Crappy Brooding post

I have iron-deficiency anemia, which essentially means that I don't have enough hemoglobin carrying oxygen around my body. This is important because the oxygen is what allows your muscles to produce massive amounts of ATP (cell energy). This allows you to keep going for longer on less air.

I can't.

Without gasping like an out-of-shape car addict, it is impossible for me to climb stairs. I have to pace myself in activities and make sure that I have plenty of energy and am well rested before doing anything. I need to eat something before 10 or my vision starts blacking out (which can be annoying). I tend to get dizzy after donating blood and have an innate urge to snack. Due to this, I start my lunch at 10 am and space it out to about 2.

But that's boring background info.

The week after I decided to give blood (yes, they passed me), I wanted to ride my bike to school. Now, I was feeling good, and I had done it before, so I wasn't quite worried. Besides, the 10 mile ride is mostly downhill. What could go wrong?

Everything.

I was rushed on my way to school, so I neglected to eat breakfast before I left. I grabbed a bagel and stuffed it in my backpack to eat during my first class. I grabbed my bike and went on the road. It was cold and drippy outside - the rain pushed its wet drops on my face and helmet. I forged on, coasting and pedaling, trying to push some warmth into my frigid, frozen legs. I did fairly well for the first few miles, hitting the pavement at a decent speed. But I quickly got tired after the first hill and had to walk up it.

Oh well. It's windy and I'm tired.

I kept going up and down, but about half-way to my college I got tired. Really tired. I told myself that I needed a brake, so I stopped at a bus station to eat my bagel. I took a bite, and felt nauseous. My tired body was rebelling - I could not bike any further. I collapsed on a bench, parked my bike, and waited for my body to feel somewhat recovered so I could forge on - I still had to get to school.

All of a sudden, I woke up and realized that I had fainted. On a bus stop. And still had to travel 5 miles.

So I did what any self-sufficient and completely independent young adult would do. I called my father. He was stuck picking up something and told me that if I had wanted a ride, I should have said so earlier in the morning.

Thanks.

Slightly freaked out, I headed down the street, leaning on my bike for support. Eventually I saw a bus go by and flagged it down so I could transfer to a bus that would take me to my class. So it turned out all right.

But I haven't fainted since I was in elementary school. Although both of my grandmothers and my mom were anemic, they grew out of it when they became adults. I clearly haven't.

This worries me.