HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

How low has your Hg level become while flaring?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/24/2010 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
I was just curious if any of you have had very low Hg levels?  I realize that UC often makes one anemic.  During one of my worst flares my CBC showed a hg of only 8.5 (normal for male 14-18).  I take an oral Iron supplement to help out.  My last blood work showed s 14.5 level.

Any feedback?

Posted 3/24/2010 7:24 PM (GMT 0)
I had a Hg of <6 (also male, so this was shockingly low to my doctor -- he was amazed I had not started fainting) when I was initially diagnosed with UC in 2000 and had to have a blood transfusion. Thankfully, I have not had a flare-up so severe as to require that again, nor has my Hg dropped anywhere near that low again.
Posted 3/24/2010 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
TheBigA:

Thanks for your reply.  Wow, 6 IS low.  Did you have any tachycardia? (rapid heart beat)?  I can't believe I was working full time and running around all over the place with a Hg of 8.  I always felt fatigued around that time.  I think the cutt off for a blood transfusion is 8 as well.  Thanks for the feedback, all of your responsed put things in perspective.  It helps a lot.

I am glad you have never flared like that again, me either.

Posted 3/24/2010 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't realize how bad my UC is until I passed out, got rushed to the hospital, and found out my Hg was a 6. Now it's been at a stable 12 since I've been in remission (I've always been pretty anemic pre-UC and this is pretty good for me).
Posted 3/24/2010 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
trixi491:

Thanks for the reply.  Wow, another Hg of 6.  I guess I was bad but not that bad.  Just curious did you also receive a blood transfusion.  What did they do for you at the hospital?  Also how did you acheive remission?  Meaning it's a long road trip when you have a hg of 6, it means your UC is very bad.  I am just curious how you turned your UC around.

Thanks again.

Posted 3/25/2010 3:17 PM (GMT 0)

When I was diagnosed with UC in 2001, my Hg was between 4 and 5!!!!!  YIKES!  The doctor told me that he couldn't understand how I was up and walking around! 

However, I did not receive a blood transfusion.  They did give me iron through an IV.  If I remember correctly, I had 3 different appointments for the IV iron.  I them saw a Hematologist who put me on a prescription for an iron supplement.  This was in addition to meds that were prescribed for my newly diagnosed UC at the time.  Eventually, the inflammation from the UC healed and the iron supplements brought my Hg back up to a normal range.

I've had flares since my first UC diagnosis, but none of them ever caused such a drop in my Hg.

Posted 3/25/2010 4:06 PM (GMT 0)

DeniseGatr:

Thanks for posting.  WOW, that's a serious recovery, from 4-5 to normal.  I guess that episode of flare meant serious business.  Obviously it sent you to the hospital, right?  How bad were you doing at the time?  What prompted the blood draw?  And I thought I was bad with an 8.5, just goes to show you that this forum can definitely put things in perspective. 

Thanks again.wink

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply