Symptom 7: Anemia or Fatigue
Everyone experiences bouts of tiredness after a hard day’s work or lack of sleep. However, for SRCC patients, this fatigue isn’t fleeting; it’s a constant, often debilitating companion. It’s not just about needing a good night’s sleep; it’s about a body struggling to keep up due to a decline in red blood cells, leading to anemia.
Anemia is akin to running a machine on low fuel. Red blood cells, responsible for transporting oxygen, are in shorter supply. Consequently, muscles and organs don’t receive the requisite oxygen, resulting in weariness. This isn’t the ordinary kind of tired; it’s a profound fatigue, one that even ample rest can’t vanquish.
SRCC often leads to gastrointestinal bleeding. This might not always be overt; it could be subtle, only noticeable when stools appear black or tarry. But this insidious blood loss takes a toll. Over time, as more blood is lost, the body struggles to replace it, leading to anemia. The fatigue SRCC patients experience isn’t just a symptom; it’s a cry for help from a body that’s losing blood.
The repercussions of anemia extend beyond just fatigue. There’s a pallor to the skin, a shortness of breath, and even palpitations. The heart, in its bid to ensure oxygen supply, might start working overtime, leading to its own set of complications. In essence, anemia doesn’t just impact energy levels; it affects the very functioning of the body. (7)
