My mom tried to donate blood last week at her work and was told her iron level was to low so she couldn't. Yesterday she had a appointment at her GYN (she a hysterectomy last Feb.) and her doctor did some bloodwork and we are waiting on the results.

What he said that has me confused is that if her iron level is still low he'll send her to a famly doctor who will send her to a gastro doctor for a colonoscopy. Nothing I've learned in my last year of classes has ever led me to think that the colon has anything to do with iron production or storage. Did I just miss something?

Has anyone been through this or know anything about it because I'm clueless? My mom is still fairly young, only 47.

TIA

By Mrsheidi on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 10:59 am:

They are checking to see if she has a disease (or I hate to say...cancer) in her colon, I believe. The colon should be absorbing iron back into her body, or there also could be bleeding in the colon area causing her to lose iron. I'm sure they will check for any inflammation in her colon. There could also be a kidney or bladder disease causing it as well. I would also see if she has any arthritis...this has been known to cause iron deficiency.

By Sunny on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 11:00 am:

Iron deficiency Anemia

From the website:Anemia develops slowly after the normal stores of iron have been depleted in the body and in the bone marrow. Women, in general, have smaller stores of iron than men and have increased loss through menstruation, placing them at higher risk for anemia than men.

In men and postmenopausal women, anemia is usually caused by gastrointestinal blood loss associated with ulcers, the use of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS), or certain types of cancer (esophagus, stomach, colon).

The cause of the deficiency must be identified, particularly in older patients who are most susceptible to intestinal cancer.

Sounds like the doctor is just trying to cover all the bases.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 11:02 am:

All that and it could *just* be she has low iron. I've been that way most of my life. Jen has low iron too.

I even started eating more beef to try and bring it up. Green leafy vegies have iron. My PCP keeps insisting I take an iron supplement, but I can't stand the stuff.

Don't panic yet.

By Colette on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 12:08 pm:

I am low iron too. I hate the supplements, green leafy veggies, like spinach are great, and you absorb even more with vitamin C w/the veggies - so we make things like spinach lasagna.

By Insaneusmcwife on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 12:25 pm:

I had very low iron with my first pregnancy so the doctor suggested cooking with cast iron skillets. I went out and bought some and after a couple weeks my iron levels were great. I continued to use them ane with my second pregnancy I went in for my blood work and found out that my iron levels were abnormally high.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 01:52 pm:

I also hate to post a downer, but a dear friend received a diagnosis of anemia and was sent for a colonscopy and had colon cancer. She had surgery and chemo and was fine.

I agree with you, Colette, about the iron supplements - I don't care for the way they digest and they also can cause constipation. I prefer to eat more liver and the leafy green vegetables (and I like spinach) instead when necessary. Although I haven't been anemic for years, knock wood.

By Kay on Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 08:31 pm:

Even if it's nothing serious, it's a good idea for every woman to have a baseline colonoscopy between ages 45 and 55. Your mom's only 2 years only than I am, and I had my first colonoscopy 2 years ago. Yes, the prep was a pain, but the test answered some questions that my doctors had, and when all was said and done, set my mind at ease.

By Christylee on Sunday, August 29, 2004 - 09:31 pm:

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this...I've decided to NOT stress over this and we'll just take what comes our way.

Christy

By Christylee on Friday, September 3, 2004 - 07:16 pm:

Update: mom got the call today that all of her bloodwork and pap came back perfectly normal so she doesn't have to go back for anymore testing.

This is such a HUGE relief for us, thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

Christy

By Dana on Friday, September 3, 2004 - 08:12 pm:

Excellent.

By Cheekymama on Saturday, September 4, 2004 - 12:39 am:

Great news! Definitely nothing wrong with her Doc covering all the bases. Glad she didn't have to bother with that, though.