Anemia Support Group

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Hi everyone.

I am happy I stumbled upon this board.

I am 43, mom to two beautiful little boys (C-sections/extended breastfeeding in '04 and '06) and otherwise extremely healthy.Other than a great aunt who had treatable breast cancer in her late 70s, there is no cancer in my famly on either side.

In Nov.-Dec., I was under a tremendous amount of stress at work (huge layoffs, massive changes etc., AND my father also got laid off at the same time). I was not laid off, but began suffering from multiple strange symptoms including dizziness, hair loss, fatigue, as well as acid reflux, anxiety and muscle pain and burning sensations on my back.

I had blood tests done after the holidays, as well as being put on Prilocec for the reflux. The blood tests showed everything normal except very low hemoglobin/iron/ferratin. I think my ferratin was 11 and my hemoglobin was 8.4. and hct 27.4 ... I went on iron supplements immediately, and was tested 5 weeks later. Everything was up ... I think the levels were then ferritin 19, hemoglobin 13, hct 38.7.

My primary sent me to a GI specialist for a colonoscopy, and the GI added endoscopy plus a kidney scan.

Meanwhile, I went to my gyno and she said she thinks it's heavy periods, as up to that point I had no colon or ulcer symptoms (all of the weird symptoms above including the reflux went away when I started the iron) She put me on a low-dose birth control pill and suggested a pelvic US.

I am having my colonoscopy/endoscopy on Tuesday, prepping both Sunday AND Monday because I tend towards constipation and the GI just wants to be sure I'm prepared. Ick.

I have not yet gotten the US done, but started the pill on Monday. I get very heavy periods just like my mom and her mom. My grandmother had a hysto in her early 50s due to bleeding (and late menopause .... 57!) I think mine have gotten heavier and one day longer in the last few years.

I have been trying to tell myself that it will just be heavy periods, and even though I may have to have a fibroid removed or an ablation at some later date, that will be the end of it.

BUT .... ever since the GI said yes, I do think a colonoscopy is wise, I've been having abdominal cramps. I am trying to calm myself by telling myself that it is either STRESS causing slight IBS symptoms OR the iron irritating my intestines. It is not constant (and I've never seen blood in my stools, which are normally formed) .... but I am still panicking.

I am not scared to have the scan, I am scared of bad results.

Really scared.

If you got this far, thanks for l istening. Any and all input is very welcome, on anything I wrote about including the dreaded prep.
Posted on 06/03/09, 10:06 pm

Hug newinnj

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11 Replies | Most Recent

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Tabby4469

Reply #1 - 06/04/09 10:21pm

Welcome to the group. Sorry you are going through all of that. I'm only 40 and going through a bunch of health issues. Do you know if you doctor checked your B-12 levels? I was thought to be just iron deficient but after the iron supplements brought my iron levels up, I'm still Anemic. I just recently had blood work done to see if B-12 is low and have my thyroids tested. I'm hypothyroid and take meds for that so pretty sure that test will come back ok. It is great that your doctors seem to be doing a thorough investigation to find the cause of your symptoms. Please keep us posted on how it all turns out.

Hugs and blessings,

Tabby

Reply #2 - 06/05/09 9:47am

"In Nov.-Dec., I was under a tremendous amount of stress at work (huge layoffs, massive changes etc., AND my father also got laid off at the same time). I was not laid off, but began suffering from multiple strange symptoms including dizziness, hair loss, fatigue, as well as acid reflux, anxiety and muscle pain and burning sensations on my back.

"I had blood tests done after the holidays, as well as being put on Prilocec for the reflux. The blood tests showed everything normal except very low hemoglobin/iron/ferratin. I think my ferratin was 11 and my hemoglobin was 8.4. and hct 27.4 ... I went on iron supplements immediately, and was tested 5 weeks later. Everything was up ... I think the levels were then ferritin 19, hemoglobin 13, hct 38.7. "

Wow, I think our stories are almost carbon copies so let me share my part to see if this helps you. My hemoglobin was 11.7, hematocrite 35.2, and ferritin 9. My company began major layoffs and consolidations last year also and up till now I'm safe, but they've made my job much more demanding. I began persistant vomiting in about September and have been off and on with that. They prescriped me Prilosec and since have done an endoscopy three weeks ago and a barium enema this past monday (fun!).

The endoscopy revealed mild gastritis but I really hadn't had heartburn. After the barium my GI told me on wednesday that he didn't see why I was off work so much and that there's nothing wrong with my lower GI and just super mild gastritis in my stomach. I was very frustrated driving home (and a little relieved), but yesterday morning I discovered a message on my cell phone from my general practitioner advising me of my ferritin levels and telling me to immediately begin 325mg of ferrous sulfate twice a day. So I did that yesterday and have since been reading about anemia.

