low hemoglobin/how dangerous - Anemia Message Board

Piglet · 10-11-2003, 04:36 PM

I hope someone can help me. I have a daughter who
has (at last check) 1 week ago, a hemglobin level
of 8...her doctor thought about a blood transfusion,
but decided to wait a week to see if the level came
up...she has not has another blood test (she has no
insurance), and the labs won't do any testing...

Can someone tell me how dangerous this level is,
she is very shaky and of course very fatigued.
I'm very worried...

Thanks in advance for anyones help

rubindj · 10-11-2003, 11:23 PM

A hemaglobin should cost about $3-4, and most primary care doctor's can do it in their office. If your daughter is still having problems, you and your doctor need to find out why. It might be anemia, it might be an internal hemmorage, it might be that she has the flu, it might be a lot of things. 8 is low, but it isn't critical (so don't freak out about the hemmorage thing), but I would definately get her back in to see the doc.

Try going to a community health center. Usually you can see a doc or NP for $15 or $20. Also, if you have no insurance, you NEED to see your local dept of human services / welfare / medicaid office. Currently, a family of 3 in mississippi must make over 50,0000 per year for the children to not get CHIPS. Most other states means that number is higher, the more children, the higher the number.

PaNik5717 · 10-12-2003, 08:15 AM

I have never heard of anyone being transfused at 8. In my community, which is at high altitude where hgb runs about two points lower, doctors wait until a level below 5 to transfuse. Normals here are 14 to 16 with normals at sea level running between 12 and 14.

A level of 8 can be dangerous depending on how fast it gets there and how well other fluids are replaced during that time. In a trauma situation, rapid blood loss can result in cardiac arrest and death because of the absence of other fluids, but this isn't the case if the blood loss is slow or if there is another cause of anemia, like poor diet. Over time, chronic anemia can be dangerous, too, but the dangers are different.

Give your daughter some time to make more blood - it takes a long time. It would help to find out how she became anemic, but it is more important to know what she is deficient in right now and to get some supplements in her.

robste · 10-12-2003, 09:27 AM

I know that you're worried about your daughter's hemoglobin level, but don't panic. My hemoglobin level is only 9.1. My doctor (who's great) never has even mentioned anything about suggesting a transfusion. I would hope that the doctor your daughter is going to would give this some more time and/or try to find out the cause of your daughter's low hemoglobin level before doing anything.

Some questions, how old is your daughter? What is her ferritin/iron level at?

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Piglet · 10-12-2003, 10:34 AM

I feel 100% better..whew !!!! Thank you all very
much. I never found out what her hematocric or other
levels were....she's 23 years old, and doctors don't
talk to Mom anymore. I'm sure the anemia was caused
by malaria, she is a missionary and spent a month in
Africa, in July. She became ill right after she
returned, but it wasn't until last week, she was
diagnosed.(I think I spelled that wrong)..
I guess I should just continue to "bug" her to death
until she gets the blood test...(far be it from me to
tell her how to live her life)....fortunately for her
we are 6 hours apart...
Again thank you so very much. I'll sleep tonight..