My blood count was 11.1, when normal is 11.8.

That is your hemoglobin number. In my lab, for adult women, 12 - 16 g/dL is the normal range. If you don't mind me asking, what were your MCV, MCH and MCHC numbers? These numbers give the doc a more complete idea of the state of your anemia.

I would also like to add, I've had flares with weeks of bloody diarrhea with my blood work coming back normal. So I'd trust my doc if he's looking at your numbers and says it's time to scope.

Bleeding is never normal. I know people with IBD get used to it and it's such a hallmark of the disease so it seems normal, but it's not. It's a potential big deal.

With my last flare, I had some evident blood but not crazy amounts. Just some red when I wiped. My blood counts were low which wasn't that alarming. What became alarming was that I suddenly became so weak, like within 2 weeks of that lab work that I ended up really sick and needing an iron transfusion. My point is that you have to take all the tests and your symptoms into consideration.

I have a great GI doctor whom I trust. So if he tells me to have a colonoscopy, I don't doubt he thinks it's necessary. I've bargained with him before on meds and tests and other things where he'll negotiate with me. But for some things he won't. And when he won't, I know he's concerned about something or wants to be sure I'm in a good place.

Certainly you can do what you think is best for you. I can get behind that. But I would go into your decision with all the info and eyes wide open to the entire picture.

According to my lab, the hemoglobin normal range is 11.8-15.6,so I guess it depends on the lab. My MCV was 92, range 81-99; MCH 29.7, range 81-99; MCHC 32.3, range 32.0-36.0. All flagged as normal.

What also confuses me is that my results show my CRP level as "normal."

Question...just curious...a while ago my GP had me tested for rheumatoid arthritis because since getting UC, my hands have periodically ached as well as my hip. The result was Rheumatoid Factor: High. Would that be causing an increase in inflammatory markers as well? I've been on a relatively bland diet for a couple of months now, so I haven't been getting the nutrition I'm used to.

You can take this advise or not if you had any bleeding then get a colonoscopy. That is the only way a doctor can see what is happening inside of you. I never heard s GI tell a person with active UC or Crohns not needing a colonoscopy for another 8 years? Get a second opinion but I would get the colonoscopy. That way they will know how to treat you best.

Right. If the disease is inactive, I think most GIs recommend another colonoscopy 710 years after the onset of original symptoms (depending on the extent/location of the disease), for disease status, and I suspect due to increased risk of colon cancer. But if the disease is active, you have to possibly have them done more frequently.

So your RBC count is a little below normal too. I calculated it about 3.7? The RBC and the other values point to iron deficient anemia, so I'm guessing your doc is checking for ongoing internal bleeding from your active Crohns, The thing about RF is that it can be elevated for all kinds of reasons, not just Rheumatoid Arthritis. Elevated in Crohns, but not UC. It's another one of those iffy indices. You can have elevated RF and be perfectly healthy. But a high RF number with the other physical symptoms, it's tricky. Your aches are common for IBD. My hands get sore some times and I have one finger that desolation bit at the second knuckle...but maybe you have RA. Does anyone in your family have it?

My hands get sore some times and I have one finger that gets swollen a bit at the second knuckle...but maybe you have RA. Does anyone in your family have it?

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-06-lid-inflammation.html

Researchers seem to be gaining in understanding the processes involved in inflammation. Maybe in the future we'll have safer means to check out of control inflammation.

I made an appointment with my GP about a possible ear infection a couple of weeks ago. She didn't put me on an antibiotic because she wanted to be careful about the antibiotic messing with my digestive system, but it was just another part of the upper respiratory infection I've dealt with for well over a month.

In addition to my UC flare, I also got nasal cellulitis (which is basically a staph infection in the nose...how I got that, I have no idea), a sinus infection, and an ear infection...all at the same time. Yes, I got anemia because I was bleeding with my flare (I also got diarrhea from the antibiotics I took for my nasal cellulitis) and, of course, menstruation twice during this time period.

I'm on iron and have noticed a vast increase in energy. My GP also suggested I get the upper respiratory junk and the cellulitis junk taken care of, take another CBC in a couple of weeks and, if the numbers are still high, then do the colonoscopy. I called my GI's office and spoke with his nurse and she said she would speak to my doc & call me back. That was over a week ago and still no call back. :/

It is time for you to get a new GI. If your doctor has not called you back in a weeks time then that is unprofessional. In a non emergency case usually within 24 hours and max 48 hours. This is part of being a GI doctor. This is done usually at the end of a business day when the doctor take care of call backs and prescriptions but if the doctor is very busy with their patients and visiting the hospital he or she will do it the next day. You need to call the doctors office back and see speak to the office manager and see what happened. You need to check to see if the nurse failed in her duty to contact the doctor. If I was in your situation I would find another GI. Even if the nurse failed to give your doctor your message that speaks to the fact the doctors office is a mess and not professional.

Yeah, the way I see it...or how I perceive it...I took a medical decision into my own hands and he's either washed his hands of the situation or he's ticked off. Either way, it's irritating.