Anemia (again)

i changed my mind about posting of anemia until i had some facts (thus i removed the previous speculation post i did). today i went to who is going to become my new primary care physician. he is the member of my church, and a great doctor too! anyway, after completing a history and small physical he concluded i was indeed anemic. just how severe will be determined by the results of the new blood work (which i wont know for a few days). i was interested when as part of the exam he checked the inside of my eyelids. nobody had done that before! he said they were pale, and that isnt too good. turns out the reason i cant seem to take a deep breath either is also related to the anemia, which i never would have thought. i'm learning alot! here is some good refrence material from the National Anemia Action Council (these are all criteria i fit at the moment):

When anemia is moderate to severe, people may have a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, pale skin, dizziness, fuzzy thinking, breathing trouble, rapid heartbeat, and loss of sex drive.

here is a checklist from that same website you can go over and then take to your doctor to discuss if you are thinking you may be dealing with this too:

Do I Have Anemia?
This questionnaire is an important first step toward improving your health. Your answers to these questions can help your doctor determine whether you have anemia. Please answer every question to the best of your ability, print out your answers, and discuss them with your doctor.
This self-quiz will not provide you with an answer. Only a health care professional can determine whether you have anemia or not.
What's Your Anemia AQ?
Have you felt unusually tired or fatigued? Yes No
Have you experienced unusual weakness? Yes No
Have you experienced shortness of breath? Yes No
Have you felt easily confused or lost your concentration? Yes No
Have you felt dizzy or have you fainted? Yes No
Has your skin become unusually pale, including decreased pinkness in your lips, gums, lining of your eyelids, nail beds, and palms? Yes No
Have you experienced a rapid heartbeat? Yes No
Have you been feeling unusually cold? Yes No
Have you been feeling sad or depressed? Yes No
Do you know if your hemoglobin count is between 12 g/dL and 18 g/dL (grams per deciliter) of blood? Yes No

i answer yes to all these except for the question of feeling unusually cold..i'm the exact opposite. not sure what my hemglobin level is today, but earlier this month it was at 11

also discussing the black and red bowl movements i've had with the doctor he has referred me to a gastroenterologist (who happens to be in the same office). he suspects there could be something going on with the colon/small intestine too. he is requesting both an upper and lower GI scope. joy. (not). so i am just waiting to find out when that will be scheduled.

my new doctor doesnt want to put me on iron pills just yet until we know for sure if it has to do with gastro bleeding or not. but once i do get this whole iron thing fixed i will be so grateful! i never realized how much energy it took to just walk around the grocery store!! yesterday i had to take a 30min nap after getting home, and i never do that. plus now this breathing thing is starting to annoy me. so the sooner this is resolved, the better!!!!!!