anemic??
I had blood work done a few months ago and found out I was anemic. So I was put on iron pills
3 times a day. After a month my iron has gone up from a 7 to a 9. Not good. Now I have to go through all kinds of test to find out why. Everything else is good. In fact my B-12 shots have been changed from every month to every 3 months. White cell count is perfect, liver, gall bladder, kidneys are perfect. All other levels are good. So my PCP who I love, is trying to find out why. He thinks I might have a small bleed some where like in the bowels or small intestines. (No bleeding in stool) Or maybe an ulcer. Or maybe I injured myself somehow. A few months ago I was carrying something heavy and I felt something pull around the new belly button area. (I had a tummy tuck in Nov.) It was quite painful for several days. My doc said it was a pulled muscle or possible scar tissue. It doesn't bother me anymore. So now I have to have the lovely colonoscopy and a endoscopy at the end of the month. Other than that I am just tired from the anemia., I won't let it get me down though. Life goes on. And I am not ready to roll over yet!!!
Take care all,
Sarah
This group hug is for you! I hope all of your tests go well and you get your energy back soon
Hi there Sarah. Sorry you are so tired with that anemia. Is this the first time this has happend?
How is your ferrritin level(amount of iron stored)? It does take time to bring up your count, one month is not that long a time. It is good that you are having other tests to rule out any possible GI bleeding.
I have had my ferritin levels slowly dropping since my GBPS so far my Hematocrit and hemoglobin have remained very good, but from what I have read and heard a low ferritin level can lead to a low H & H over time. If you have not had a ferritin level checked ask about that. I have seen here(on grads board) where some people end up needing iron transfusions if they have low ferritin levels along with anemia.
Let us now how you make out.
ps what type of iron does your PCP have you on? You know with our malabsorption issues you may have to be on specific type of iron that can be absorbed more easily. I have started taking Carbynol iron in a pleasant chewable tablet 5 pills a day with vitamin C. It has been keeping my H & H good. It is easy on the GI tract and I got it from Vitalady.com , She and her husband are both WLs grads and sell different vitamins and supplements on her web site. She has a lot of info and answers questions if you email her.
Also make sure you don't take your iron with any calcium, won't absorb.
All my best
Sher
How are you doing.?
I am sure this will right itself sooner or later. My PCP is great and he will find the problem if there is one. May be it is just old age settling in. I don't mind the endoscopy, its the other one (colonoscopy) I don't want. I have never had one and I know at my age I should of had one a long time ago, but you know>>>>>>>. I will wait to see the end results.( no pun intended ) .
I donm't know the difference from one iron to the next. I only do what my PCP tells me to. On the bottle it says Ferrus Sulf 375 MG tab 3X a day. He said all my other levels were good. I am not sure if he mentioined Ferritin or not. I will have to ask on my next visit.
Well take,
Sarah
