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Hemoglobin dropped to 6-8 after the surgery for a total colectomy

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Posted 8/21/2022 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
A friend of mine had ulcerative colitis. He underwent surgery for a total colectomy in 2018. After that, he was unable to return to work and retired.
Before surgery, his hemoglobin was around 11. Other laboratory values were normal.
After surgery, his hemoglobin level dropped to 6-8. But he has no symptoms of anemia.
It's been four years since he had the surgery. There is no change in his hemoglobin value.
He's been on iron tablets, blood transfusions, and IV drips, but there's been no change.
He consulted six doctors. However, the cause remains unknown.
Why is his hemoglobin level so low? What will happen when he gets older? Has anyone had the same experience?
Posted 8/21/2022 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
I assume they have checked his vitamin B12 levels and folate levels?

Do they know for sure that the anemia is caused by iron deficiency?

Here is an article:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4154485/
Posted 8/22/2022 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi beave,
Thank you very much. This is great!! I will read the article and ask him about B12.
I let you know the results.
Kei
Posted 8/22/2022 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
I'm surprised your friend can even function at a haemoglobin level of 6. If iron/blood transfusions aren't raising it, then there must be another cause of the anaemia besides iron deficiency. Honestly this one has me baffled. Has your friend seen a haematologist?
Posted 8/22/2022 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Nice Cup of Tea, Thank you.
I guess he is staying at home most of the time because he has been retired.
I think he has never seen a hematologist. He is in Japan. I don't know whether there are hematologists or not in Japan like North America. I will ask him.
Posted 8/22/2022 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
It just seems like your friend needs to see a more specialist doctor at this point, since general doctors aren't able to find anything. A haematologist might not even be the right doctor, but they do specialise in blood and blood disorders, and anaemia counts as a blood disorder.
Posted 8/25/2022 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, beave,
We translated it into Japanese. and are still reading it.
He forgot to tell me whether he took the test of Vitamin12. I will ask him again.
Last time when he had a transfusion, the level went up 1-2 for three months. It never happened, so he was surprised.
He was told to take iron infusion in October again. He is not so happy because he can't expect a good result.

Hi NiceCupOfTea,
I found that there are blood specialists in Japan. I am not sure who are truly the specialists. Japanese medical doctors are not extremely specialized like North America. The system is different.
I am going to suggest that he will find the best blood specialist.
Posted 8/25/2022 8:58 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck figuring it out.

Make sure he gets his Vitamin B12 levels checked. Also his folate levels.

Also, for iron, they should do a blood test for "ferritin"
https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/ferritin-blood-test/

And also they should do a blood test for "total iron-binding capacity"
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tibc-test/


Those blood tests will help determine the reason for his anemia. Then you can use the article I linked to above to help figure it out.

Good luck!
Posted 8/27/2022 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
That happened to me and I nearly suffocated. After a resection in the hospital my iron levels kept on falling (I didn't know it at the time as no one checked my iron levels) and I could hardly breathe. I had to figure it out for myself after finally getting out of the hospital after 5 days. My father had bypass surgery and he needed iron infusions in the hospital and this came to mind and I phoned the GI and in the stupid country of Canada you actually need a prescription for iron so it took two more days to get iron pills. Without quick thinking on my part I might have died from suffocation no thanks to the idiots at the hospital.
Posted 8/27/2022 7:05 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you beave,
We didn't know anything about blood tests.
We are getting together studying, so he can explain to the doctor with confidence.

Hi Nicky,
What an experience you had !
Yes, in Canada people have to see a doctor, or a pharmacist has to phone the doctor to get a prescription for many pills. I heard the news today that it might be changed because of the covid-19 situation.
I didn't know that a lack of iron can cause suffocation.
I am glad that you could remember your father's situation.
I hope everything is OK now.
Posted 9/5/2022 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
When my iron levels get low, my GI tells me to up my Vitamin C.
Posted 9/5/2022 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi scifigal2k,
Thank you for the advice. I will let him know.
Posted 9/6/2022 4:52 AM (GMT 0)
How much Vitamin C did the doctor recommend you to take? Did it work? Are you still taking it?
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