Anemia Support Group

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