After suffering anemia for years it has finally been labled 'microcytic' can anyone give me some info on this and ideas on how to increase my red cell count. Iron supplements cause constipation and neausea.

Microcytic anemia is really iron deficiency anemia. Other things can cause microcytic anemia (where your red blood cells get small) but the majority of the time it is iron deficiency.

You need to work on find an iron supplement that you can tolerate.

My Red blood cells were very small too with my anemia. This is normal. For supplements, the higher the dose of iron the less constipation. There are types of iron that are much, much easier to handle. I have found one that works for me after being very ill on Ferris Sulfate 3X daily. That just didn't work. You really have to keep trying until you find one that works for your body. This is so different for each person. It's just what you can handle. You should also slowly introduce this to your body for best results. I didn't know that in the beginning, it makes a great difference. Good luck to you. FLFLOWERGIRL:)

Christine--Isn't it the MCV that indicates the smaller blood cells? Mine was 65Low when I was DX'ed. Now my MCV is 73.1 still low and I am no longer anemic. I'm not sure if this is the right Hematology marker that shows this that's why I am asking the question.

Tropical Girl--What is your MCV? Do the doctors tell you this is a form of IDA?
FLFLOWERGIRL:)

Christine--Isn't it the MCV that indicates the smaller blood cells? Mine was 65Low when I was DX'ed. Now my MCV is 73.1 still low and I am no longer anemic. I'm not sure if this is the right Hematology marker that shows this that's why I am asking the question.


FLFLOWERGIRL:)

Yes, the MCV indicates the size of the red blood cells. Mine were getting smaller as time went on but were still in the normal range at about 83. I was told that if I went on for too long, they would continue to shrink. So, my iron deficiency anemia, for now, is classified as normocytic. But the "norm" for iron deficiency anemia is microcytic.

Okay, thanks. I looked at my old labs from 2 yrs ago when I think this began and I was 89.6 then and the range was 80.0-100.). I never knew you had to read your own labs back then. Guess it's a ~Life Lesson~. I have never heard of "normocytic" either. Interesting! FLFLOWERGIRL:)

Christine--Isn't it the MCV that indicates the smaller blood cells? Mine was 65Low when I was DX'ed. Now my MCV is 73.1 still low and I am no longer anemic. I'm not sure if this is the right Hematology marker that shows this that's why I am asking the question.

Tropical Girl--What is your MCV? Do the doctors tell you this is a form of IDA?
FLFLOWERGIRL:)

My MCV is 58, have had enough of feeling this way and am pushing Dr to do more investigating. Have terrible side effects from iron supplements, nausea, palpitations and feeling like I just spent 24hrs on a carnival ride. Dr advised I double iron supplement, I did and immediately threw it up and dry retched and then vomited full blood, freaked me out and I went into shock, had a gastroscopy later that day and showed a tear in the oesophagus. Will now try iron supplements starting with low dose and work up.

My MCV is 58, have had enough of feeling this way and am pushing Dr to do more investigating. Have terrible side effects from iron supplements, nausea, palpitations and feeling like I just spent 24hrs on a carnival ride. Dr advised I double iron supplement, I did and immediately threw it up and dry retched and then vomited full blood, freaked me out and I went into shock, had a gastroscopy later that day and showed a tear in the oesophagus. Will now try iron supplements starting with low dose and work up.


My goodness, how awful!! Was that a particular iron supplement that did this to you or did they all have this affect?

Tropical Girl--So your blood cells are ~very~ small, due to your IDA.

Sorry that had to happened to you, It must have been very scary. Supplements made me so ill that I ended up in the ER with enteritis. I was then put on a much more gentle iron. Please ask your doctor for one. You really have to keep trying. I don't know that I would repeat the one that did that to you. Some irons can be horrible for some people. Let us know how you do. I am very sensitive anyway. FLFLOWERGIRL:)