Anemia and Body Pain: Understanding the Connection & Management

Question
Both my mother and I have been diagnosed with anemia since we were teenagers, it appears to get progressively worse with age as she has had to have several transfusions (3 total I believe), and I had one at the delivery of my second daughter (My hemoglobin was at 6 for some reason while in labor at 37 weeks when at 20 weeks gestation it was at 12).  Neither of us go to a hematologist or any other doctor than a general practitioner.  We live in a rural area with few doctors and no one seems too concerned with our history.  Whenever we tell anyone that we heal slowly or are "bleeders" they test our clotting time, which is usually low normal and shrug their shoulders and go on with the procedure/routine.  I have never had a name for anything, but a suspicion that their is a hereditary factor of something present (my maternal grandmother was always in bed and complained of exhaustion even at a young age as well)  I just wanted some validation that we should pursue further investigation
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

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both my mother and I have low red blood cell and chronic anemia.  We pay attention to our eating habits, and must be on high doses of iron supplements to avoid receiving transfusions (which we have both had, she is 51 I am 28) We seem to take at least twice the estimated healing time to heal from any medical procedure or injury.  Also we seem to battle body pain(akin to an arthritic type pain) and sensitivity to pain.  Are these related?  If so what could it be?
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Dear Amber,
It appears that you and your mother have a hereditary disease.  You did not indicate the name or how long you have been diagnosed with this.  Since your red blood cells are low healing from procedures or injury is a problem.  Vitamin C helps the body to heal but I would imagine that your doctors would instruct you regarding this information.  Body pains would be likely due to the lack of oxygen to the muscles.  I know that exercise is probably difficult due to the chronic anemia but it increases the amount of oxygen in the lungs and therefore more oxygen is dispersed to your muscles.

I hope you are seeing a good hematologist for your condition.  There are so many new medications to treat anemia.  I would be interested in knowing the cause of your conditions

You have not given me very much information.  I would be interested in knowing more and hopefully could give you better information.

Answer
Dear Amber,

I definitely would pursue some answers.  I understand you may be in a place where it is hard to find the appropriate physician but I think you both need to be evaluated by a hematologist (a doctor that specializes in those type of problems).  It is not acceptable to just have someone "shrug" their shoulders.  We live in a very advanced age of medicine.

What would you do if your child experienced these symptoms, would you want them to go through their entire life not having been treated properly?

There is no reason for you and your mother to feel the way you do and you have the right to have answers.

This of course is your choice but there is help out there.

Diane