I've never had blood in my stools, I have long heavy periods and mid month bleeding as well, and my doc is ordering the pelvic US when I see him monday. I did have free pelvic fluid show up on a CT scan two months ago, but no evidence of apendicitis or anything.

Since beginning the iron yesterday I immediately feel better. I guess what I'm saying is maybe you'll be coming out of the colonoscopy on Tuesday with "nothing wrong except a maybe a mild case of IBS" (my GI's words). If that happens then that would be COOL! I'll let you know how my pelvic US goes and I hope you get yours done too. Keep us posted on your proceedures.

SleepyCherie

Reply #3 - 06/06/09 12:21pm

newinnj: I just got through my EGD and colonscopy (wed and fri) and I tend to also be more on the constipated side. The prep was... unpleasant.. my advice is- don't over do the crystal lite, it really doesn't take much to cover the taste and the taste isn't as bad as you expect. I felt like I drank too much water but all in all it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected.

I was super hungry because I had to fast all of Wed and clear liquids Thurs/Fri so by the end of it I was very weak and shaky but over all it really wasn't bad.

I think the cramping could be due to your constipation and stress level. Stress makes constipation worse in some people.

worry less about the results :) you are young (any family history of colon cancer or polyps?)

Good luck and let us know how you do!

Reply #4 - 06/07/09 12:52am

Glad to hear you came out okay. My family has no history of colon polyps or cancer. We have a huge history of liver disease though. Long story. Yeah, I'm 33 so I'm hoping that worst is behind me now that I'm finding the iron thing.

Constipation does really contribute to many of my issues and I'm addresing the stress. By the way this site is great. Once I found out I'm anemic I joined an anemia group and its way cool to go from one group to another getting support.

Best of luck to you too. I'll be posting as things to good or bad.

Reply #5 - 06/08/09 11:16am

Thanks everyone.

My colonoscopy/endoscopy are tomorrow, and I'm in the middle of the two-day prep. The only bad part so far was last night, an hour after drinking the citrus magnesium, which made me want to hurl. But I kept it down, took the pills and slept a little before the "fun'' started. Now I'm just staying hydrated and near the "ladies' room'' (I'm home). I am DREADING taking the rest of the concoction tonight. I have to take all the same stuff as last night plus the Miralax mixture. I dont see any sleep happening.

Waiting to hear what time my appt. will be. Dreading it. Still scared. But will be glad to finally get some answers.

Please say a little prayer for me tomorrow that it's not a GI issue.

Reply #6 - 06/09/09 11:53am

That citrus magnesium is vile stuff, but you'll do great! We're all praying for you.

Reply #7 - 06/09/09 6:47pm

I had my "scope both ends'' done today.

Everything looks good. I found out I have a hernia I didn't know about, but no source of bleeding was found. GI saw nothing to warrant biopsies or follow up down below - did standard biopsies up top which he said is done w/every procedure.

I am so relieved. Even though I had no symptoms of colon cancer prior to being diagnosed anemic, I have been having intestinal cramps ever since I found out I needed the colonoscopy. I am so thankful to everyone on this board for all your hand holding and good advice (especially the advice to get both scopes done at once!)

Now I need to sked a pelvic US to check for any problems down there. I am hoping going on the Pill will get my levels up in the next few mos. and then I plan to research alternative therapies (assuming it's not anything serious) to slow down menstruation. I will probably have to do the ablation (?) eventually but I'm not worrying about that now.

And I NEVER want to drink Crystal Lite again in my entire life. I felt like I drowned in it last night.

Thanks again everyone.

Reply #8 - 06/09/09 10:04pm

I'm glad that you found out it is an ulcer. Best of luck on the US. My doc talked me out of the US and said "why don't you try exercise and diet first?" He really thinks I'll be able to control a lot of my issues with weight loss. I've had a bit of weight loss already from being ill so maybe I can keep the momentum going.

Haha on the Crystal Lite thing. Have you ever taken Emergen-C? I've been drinking that with my Iron pills to help the absorption. It's working but its just like drinking that prep stuff. Ick!

Reply #9 - 06/10/09 5:29pm

Ulcer? No ulcer. They found no bleeding anywhere. I found out I have a minor hernia but that is not a source of anemia. So my problem is likely gynecological. ... Fibroids or just heavy periods. So onto the US. I will look into Emergen-c. Right now I just take a chewable C with the pill each morning.

SleepyCherie