Blood tests and anaemia

[Rebecca85]

I had a blood test done last week to try to determine why I am so tired all the time. I got a letter today saying I am anaemic due to low iron. Surely the anaemia should have been picked up on my weekly aza blood tests (which includes a full blood count)? Anyway, I now have a prescription for ferrous sulphate tablets. So hopefully I will be feeling more lively soon. Just in time for a week off work!

 

[rottengut91]

Hope the iron does the trick. Makes you wonder about the other blood test and how much the doc's are actually paying attention. It just goes to show, the squeeky wheel gets the grease. It pays to be on top of how your feeling and communicate with the doc about said feelings. We can't just assume their totally on top of things. Good Luck. Enjoy the time off.

 

[Rebecca85]

Yes, I assume they only really looked at the white blood cells or something, or maybe they assumed I knew about the anaemia? Anyway, next question, you are not supposed to take the tablets within an hour if drinking coffee, milk, wholegrains or vit c. Which makes it difficult to take it in the morning (I have been told to take it twice a day). Since I have cereal with milk and coffee for breakfast every morning! Does it really matter that much? It says coffee milk and cereal decrease absorption while vit c increases it, will the effects cancel each other out?

 

[Astra]

Hiya Rebecca

dunno about that, only that it makes your poo black! so don't panic!
Try and rest next week, lucky you! I've got to go in for 3 days next week cos we're doing a holiday club!
xxxx

 

[Rebecca85]

Yeah the pharmacist warned be about black poo. I said at least it will go nicely with my flourescent wee! And I will do the holiday club for you if you pay me.

 

[girlygirl]

:ylol2:chuckle..

CD the gift that keeps on giving.. :rof: I cant believe i've actually recorded my pee colors too.. 3 months ago i never in a million years would have imagined myself doing that!! :eek2:

 

[DustyKat]

Hey Rebecca, :bigwave:

A normal Full Blood Count will show anaemia if it is caused from something like blood loss but will not show anaemia caused by a deficiency in B12 or Folate or depleted Iron Stores. These need to be specifically tested for and these are the tests I ask for Roo to have done every other month.

Dusty.

 

[Rebecca85]

OK then, it's just when I was in hospital they did a FBC and said I was anaemic. They then tested to see if I needed supplements and said I didn't. So I guess that was from my period or something? The next set of bloods when I had a scope in May showed haemoglobin of 11 something, and they said I wasn't anaemic any more and so didn't bother checking up on iron or anything after that. I figured if I did become anaemic my haemoglobin would have dropped like it did the first time. And now I have a different type of anaemia that can be treated. It's kind of confusing!

Now I know it's the ferrat that needs checking, I know the code to write it on my blood form myself if need be!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I've had several CBCs done recently and they've always told me that I'm not anemic and I'm within the "normal" range. But just recently I've found that the so-called normal range is pretty wide and I'm on the low end of that range. So make sure to get specific numbers from them when they test your blood, and ask what the normal range is. Don't just take their word for it that you're normal, make sure you know the specifics.

Good luck with the iron supplements! I take SlowFE iron supplements and yes, my poo also turns black after taking them. It's kind of disconcerting at first, it just looks wrong.

 

[DustyKat]

OK then, it's just when I was in hospital they did a FBC and said I was anaemic. They then tested to see if I needed supplements and said I didn't. So I guess that was from my period or something? The next set of bloods when I had a scope in May showed haemoglobin of 11 something, and they said I wasn't anaemic any more and so didn't bother checking up on iron or anything after that. I figured if I did become anaemic my haemoglobin would have dropped like it did the first time. And now I have a different type of anaemia that can be treated. It's kind of confusing!

Now I know it's the ferrat that needs checking, I know the code to write it on my blood form myself if need be!

Unless you have heavy periods you shouldn't become anaemic from that alone unless you have issues absorbing iron or it is largely lacking in your diet. If your haemoglobin was 11 then you were below normal limits then so I don't know why they said otherwise. Normal levels for a woman are 12 - 15.

Dusty.

 

[Rebecca85]

Oh right, thanks, I will definately ask for specific numbers in future!

 

[Rebecca85]

Right, I have been researching this, and it appears that for my haemoglobin to have actually dropped, the iron deficiency must have been going on for some time. My ferritin levels are 8, above 20 is ideal and below 12 is critical. So no wonder I've been so tired! I also found out ferritin levels can be raised during periods of infection or inflammation, so I'm wondering if the normal ferritin reading before was a false reading since I was experiencing a flare.

 

[lynx]

Got a call from the doctor today to tell me to go on ferrous sulfate...YAY..one more pill i have to try to remember to take now lol. I love how asacol makes your pee turn purple! It does! (when it dries) lol...just had to add that because of what girlygirl said LOL.

 

[outlier]

Anemia was the final clue for my GI to suspect Crohns. I have been hoovering around the Anemia threshhold for years. I have gotten various recommendations from doctors when I wasn't quite anemic from eating more spinach (it's my fav vegi) to taking an over the counter supplement. Some doc see anemia as more of an issue then others i've found.

Iron can also mess with your stomach. I have been having bad stomach for a while and my GI suspects among other issues I have been taking Iron for too long.

I also realized recently that when my Rhemy takes my blood in her office she doesn't get an Iron count because the blood sits to long, since the specimens are collected in the evening. I forgot the exact wording but that the jist. So maybe that why it never came up.

I feel jiped i've never noticed the purple pee from asacol.

 

[effdee]

I've been taking Iron pills with milk for years and they seemed to work well. They can make your stomach upset, though.

 

[outlier]

I was told Calcium and Iron don't mix. Also Iron and Caffeine. I take my iron at lunch and Calcium with dinner for that reason.