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I recently had a cbc done and my hemoglobin is ...

Sent to Health Experts January 25 01:07 AM

I recently had a cbc done and my hemoglobin is 8.5
RBC is 3.72
Hematocrit is 28.3
MCV is76.1
MCH is 23.5
MCHC is 31.0
RDW is 16.3
Platelet is 726
#Neutrophils is 8.0
#monocytes 0.8

Ferritin, Folate, Vit B-12 all normal range

LIPID
Cholesterol 240
Triglycerides 246
LDL Chol   143
   


My GP has made me an appointment with a Gastroenterologist on Feb 09 2006. He has recommended that I NOT take Iron supplement until a diagnosis is made.
I also had a heart attack at the age of 36, in 1990. Is my very low hemoglobin a danger to my heart? Can I afford to wait two more weeks to treat the anemia?
                                         &nbs p;   Thanks,
                                         &nbs p;    Pam Smith
                                         &nbs p;    skelceysmith@aol.com

Optional Information:
Female , Age: 52

Already Tried:
Dr visit

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Reply
May 15 8:54 PM (110 days and 19 hours later)
         
Relist: I still need help.
I have been to the GI and he has scoped me from top to bottom, including haveing me swallow a camera. I have had a CT scan, and two ultrasounds of my gall-bladder which shows no problems.
The problem that I now have is that not only am I now severly anemic, I can no longer eat any food except white rice without suffering agonizing pain. The GI says go ahead and take the gall bladder out, even though he sees nothing wrong with it. I might add that the pain did not start until I had the scope done on 2-14-06. Since that time I have been in agonizing pain.
Help? I don't want surgery if my gall bladder is not the cause of this. Are there adverse reactions from having the scope done that I am unaware of? Where do I go from here?
Answer
May 16 3:44 PM (18 hours and 50 minutes and 19 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
If you still have a uterus I would be concerned since up and down scoping showed no gi blood loss we look at urinary and genital blood loss. Insist on seeing a hematologist so you can get to treating this anemia. It is not ok to stay this low if you have had heart disease. The hemoglobin are the boxcars that carry oxygen around the body. If you are low on boxcars, you are low on oxygen. Your heart and brain need oxygen.
The pain may be from a complication of the procedure. YOu may need an ercp or even a laproscope to look at gall bladder, pancreas and ducts as severe problems can hide from all but direct visualization.


DrStephanie
Reply
May 16 4:56 PM (1 hour and 11 minutes and 57 seconds later)
         
Reply to S. Sarisky DO.'s Post: I do not have a uterus. I have had a total hysterctomy. As a Dr. I understand your concern for the anemia, but as a patient I am in unbearable pain most days. What can be causing this? The gall bladder? Do I get my GI to send me to a surgeon, or a hemotologist?
Answer
May 16 6:05 PM (1 hour and 9 minutes and 11 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
I suggest both
the hemotologist to ensure that it is infact a blood loss anemia (as it appears) and to start treating the anemia with iron asap
the gi to continue the workup with the new focus being your pain. I am concerned that you need the ercp (GI performs this) if that is not telling then I would go for the surgeon to do the laparoscopy investigation. But I would handle both issues at the same time, anemia and the pain


DrStephanie
Reply
May 16 6:18 PM (12 minutes and 15 seconds later)
         
Reply to S. Sarisky DO.'s Post: what is an ercp?
Answer
May 16 6:52 PM (34 minutes and 27 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
It is a scope that looks for in the duct past the gall bladder. This would also get a look at the pancreatic opening


DrStephanie
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