself.

I am not sure what exactly am scared about or if I should even be.

I mean the fact I have to be dependent on a pill for over 2 decades kind of sends chills down my spine

but then again finally I am fighting....

I am fighting against anemia, and that was the goal right?

Right..

How many of you are diagnosed with anemia?

if not anemia, are you diagnosed with any illness? how does it feel?

well hopefully you are a healthy being whose only struggle health wise is to eat smaller portions, add more salad to meals or if you are African maybe its to cook with less oil.

Hopefully you are healthy and living

and If you do have any form of illness, you too are healthy and living but exceptionally strong.