I was just diagnosed to being EXTREMELY anemic about 2 months ago. I had a bone marrow biopsy done to determine the cause of my anemia and it is due to iron deficiency. I am taking very high levels of iron per day and still feeling tired, out of it, can't focus....luckily the heart palpitations are close to being gone. My doctor wants me to have a colonoscopy... What is he trying to determine? Anyone here have a colonoscopy? Can you please tel me what they found out when you had it?

Hi mommytoshannon! :)

I just had a colonoscopy 2 weeks ago because of low ferritin levels. This is done as a screening, largely to make sure there aren't any GI bleeds going on.

There's a whole lot of great info on prep and colonoscopy stuff in the thread titled "Ferrous Fumarate or Gluconate" on page 2 of this forum. The link is here http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=530680&page=10

Colonoscopy is the standard procedure when they are trying to determine the cause of iron deficiency anemia. They want to make sure you are having occult bleeding in the digestive tract.

I'm surprised that they didn't also order an upper endoscopy to check for stomach bleeds.

Thank you both. I guess that I better schedule my appt to have this colonoscopy done. The thought of it frightens me. :(

Hi there,
There really is nothing to be scared of. You should be slightly sedated during the procedure. All it is, is they will insert a small scope in to you bottom and have a 'look around', mainly to check for disease or bleeding, its a little uncomfortable (they pass gas down the scope, so you should expect feeling bloated, and feel the urge to go to the toilet), you will be give a bowel preparation to take prior to the investigation (which is worse than the actual procedure! - make sure you close to the toilet!. Honest the hardest part for me was not being able to eat from lunch time the day before the procedure and taking the 'laxative' type med.

You will be fine, I was worried before I had mine done, but its really no great thing - if youve experianced child birth, its like shelling peas (lol).
Good luck,
Linds

mommytoshannon--I had a colonoscopy as many others here have had. It is standard procedure when you have IDA. What I don't understand is, as Christine stated, why no endoscopy, down the throat. It only takes 10 minutes longer and will rule out bleeding from the stomach or other areas. The entire procedure combined is 30 minutes and you don't know it (hopefully) at least you shouldn't. That is like a mammo on half of your chest? I would definitely bring this up to my doctor. Good luck! FLFLOWERGIRL:)