Iron Deficiency Anemia

[kathy1970]

Hello:
I have recently been under weekly intravenous treatments for Iron . My doctor explained that my anemia is so bad that the iron stores in my bone marrow has been completely depleted.This is my third treatment. My hemoglobin went up from 5.89 to 7.6. However he is watching my labs closely due to elevated amounts of protein in my blood. Do you know what this could be from? The reason I have been seeing the hematologist was because my OB/GYN sent me to the GASTROnologist and he was very worried about my blood count of 5 and hemacratit of 18. Is it also true that they cannot run test that require sedation because my blood levels are so low? My hematologist wants them up to a 10. I recently had gastric bypass surgery15 months ago with no complications i have gone from a size 24 to size 6. MY OB/GYN says even though I have heavy bleeding from my cycle she suspects that I am bleeding from somewhere else, because I had a positive for blood on the occult fecal test. I dont see why I have to wait to see where I am bleeding from. He also doesnt want to give me a blood transfusion due to the risk of infection. I am so totally confused. The doctor really scared me today saying that bone cancers or mylemas are a possibilty and this all started because my bypass doctor recommended I have a hysterectomy due to my heavy periods.
Any advice?

[raallen]

i know the feeling. i let my anemia get so bad before trying to figure out what was wrong that i too could barely move, breath or do anything at all.  my heart kept racing too and i was pale as paper from head to toe.  i got to the point where one night i just broke down and i told my boyfriend that i thought something was seriously wrong with me and i thought i was dying (which i really would have if i hadn't gotten help).  that is how it really felt though. i couldn't even get dressed without having to sit down, almost in tears, and catch my breath.  i was always depressed and extremely irritable because of it. but as soon as i got the blood transfusions i regained so much strength and felt so much better. i got up and looked in the mirror and was amazed that just hours before my lips were white, and now they were red! my whole body what red! it was a wonderful feeling. i hope you feel better soon.

[kathy1970]

Thanks for the info. My hematologist seems to be very adamant about bringing up my levels before any further testing. It is very frustrating. I know I am bleeding somewhere. I have had 4 treatments now and still feel very weak and out of breath. I am even having chest pains. I did not realize my anemia was so bad. I can barely get up in the mornings and get dressed. Sometmes I feel like I am going to pass out.  Anyways, hopefully My level will get up to 10 soon to due further testing.

[raallen]

this past july i went to the doctor and found out i had a hemoglobin of 4. they admitted me to the hospital where i had to have four blood transfusions, which brought it up to 9. then i still had to be on iron (the red ones) three times a day. i also had blood in my stool when they tested it.  they did an endoscopy and found that i had 8 small bleeding ulcers.  if you tested positive on the occult fecal test, that means you are bleeding inside your digestive tract somewhere. your gynocologist is right. a hemoglobin that low means something more. when you get this all taken care of if you don't get a hysterectomy, you might need to be on iron during your menstrual. for now though, just in case you might want to take it easy on the NSAIDs.  if you have stomach ulcers or any other kind of ulcer, this could be your cause, and/or could make it worse.

[caregiver222]

It appears your physicians have been evaluating you in accordance with an acceptable "standard of care".

I would not worry myself to death, but you need to be evaluated to determine where the "leak" is. A "3T" MRI would be helpful. Don't defer any diagnostic tests and follow your physician's recommendations. This is a priority.

A nornal male hematocrit runs about 46. Females are generally lower.

With a hematocrit of 18, you are transporting very little oxygen per unit volume. Anaesthesiologists (prudently) do not like to perform general anaesthesia on a person with such a low hematocrit unless absolutelely necessary. It is not that they "can't" sedate. They prefer not to subject you to unnecessary risk.