Anemia?

[IfPiratesCouldFly]

Iono if this is where this goes and whatnot, but I'm a vegetarian, and I am ALWAYS tired, and I'm pretty sure its anemia, but I juss need some sort of confirmation, and I don't want to go to the doctor's, mostly because I'm deathly afraid of getting blood drawn / needles.
thank you :3

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Well, a blood test is really the only way to tell for sure if it's anemia. I can tell you though, that all the times they've tested me for it, it's just been a finger prick, they don't have to take much for that particular test. Although, a lot of other things could account for being tired a lot. You say you're a vegetarian. Are you getting enough protein? Eating eggs, nuts, fish (if you eat it, I know some vegetarians do), things like that? If not, that could be part of the problem. Physical activity can help too, oddly enough. If you just sit around a lot of the time, it's not uncommon to end up feeling sort of sluggish. Try going for a walk sometime, maybe for 15 or 20 minutes 2 or 3 days a week, just to get moving. It doesn't even have to be a fast walk, it's just to get your blood pumping a bit. And also, the obvious one: are you getting enough sleep? Most teens need about 9 hours of sleep per night, are you getting that most nights? If not, try to get to bed a little earlier. Even just an extra hour of sleep can help a lot.

If you really do think it's anemia though, go ahead and get it checked out. Better for them to prick your finger and find out for sure, than to not know and be stressing out. And hey, they only have to do it once, and then it's over. When they prick your finger they don't even use a needle, it's a little thing that the put over your finger, they push a button and a tiny little razor blade makes just the smallest little cut. Feels pretty much like a paper cut. Quick and (relatively) painless. The doctor may want to check your thyroid levels as well though, since thyroid problems can cause sluggishness, and in that case you will have to get blood drawn. If you can though, get it done on a Saturday morning, and go out for breakfast afterwards. That's what my mom and I always do, and it makes the whole ordeal easier to do. :)

[IfPiratesCouldFly]

Thank you :3 I'm not really worried about having anemia, its just I want to know without the whole doctor's visit. I'm not heavily physically active, i do walk, i go to the mall a lot go on walks with my gf now and then i get more sleep than i should which is why i wonder, like...on weekends i go to sleep late cos why not but usually i sleep ALL day and all night, example, I go to sleep at 11 if i'm tired, wake up 3, chill for a bit, go to sleep at 6 wake up at 1. Go back to sleep at 3AM. It really messes with my hours, but I do sleep a lot.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Hm, oversleeping can make you tired as well, believe it or not. You could try setting your alarm on the weekends so it goes off about 11 or 12 hours after you fall asleep (when you go to bed, check the time, and set the alarm then). That way you're still getting extra sleep and all that, but it's not too much. If you find that you NEED the sleep, and you're not just being lazy, then see your doctor, there could be something wrong. Needing to sleep up to 20 hours a day is just not normal.

[IfPiratesCouldFly]

Alright :) thank you again

[ScotsGirl]

Jessi has totally covered this, but I just wanted to say that they won't usually test just for Iron levels in your blood. Which means that you would more than likely have to have a full blood test.
Sleeping for such long lengths of time is not healthy but I know its possible because I have done it myself, and yes, I have anemia.

As much as your are terrified of needles, I think you should go and get it checked out, but it is entirely your choice. :)
(Facing your fears can be a step towards overcoming them)

xxx