During the course of a recent cholesterol screen, my family doctor found that my blood count was 8.9 and referred me to a hematologist/oncologist. That Dr. wants to do a CAT Scan, endoscopy and colonoscopy as the first steps in determining why I am anemic. Is this normal? I am concerned because he didn't ask me anything about symptoms I might have or any family history. I have very heavy menstrual bleeding, info I volunteered, and he sort of brushed that off as a possible cause. It was only after I refused to do the tests because of my insurance that he ordered another blood test and stool sample. Has anyone else had a Dr. go to these tests as a first step? I thought he would start with iron supplements or something like that. The fact that he is an oncologist as well is scaring me. Any insight into this would be much appreciated.

How old are you? That reading is a little bit low for menstruation to account for it. Some doctors are more gungho, and mostly that is good. i would have the tests if at all possible. Some doctors like to have all these results to look at, and again that is mostly good. Don't worry too much, there are gazillions of possibilities, mostly not life-threatening

I am 50 and pre-menopausal. I can't have the tests because my insurance won't pay for them as diagnostic tools. The thing that concerned me more than anything about the dr. was that he didn't ask me anthing concerning symptoms or family history.

Your blood counts are pretty low, and like the person above me said, it's generally good in this case that the doctor is trying to find out why it's so low. Of course, if you're feeling ok there's nothing wrong with taking iron and following up on your bloodwork to see if that helps. I can understand the whole insurance thing. However, if taking iron doesn't help, then you really should start looking for why you're so anemic.

As far as your family history goes, anemia isn't something that is inherited, unless it's the autoimmune type. But other than that, anemia is always a symptom of something else. What symptoms have you been experiencing?

Your blood counts are pretty low, and like the person above me said, it's generally good in this case that the doctor is trying to find out why it's so low. Of course, if you're feeling ok there's nothing wrong with taking iron and following up on your bloodwork to see if that helps. I can understand the whole insurance thing. However, if taking iron doesn't help, then you really should start looking for why you're so anemic.

As far as your family history goes, anemia isn't something that is inherited, unless it's the autoimmune type. But other than that, anemia is always a symptom of something else. What symptoms have you been experiencing?

I feel weak, tired all the time, no energy, some dizziness, headaches, and I eat a ton of ice, which I have just discovered is a symptom of anemia. Didn't know that before today. And, I haven't been taking iron. He didn't prescribe anything for me at all.

Well those are definitely symptoms of anemia! I'm sorry you're feeling so awful! Your doc doesn't have to prescribe you iron, you just get it over the counter at any drugstore. You're counts are definitely low and you should at least be taking oral iron to hopefully bring things up! Take care ~
Liz

My Doctor did me the same way! He went down in my mouth to my stomach and looked around and then did the Colonoscopy right after that. I had 3 Polpys removed and every thing turned out good for me. I went yesterday and had a CT Scan done on my stomach and Pelvis and will get the results tomorrow. But don't be worried because my Doctor didn't order any Iron for mee neither until after the Colonoscopy was done. Good luck to you! Mine went real well for me.

Your doctor is rightly ordering these tests because of your age. I also have anemia, although my counts are not as low as yours. I am 43 and, according to my doctor, right on that "risk line" for other factors such as colon cancer, etc. He said if I was in my 30s, he'd just chalk it up to menstruation.

Yours may very well be due to menstruation but because you are 50, you really should have the other tests done.

My Doctor did me the same way! He went down in my mouth to my stomach and looked around and then did the Colonoscopy right after that. I had 3 Polpys removed and every thing turned out good for me. I went yesterday and had a CT Scan done on my stomach and Pelvis and will get the results tomorrow. But don't be worried because my Doctor didn't order any Iron for mee neither until after the Colonoscopy was done. Good luck to you! Mine went real well for me.

Thanks, that made me feel a lot better.

Your doctor is rightly ordering these tests because of your age. I also have anemia, although my counts are not as low as yours. I am 43 and, according to my doctor, right on that "risk line" for other factors such as colon cancer, etc. He said if I was in my 30s, he'd just chalk it up to menstruation.

Yours may very well be due to menstruation but because you are 50, you really should have the other tests done.

Thank you.