Question 1

my doctor says i have big red blood cells, but my iron is fine... what does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Macrocytosis: Large red cells, or macrocytosis, can be due to vitamin deficiencies (b12, folate, (folic acid) thiamine), alcohol use, an underactive thyroid, liver disease, excessive production of new red blood cells (reticulocytosis), and bone marrow disorders such as myelodysplastic syndrome. Some people are born with big red cells. Please see a hematologist so that the correct diagnosis can be made.

Question 2

how much time does it take to replenish red blood cells if your anaemic & starting to take iron tablets?

Accepted Answer

Variable: It depends on where you are starting, that is how profoundly anemic you are to start.  If it is not too bad, I'd expect 2-3 months.  That would also mean that you have corrected the cause of the anemia to begin with, (for example really heavy menses).  Another factor would be the dose of the iron, (strength as well as how many iron pills a day that you take.)

Question 3

low serum iron, normal ferritin, red blood cells and hemocrit. will 14mg iron a day raise my serum iron? it was only a little low.

Accepted Answer

Probably not: 14 mg is a very low dose because iron supplements tend to be poorly absorbed. It depends on which form of iron you use but authorities recommend 50-100 mg of elemental iron 3x/day to correct deficiencies. The best absorbed form is iron bis-glycinate but even for that form i advise 25 mg a day.

Question 4

true or false: iron in hemoglobin molecules which are found inside of red blood cells give human blood its red color?  pleaseeeee help. thanks

Accepted Answer

Both!: The iron is part of the hemoglobin, so if the hemoglobin is red, then the iron has a role in making it red. Without the iron, who knows what color the substance would be, but then it wouldn't be hemoglobin anymore. On the other hand, hemoglobin bound to oxygen appears as a red color. Hemoglobin without oxygen appears as bluish purplish, which is why well-oxygenated blood is quite red.

Question 5

what should i be looking at for high red blood cells, high hemaglobin, high hemacratite, high iron and all slightly high  in a 12 yr old girl?

Accepted Answer

How high?: And for how long? Other labs? This can be anything from a right-to-left shunt to sleep apnea from obesity to a high-affinity hemoglobin to nothing. A competent physician can sort this out. Best wishes.

Question 6

my gp told me i had small red blood cells and has prescribed iron tablets. also referred me to have a colonoscopy. what will that procedure  diagnose?

Accepted Answer

Ask why: Small red cells usually means either iron deficiency or thalassemia minor. A diagnosis of iron deficiency should be confirmed with a few additional lab tests. Iron won't help thal minor and will tend to make you sick. Colonoscopy is a search for a bleeding cancer that might be the cause of your iron deficiency. Best wishes.

Question 7

we don't know what is causing me to have no bone marrow, no iron producing, and can't product red blood cells. blood, iron iv don't work. what is this?

Accepted Answer

Aplastic anemia: When this happens, it's usually possible to find the cause but treatment is often difficult and the prognosis guarded. It requires sub specialist consultation. I hope things turn out well

Question 8

what can i do to buld up my iron levels as my heart valve is chewing up to many red blood cells?

Accepted Answer

Iron rich foods: You can take iron tablets, which are available otc, and that will help to some degree. Foods rich in the most readily usable form come from animals that also produce hemoglobin. So meats like beef, liver, chicken and fish are rich in iron. The most iron rich vegetable is spinach.

Question 9

is my hematology professor correct in saying the iron in the hemoglobin molecules within our red blood cells impart the red color to human blood?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Think of rust.  That's oxidized iron.  It's dark red like blood.  Hemoglobin molecules contain iron and they also carry oxygen molecules.

Question 10

what causes high red blood cells & low iron? my rbc are 5.72, hematocrit 46.3, iron 43, iron saturation 12.1, ferritin 42, tibc 355, 
transferrin 284

Accepted Answer

Low iron is related : to low dietary intake or from slow blood loss.  Your serum iron and iron binding capacity suggests that your iron is low, but your Ferritin,  which is a test of cell storage iron is normal for men (20-500) The rbc of 5.72 and Hct of 46 are normal.   Anemia, or low rbc and Hct, are late findings after most iron stores are depleted. See https://www.healthline.com/health/ferritin

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A member asked:

My doctor says i have big red blood cells, but my iron is fine... what does this mean?

A member asked:

How much time does it take to replenish red blood cells if your anaemic & starting to take iron tablets?

A member asked:

Low serum iron, normal ferritin, red blood cells and hemocrit. will 14mg iron a day raise my serum iron? it was only a little low.

A member asked:

True or false: iron in hemoglobin molecules which are found inside of red blood cells give human blood its red color? pleaseeeee help. thanks

A member asked:

What should i be looking at for high red blood cells, high hemaglobin, high hemacratite, high iron and all slightly high in a 12 yr old girl?

A member asked:

My gp told me i had small red blood cells and has prescribed iron tablets. also referred me to have a colonoscopy. what will that procedure diagnose?

A member asked:

We don't know what is causing me to have no bone marrow, no iron producing, and can't product red blood cells. blood, iron iv don't work. what is this?

A member asked:

What can i do to buld up my iron levels as my heart valve is chewing up to many red blood cells?

A member asked:

Is my hematology professor correct in saying the iron in the hemoglobin molecules within our red blood cells impart the red color to human blood?

A member asked:

What causes high red blood cells & low iron? my rbc are 5.72, hematocrit 46.3, iron 43, iron saturation 12.1, ferritin 42, tibc 355, transferrin 284

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