help!! what does it mean when you have low hemoglobin, low hemocrait, low mcv, low mch, low mchc high rdw, high iron binding capacity, low ferritin?

Question

Most recent labs: wbc-12.6 rbc-4.90 hemoglobin 10.3 rdw-16.1 mchc30.9 mch-23.7 mcv-73 ferritin, serum-14 iron saturation-5 iron, serum-19

Answer 1

Iron deficiency: You and your physician need to find the cause. It may be anything from heavy periods to non-supplementing vegetarianism to a bleeding gut ulcer or tumor to hookworm to a host of others. Good luck finding the real cause. You wil feel better when you are treated.

Answer 2

Iron: No you don't have to worry about that now. How about all the rest of you, what was your doctors opinion?

Answer 3

Iron Overload: It depends on what prompted the investigation for iron overload - if you have the gene for hereditary hemochromatosis, you are at risk. If, on the other hand, you were taking excess iron supplements or had to have multiple blood transfusions, your iron stores will stabilize if you decrease your iron intake or transfusion frequency, if your doctor agrees it is safe to do so.

Answer 4

Hemachromatosis: The single gene carrier will likely not develop any symptoms or problems from increased iron absorption. You will still need to have regular blood work to check for increased iron, and not use any supplements with iron. If you have two genes, your chance is good that you will have high levels of iron, and possibly get damage from the extra iron. Timing is unknown, too many variables.

Answer 5

No: Hereditary hemochromatosis develops when you inherit two mutations, one on each of your hfe genes. You have just one. About 1/10 folks with northern european ancestry is a carrier. Carriers don't get iron overload. In fact, most folks with two hfe mutations do not get sick at all, even though for many we can see that they are accumulating a lot of iron. A mystery? Rather. But we're working on it.

Answer 6

Too little iron: When your body doesn't have enough iron, you have iron deficiency anemia. Sources of iron - egg yolks, molasses, raisin bran, raisins, prunes, dried apricots, figs, kidney beans, pinto beans, navy beans, lentils, split green peas, enriched cereals, enriched macaroni, spinach, greens, broccoli, lima beans, avocado. Cook in a cast iron pan.

Answer 7

Low red blood count: Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia in the world. It almost always is caused by bleeding. It is very common in menstruating women and in pregnancy. Since it is a deficiency, it is corrected by ingesting iron, either iron rich foods (especially red meats) or an iron supplement. The most important aspect in evaluating iron deficiency is not the treatment, but finding the cause.

Answer 8

Needs re-eval: Conditions like this are often transient. Doesn't sound like you have proven iron deficiency and in any case you should be back up to normal by now. Sounds like you need to talk to your doc again.

Answer 9

Not bleeding: These are several ways that you can be anemic and its not only from bleeding, you can either not make enough blood, you are loosing it (bleeding) or your body is eating you blood up. Sometimes we get into habits and just keep doing the samething over and over, ask your doctor to take a good second look and perform new test and blood work.

Answer 10

Iron deficiency : Iron deficiency can be caused not only due to bleeding ( blood loss) but also can be caused by either decreased intake of iron or abnormal absorption of iron. Sometimes small blood vessels leakage ( avm) in the small bowel is very difficult to be found/seen due to the location. Endoscopy to the area many times is just impossible. Capsule endoscopy should be done. Also check www.Ironrichfood.Org.

help!! what does it mean when you have low hemoglobin, low hemocrait, low mcv, low mch, low mchc high rdw, high iron binding capacity, low ferritin?

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