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Iron deficiency anemia is associated with a microcytic (small red blood cells) hypochromic (pale red blood cells) anemia.
The MCV is the mean cell volume. As you gain more into the positive iron balance then the MCV will rise. With iron supplement treatment the goal is to have iron stores to acceptable levels within 6 months so it does take some time. Response to iron can be measured within days with the reticulocyte count (young red blood cells) and to see if their hemoglobin content within the cell is getting better with reticulated hemoglobin levels (CHr or Ret-He).
What blood disorder could it be besides iron deficiency anemia. Am I dying? My dr hasn’t responded yet. I mean I walked the dog a half hour and did Zumba yesterday. I a started a new job and am alert and learned it fast. Maybe it’s from getting my period more often for the last year in perimenopause? One day I bleed for 2 weeks (not very heavy) but that was a year ago. I do have a large fibroid that I’ve had for years but it hasn’t caused me to bleed abnormally except for that one time last year (but that might have been hormonal).
As others have pointed out, your tests are consistent with iron deficiency anemia caused by blood loss....You don't report an obvious large loss of blood, so we can assume a slower, maybe continuous or recurrent small loss of blood over time...
The fact that you don't seem to be suffering the fatigue or exercise intolerance often seen with anemia suggests the blood loss and anemia has occurred over a long period of time giving you time to adapt.
Menstrual blood losses are considered the culprit when other blood losses have been excluded....Urinary blood loss rarely causes Fe defic anemia... It's usually the GI tract to blame-- anything from esphogeal hernia, gastritis, diverticulosis or inflammatory conditions to cancer....You can't tell until you look-- Endoscopy is called for.
Most causes are benign, so no need to panic. Restoring Fe is easy with oral pills. Just make sure you find the cause for proper definitive treatment.
Can someone explain a Q tip test to me..as my husband is to do one and send it away.... hes in his late sixties.. and has had radiotherapy.. hormone therapy recently..had polyps taken away three times.... takes loads of pills for diabetes,, and Rheumatiod arthritis.... do certain pills cause anemia or some of the treatments hes been having...
What blood disorder could it be besides iron deficiency anemia. Am I dying? My dr hasn’t responded yet. I mean I walked the dog a half hour and did Zumba yesterday. I a started a new job and am alert and learned it fast. Maybe it’s from getting my period more often for the last year in perimenopause? One day I bleed for 2 weeks (not very heavy) but that was a year ago. I do have a large fibroid that I’ve had for years but it hasn’t caused me to bleed abnormally except for that one time last year (but that might have been hormonal).
One is still in the diagnostic phase and after that is completed then one can start the treatment phase. The cause of the iron deficiency is yet to be determined. The hematologist specializes in primary hematological disorders. If a bleeding diathesis i(tendency) s involved then a hematologist would get involved. Von Willibrand Disease is a common genetically inherited condition that can cause excessive bleeding. I would assume coagulation studies would be carried out after history taking. If and when the iron deficiency is treated and the person does not respond to the iron infusions then refractive states would be followed up by the hematologist. The response to iron is tested as mentioned.A hematologist also would be called in for microcytc hypochromic anemias of undetermined cause if for example the iron studies had been normal or high. That would have brought up the possibility of thalassemia or refractive sideroblastic anemia. So far there is no indication it isn't simply iron deficiency. If there is a road block down the road then a hematologist would be called in. Right now one wants to hear from a gynecologist and gastroenterologist.
A person can become severely anemic over time as mentioned and a person can adopt physiologically to such low hemoglobin levels vs somebody who has an acute blood loss of two pints of blood who may die. Their body has. not had time to adopt physiologically. I always put it in high fast mode when blood transfusions were ordered for severe anemia with normal red blood cells indicative of blood loss anemia vs those with small hypochromic anemias indicative of iron deficiency. No hurry on those with IDA while those others are typically given uncrossmatched emergency release of blood.
I see a hematologist when my ferritin gets below 50. Or my Iron sat% goes below normal. It’s called iron deficiency anemia.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sammy75
What blood disorder could it be besides iron deficiency anemia. Am I dying? My dr hasn’t responded yet. I mean I walked the dog a half hour and did Zumba yesterday. I a started a new job and am alert and learned it fast. Maybe it’s from getting my period more often for the last year in perimenopause? One day I bleed for 2 weeks (not very heavy) but that was a year ago. I do have a large fibroid that I’ve had for years but it hasn’t caused me to bleed abnormally except for that one time last year (but that might have been hormonal).
Iron deficiency anemia has a broad differential, and it frequently has nothing to do with a blood disorder. You guys are putting the cart before the horse. The correct first step is a clinical evaluation with a primary care physician. The next step could be anything ranging from taking an iron supplement to getting a colonoscopy to everything in between. Saying this is a blood disorder is tantamount to making a diagnosis, and I don't see how anyone here is in a position to do that.
OP, it's very possible this is related to your period. Women have iron deficiencies more frequently than men for this reason. But see your doctor and get off the internet.
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