Suggest Treatment For Chronic Anemia

Posted on Thu, 3 Nov 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 3 Nov 2016 Answered on

Wed, 30 Nov 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I seem to have chronic anemia, Ever since I was a child and now I am 74. I had to give myself b12 shots while in college, iron shots while pregnant and b12 off and on in mid life. Some times the doctors tell me No problems but for the past 3 years it has been running below 9 and now for this past year, it is 8.5 I have repeatedly had upper and lower GI series but no problems were indicated except gerd and a hernia I went to have cataract surgery yesterday and the sane alarm bell went off, I was 8.6

My current treatment is eat healthier and take a multiple vita min.I am a very active individual, 158 lbs, lots of real gardening, regular yoga What are your thought/recommendations/concerns

Answered by Dr. Shailja Puri (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Blood levels of iron, vit B 12, folic acid and stool occult blood suggested

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query on HealthcareMagic.
Maintain a healthy life style which include healthy food and exercise.
The lower limit for hemoglobin for an elderly female is 11 gm/dL. however, the range varies from population to population being higher in western countries.
I would suggest you to take up blood test for iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid.
In addition, a stool test for occult blood is also suggested.
Low iron or vitamin B12-folic acid levels require supplementation.
In case, occult blood is positive in stool, a through search for cause of blleding in gastrointestinal tract is required.

Kindly, take up these tests and post the results for review.

Thanks
Dr Shailja Puri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad