Hey all I am new here. I have been anemic for at least 6 months now, I just started my 3rd round of iron shots. The first was in june, I had 3 shots (100mg each) every other day for a week. I was told to wait 3 months and have more blood work done, it came back still low, so I had another round of shots same as before and after a month had another round of blood done. This time however not only was my iron still low, but all my counts were low (RBC everything) and my white blood cells were high, as well as a notation that my red blood cells were abnormally shaped (hemolytic I think was the word?). So now I have a round of 6 shots over 2 weeks, and then another round of tests in three months and if the counts are still low, I have to see a hemotologist. The reason for the shots is that I cannot tolerate any form of oral iron, and even the shots make me sick. Now I had a stomach ulcer they found in February, but I just had a GI series and it showed no ulcer anymore....but I have ended up in emerg 2 times in the last 3 weeks with extreme abdominal pain which looks like a symptom related to my anemia from what I have been reading.

Now my Dr wasn't in the office today to find out what these results all mean. The office nurse showed me the report today while I was getting the shot and seemed to sound concerned by the results. My hunting online today has turned up several different possibilities including sickle cell anemia and possibly leukemia (the major problem seems to be the shape abnormality). The abdominal pain showed up as symptoms for sickle cell as well.

I was wondering if anyone has had these types of results and what the possibilities are? I am 29 and pretty freaked out, but I have been feeling sick for months and don't know what to do anymore...........if you can maybe ease my mind? Thanks in advance

Reeneebob

Whenever anemia is involved, the Red blood cells will change shape due to the missing iron components that make up the cells. There are several common shapes that indicate types of anemia from sickle cell and so forth. Aplastic anemia is also a serious anemia. It sounds like your health problems have been going on for some time and that you need to do more exploring as to what is going on. Good luck.

Thanks for the help! I am freaking out just a little, but yes this has been going on for a looong time now and I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Hopefully I will be able to get in to see a hemotologist soon (there aren't any around where I live so the wait is longer to get in) but until the worst possible scenarios were going through my head. Thanks for clearing up my question for me!

This is a wonderful board I am glad I came across it....thanks

My mom felt bad for a long time and was anemic...they tested for everything, she finally went to Montana and was diagnosed with vasculitis. I guess it is hard to diagnose, they found it through a biopsy. She is on Prednisone now and responding ok so far. Might be something to check out...Good Luck!!

i have anemia that is caused by irregular red blood cell shape, a hereditary condition called spherocytosis. i also had a lot of stomach pains as a child because of the condition and had to have my spleen removed, which ended the stomach pains. i don't know what ethnicity you are but i know this condition is common in northern european descent and maybe others as well. just another thing for you to check out! good luck with everything