jax1234
Jun 11, 2012, 09:51 AM
I am 44years of age and for as long as I can remember my Iron Level or Count was always 4 or 5. Early 2000 when doctor checked me she said that I was a walking time-bomb. She said that my health condition was no different to that of someone she knew from Ethiopia - anorexic and unhealthy.
I had an Iron Infusion done and have been on repeat scripts of iron tablets - taking 60per month (Ferrimed). Eating healthy and taking my tablets (now 3 x per day) has made no difference. I remember then she had asked me if I belonged to some strange ethnic group.
The symptoms of someone suffering from iron deficiency I do not suffer from - no headaches, no tireredness, etc. In fact I am so energetic and hyperactive I can can stay awake for three days on end, and thereafter have a normal nights sleep on the fourth and feel normal. The only side effect that I do suffer from is getting cold easily.
About two months ago I started menstruating contininously and non-stop, flowing thick and like a tap left open. I am going through three packs of sanitary pads per week and each pack has twenty in it. Before I used to use one pack per month and my period lasted about four or five days per month. Per day at times I would change something like eight times and instead of wearing one sanitary pad I now have to wear two and sometimes that is not even secure. At times when I am standing I can even feel the blood flow seep down my legs - and that is how bad it has become.
I went to see a gynaecologist and he had suggested that I have a hysterectomy. He said that any severe bleeding that can cause anemia is from the gut or abdominal area. He said that my Iron Level or Count at present was way too low and that was because of my heavy blood loss during menstruation. When my menstruation was normal my Iron Count was the same (4 / 5). He said that the bleeding has to be stopped of which I agree with but what is worrying me is that whether I lose 1pint of blood or a million my Iron Count stays at that level (currently 4.86). Irrespective of me having two Iron Tablets per day or twenty per day my Iron Count remains at that level.
He said that the normal that it should be was between 14 and 16. He said that even smokers have a higher count than me - 16 or so.
I remember a couple of years ago I went to see a doctor about a varicose vein that I had that still aches today (just below the left knee). I do no that I have this discolouring at the bottom by my ankles. This doctor said that one of my veins is snapped (something like leaking blood into my skin tissue). He said that the skin will neutralise this but because of my iron deficiency it will stay discoloured (sort of darkish in colour) for longer. He said that it was not life threatening.
I told my gynaecologist about this incident and he felt that not even a ruptured varicose vein could cause such a low iron count.
I have never used a contracpetive pill in my life and have two children, aged 20 (boy) and 19 (girl). After my daughter's birth I was sterilised (aged 27). I suffered with extreme high blood pressure during preganancy and had to be sterilised because it was life threatening. The sterilised procedure done was the one through the belly button - some laser type of thing (not really sure).
My weight is 60kg, height 162cm. I did all the necessary tests (bone density, mammogram, sonar, bloods, etc.) Everything is normal and there are no cancer detections. I know that once these tests are done then something always comes back with a question mark - the iron level count.
I don't often go to the doctor and only go when I am really ill. Prior to this visit to my gynaecologist was in June 2010 and everything was normal excepting the iron count and as usual I was given iron tablets of which I just used to say that it was OK not to make out a script because I collect these monthly from the chemist as it is on repeats.
My gynaecologist feels that he should not give me any tablets because it is a waste because nothing different has occurred thus the option of a hysterectomy should be considered so as to stop any form of any blood loss whatsoever.
Just viewing my info I have given you what do you think.
Thanking you so kindly.
I had an Iron Infusion done and have been on repeat scripts of iron tablets - taking 60per month (Ferrimed). Eating healthy and taking my tablets (now 3 x per day) has made no difference. I remember then she had asked me if I belonged to some strange ethnic group.
The symptoms of someone suffering from iron deficiency I do not suffer from - no headaches, no tireredness, etc. In fact I am so energetic and hyperactive I can can stay awake for three days on end, and thereafter have a normal nights sleep on the fourth and feel normal. The only side effect that I do suffer from is getting cold easily.
About two months ago I started menstruating contininously and non-stop, flowing thick and like a tap left open. I am going through three packs of sanitary pads per week and each pack has twenty in it. Before I used to use one pack per month and my period lasted about four or five days per month. Per day at times I would change something like eight times and instead of wearing one sanitary pad I now have to wear two and sometimes that is not even secure. At times when I am standing I can even feel the blood flow seep down my legs - and that is how bad it has become.
I went to see a gynaecologist and he had suggested that I have a hysterectomy. He said that any severe bleeding that can cause anemia is from the gut or abdominal area. He said that my Iron Level or Count at present was way too low and that was because of my heavy blood loss during menstruation. When my menstruation was normal my Iron Count was the same (4 / 5). He said that the bleeding has to be stopped of which I agree with but what is worrying me is that whether I lose 1pint of blood or a million my Iron Count stays at that level (currently 4.86). Irrespective of me having two Iron Tablets per day or twenty per day my Iron Count remains at that level.
He said that the normal that it should be was between 14 and 16. He said that even smokers have a higher count than me - 16 or so.
I remember a couple of years ago I went to see a doctor about a varicose vein that I had that still aches today (just below the left knee). I do no that I have this discolouring at the bottom by my ankles. This doctor said that one of my veins is snapped (something like leaking blood into my skin tissue). He said that the skin will neutralise this but because of my iron deficiency it will stay discoloured (sort of darkish in colour) for longer. He said that it was not life threatening.
I told my gynaecologist about this incident and he felt that not even a ruptured varicose vein could cause such a low iron count.
I have never used a contracpetive pill in my life and have two children, aged 20 (boy) and 19 (girl). After my daughter's birth I was sterilised (aged 27). I suffered with extreme high blood pressure during preganancy and had to be sterilised because it was life threatening. The sterilised procedure done was the one through the belly button - some laser type of thing (not really sure).
My weight is 60kg, height 162cm. I did all the necessary tests (bone density, mammogram, sonar, bloods, etc.) Everything is normal and there are no cancer detections. I know that once these tests are done then something always comes back with a question mark - the iron level count.
I don't often go to the doctor and only go when I am really ill. Prior to this visit to my gynaecologist was in June 2010 and everything was normal excepting the iron count and as usual I was given iron tablets of which I just used to say that it was OK not to make out a script because I collect these monthly from the chemist as it is on repeats.
My gynaecologist feels that he should not give me any tablets because it is a waste because nothing different has occurred thus the option of a hysterectomy should be considered so as to stop any form of any blood loss whatsoever.
Just viewing my info I have given you what do you think.
Thanking you so kindly.