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Is Blood Transfusion Preferred In Case Of Severe Anemia?
Question: How low must iron be before an infusion is considered- they tell me my haemoglobin is normal but my iron stores is 7
Brief Answer:
Blood transfusion is considered in severe anemia i.e. below 6 or 7 gms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query on HealthcareMagic.
As you have mentioned that your hemoglobin is normal and iron level is low, blood transfusion will not be considered at this point.
You will be given iron supplements to replenish the iron stores.
Iron supplements often cause side effects and many people are not able to tolerate it.
However, the side effects are managed in most convenient way.
If the iron stores are not increasing despite iron supplements, you need to get bone marrow examination to look for any evidence of iron not being utilized by bode.
Blood transfusion is considered when hemoglobin drops down to very low levels i.e. less the 6 or 7 gms.
If you more queries, I will glad to answer.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
Blood transfusion is considered in severe anemia i.e. below 6 or 7 gms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query on HealthcareMagic.
As you have mentioned that your hemoglobin is normal and iron level is low, blood transfusion will not be considered at this point.
You will be given iron supplements to replenish the iron stores.
Iron supplements often cause side effects and many people are not able to tolerate it.
However, the side effects are managed in most convenient way.
If the iron stores are not increasing despite iron supplements, you need to get bone marrow examination to look for any evidence of iron not being utilized by bode.
Blood transfusion is considered when hemoglobin drops down to very low levels i.e. less the 6 or 7 gms.
If you more queries, I will glad to answer.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
I have been prescribed ferrous sulphate, ferrous glauconate - one other ferrous tablet and Styron liquid iron over the last 14 months but couldn't tolerate any of them. They gave me horrendous diarrhoea , dizziness and my legs felt as if they could give way at any time.I was prescribed the chewable iron- Maltofer from a haematologist when I visited a hospital whilst on holiday in Thailand July 2017. I can't understand why my iron stores are at 7 but my haemoglobin is normal- my haemoglobin levels do fluctuate between normal and low (120 and 108)
At present I am off work a lot due to feeling exhausted,light headed, my memory is poor, I get palpitations - weakness in the legs and feel cold much of the time.
If I have been taking 100mg iron daily for 14 months why is my iron stores not improving?
Also I eat lots of iron rich vegetables in my diet.
Are there any specific tests I should be requesting re bone marrow investigation or would it show up in a full blood test?
I just don't feel I am getting to the bottom of this iron issue. Doctors and my consultant who did my gastroscopy and 2 sigmoidoscopy's seem happy with my haemoglobin level and don't seem to bother about my low iron stores and it's the low iron stores I feel that is making me feel so unwell.
At present I am off work a lot due to feeling exhausted,light headed, my memory is poor, I get palpitations - weakness in the legs and feel cold much of the time.
If I have been taking 100mg iron daily for 14 months why is my iron stores not improving?
Also I eat lots of iron rich vegetables in my diet.
Are there any specific tests I should be requesting re bone marrow investigation or would it show up in a full blood test?
I just don't feel I am getting to the bottom of this iron issue. Doctors and my consultant who did my gastroscopy and 2 sigmoidoscopy's seem happy with my haemoglobin level and don't seem to bother about my low iron stores and it's the low iron stores I feel that is making me feel so unwell.
Brief Answer:
Complete iron profile required to know exact cause of low iron levels.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome again,
It is good that your hemoglobin is normal so you do not require blood transfusion.
All the symptoms mentioned by you are probably not due to anemia.
However, with long standing low iron levels, the hemoglobin will slowly start falling.
It is important to know the cause of low iron despite taking iron supplements from long time.
I suggest you to post entire iron profile report including ferritin and TIBC to exactly know the cause of low iron levels.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
Complete iron profile required to know exact cause of low iron levels.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome again,
It is good that your hemoglobin is normal so you do not require blood transfusion.
All the symptoms mentioned by you are probably not due to anemia.
However, with long standing low iron levels, the hemoglobin will slowly start falling.
It is important to know the cause of low iron despite taking iron supplements from long time.
I suggest you to post entire iron profile report including ferritin and TIBC to exactly know the cause of low iron levels.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Serum iron level 7
Serum transferrin 2.9g/l
Transferrin saturation index 10%
Haemoglobin 125 Sept17
Haemoglobin
May 16. 108
June16. 119
July 16. 144
Nov 16. 127
Blood pressure today resting 118/78
Pulse 110
Does any of the above help make a clearer diagnosis?
Hi
Did my last message Re iron blood test results make things any clearer as to why I have low iron stores when I have been on an iron supplement for 14 months and eat an iron rich diet?
I have been monitoring my own blood pressure
Mon 23rd 7pm (at rest) 148/84
Tues 24th 11am 118/78 pulse 110 (resting)
3.45pm 128/78 pulse 107 resting
5pm. 141/90 pulse 89 (resting)
Wed 9.30am 114/74 pulse 88 (resting)
The above figures seem to fluctuate a lot- is this normal
My mother took a stroke aged 56 and was in hospital for 6 months.
Serum transferrin 2.9g/l
Transferrin saturation index 10%
Haemoglobin 125 Sept17
Haemoglobin
May 16. 108
June16. 119
July 16. 144
Nov 16. 127
Blood pressure today resting 118/78
Pulse 110
Does any of the above help make a clearer diagnosis?
Hi
Did my last message Re iron blood test results make things any clearer as to why I have low iron stores when I have been on an iron supplement for 14 months and eat an iron rich diet?
I have been monitoring my own blood pressure
Mon 23rd 7pm (at rest) 148/84
Tues 24th 11am 118/78 pulse 110 (resting)
3.45pm 128/78 pulse 107 resting
5pm. 141/90 pulse 89 (resting)
Wed 9.30am 114/74 pulse 88 (resting)
The above figures seem to fluctuate a lot- is this normal
My mother took a stroke aged 56 and was in hospital for 6 months.
Brief Answer:
Bone marrow aspiration is suggested since iron is not being utilized.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome again,
The iron profile mentioned by you clearly shows iron deficiency.
The reason for low iron levels despite iron supplements needs to be known.
I suggest you to get bone marrow aspiration done to know whether iron is being utilized by body or not.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
Bone marrow aspiration is suggested since iron is not being utilized.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome again,
The iron profile mentioned by you clearly shows iron deficiency.
The reason for low iron levels despite iron supplements needs to be known.
I suggest you to get bone marrow aspiration done to know whether iron is being utilized by body or not.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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