Low Hemoglobin

I may have mentioned once or twice (on other threads) that I'm am new to all of this. I say that because I seriously am not only new to this disease, I'm also new to the whole medical world. I am a reasonably intelligent 30 something (ha!) but doctor-speak and the medical field in general are a whole new territory for me.

Until recently, there could be a year between visits to my doctor's surgery (we have moved around the country alot over the past 13 years) I had severe pain for the last six years but was told it was sciatica brought on by the pregnancy & birth of my second son. So I had a myriad of tests (some costing (I've been told) thousands of dollars) all showing nothing, but because I never saw the one doctor, two and two were never put together.

Anyway, I digress... I mention all of the above so you guys know my lack of knowledge in this area is why: (a) I don't respond to a lot of queries (I know nothing!!); and (b) I may ask STUPID and maybe completely obvious questions.

So here's the problem...

I received a call from my GP yesterday. He informed me that my last blood tests (on 5 Oct) indicated that I have low hemoglobin levels. He had me pick up the blood test order from his clinic and have the blood tests done that afternoon.

I asked him what this means, and all I got was something along the lines of, "we won't know until we get the tests done". He said he'd call me with the results. This is the first time I've ever had a doctor call me in person (usually it's the girls at the front desk, etc) and him calling me with the results also kind of freaked me out.

I know one of the tests he ordered was iron, but there were two or three more that were hand-written on there. Because I had to have them done that day, I didn't have a chance to run them by my mum (hehe... she who can decipher doctor scribble!).

Have you guys had this before and do you know what other tests he might have ordered?

Mel

Hi Mel,

I totaly understand you :) As I remember I think we were diagnosed around the same time (for me it is 3 and 1/2 months ago) seems like hundred years ago to me... but I feel like I still know very little about the desease and the whole medical world...but for sure more than at the beggining.

Funny because I had my blood test done today too after one from last week showed "elevated red blood cells", they told me that it can be because of the vitamin B defficency.  And now of course after your post I am reading all this stuff from JayBespoke and looking over the internet for Vitamin B12 deficiency and all this stuff...

OMG  - to much... sometimes it is just overwhelming, I want to know more but all the information just drives me crazy and make me think...what else will be wrong with me???... And sometimes is maybe better to no read it and just wait for the test results..

Of course I want to thank JayBespoke for the info - he is always so helpful and this site and people here, thanks to this place I know more and I am aware of a lot of things and I am not THAT scared of RA as I was at the beggining.

Mel, wish you all the best and let us know about the test results!!! Have a wonderful weekend!