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Common Physical Symptoms

These are some of the common physical symptoms of Pernicious Anaemia.

1.  Tiredness, Lethargy, Exhaustion, Fatigue, Weariness - (The Strange Tiredness)
None of the above words adequately or accurately explains the feeling that is experienced by the majority of patients with Pernicious Anaemia.  The physical tiredness is also often accompanied with mental fatigue and apathy.  The most common description recognised by members is that of “The Strange Tiredness” which is understood by most sufferers as being an adequate description of the experience.  Sometimes the Strange Tiredness lasts for hours, sometimes days and often it’s the case that it never really fully goes away.  It is also usual for the Strange Tiredness to be worse on some days than on others and it can be debilitating for the long-term sufferer.  Patients and their families and friends often have to make lifestyle adjustments to be able to manage this experience.  Many patients retire to their beds in an effort to manage their condition and the saying “at least ten, usually twelve and sometimes more” is sometimes used by sufferers to describe how many hours sleep they need. Feeling tired or exhausted can be a very positive experience as anyone who has played sport can tell you.  But this Strange Tiredness is not a pleasant experience.  It is an insidious, creeping, overpowering feeling that seems to sap any strength that the patient might have.  It doesn’t often leave the sufferer being unable to do normal and everyday tasks but rather makes such tasks (however trivial) a real trial.  Sufferers often cope with everyday work and domestic tasks, but most struggle to do so.

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