My hemoglobin is 8.7

[Racerbvd]

So what does that mean??

[dennis in se pa]

Not good.
Mine was once down to 5. Another time 8. Your red blood cells carry oxygen to your body. Hemoglobin should be 14-16. You must feel exhausted. I did.
Iron supplements help.
Do you have internal bleeding?

[trekkor]

Homo Goblin?!?

Not sure...

[Noah930]

You're anemic. Could be lots of reasons why. But it's not normal. When's the last time you had a colonoscopy?

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Noah930

You're anemic. Could be lots of reasons why. But it's not normal. When's the last time you had a colonoscopy?

This is VERY good advice. Although, if you are loosing enough blood from the colon, rectum, or stomach to produce a 8.7, there would likely be obvious evidence in your stool. It would be very dark.

Most labs don't flag a low hemoglobin as critic ("Panic Value") until it's <7.0 What did the rest of your CBC look like? e.g. RBC, RBW, platelet count, etc?

[Rot 911]

I have Crohn's Disease and a few years back it ate a hole in my lower intestine. I was bleeding internally for a few days. Actually I was pooping black looking blood. Stank to high heaven. When I finally went to the hospital my hemoglobin was down to 8.1 I would almost pass out just walking up a flight of stairs. Normal is around 13.5-15. You need to see a doctor. I can't believe the people where you got it checked didn't tell you that.

[Craig T]

My guess is he did see a doctor and is waiting for the follow-up appointment now that the test results are in.

Most states don't allow self-referral CBCs, only STD's, HIV, Glucose, and lipid profiles. I've never heard of anyone getting a CBC that wasn't ordered by a physician. If it's abnormal, you can bet that doc will call him back in.

[jyl]

Kidney function?

[Racerbvd]

I saw my Dr. last week, and I commented that my blood pressure was doing great, and that I found it odd that is was lower and I put on a few lbs (damn meds) and on Friday his office called and said he wanted to see me today.

Not good.
Mine was once down to 5. Another time 8. Your red blood cells carry oxygen to your body. Hemoglobin should be 14-16. You must feel exhausted. I did.
Iron supplements help.
Do you have internal bleeding?

Yes, takes a lot more out of me to ride around the BMX track or just a few miles to the club. My Doc thinks it must be internal bleeding, the rest of my results looked good (according to him)

When's the last time you had a colonoscopy?
__________________

3 years ago, setting up an appointment ASAP, my Dr was pretty clear that they were sending in the paperwork but wants me to do as well to get me in..

This is VERY good advice. Although, if you are loosing enough blood from the colon, rectum, or stomach to produce a 8.7, there would likely be obvious evidence in your stool. It would be very dark.

Most labs don't flag a low hemoglobin as critic ("Panic Value") until it's <7.0 What did the rest of your CBC look like? e.g. RBC, RBW, platelet count, etc?

Not sure about the others (because of my heart some other health issues & the meds, I have blood work pretty much every month) but my Dr said everything else looked good.

[Eric 951]

Nothing to mess with. (2) years ago I was becoming winded doing routine tasks--carrying laundry, walking up flights of stairs--finally went to the doctor--he immeadiately indicated that I looked pale and asked if I was anemic--did a blood test. Called me the next day and told me that they were waiting for me at the emergency room--blood count was (6). Went to the hospital--(3) days hospitalization and (3) transfusions. Battery of tests--colonoscpoy, endoscope, camera-containing capsule swallowed---to this day they don't know the intial cause. No longer on iron suppllements and my blood count has stabilized(routine tests), but was told I could have had a heart attack when my count was depleted and keeled over at any time. Initial cause still a medical mystery.

[recycled sixtie]

If in doubt get a second opinion about your 8.7 hemoglobin. In your health system it might cost you $$$ but I would consider it worth it. Not all docs/specialists are created equal.
G.

[Rikao4]

how's your stomach..
your taking a few meds..
so it's easy to get a small ulcer going ..

Rika

[pavulon]

If it's a stomach bleeding problem, BUN is frequently elevated from where you normally run (I remember you having some health issues so keep in mind that your baseline BUN already be greater than reference values).

[NY65912]

Naprosyn put a hole in my stomach. It wasn't until I had an endoscopy / c-scope for my Crohn's that they found a nice little bleeding ulcer. I was put on Protonix and it cleared it up rather quickly. My hemoglobin was low in the 8-9 range, now I run in the 15's.

Having an occult stool test would be helpful. In the mean time, watch the spice and alcohol.

[FLYGEEZER]

Don't know what kinda meds your on but be advised that if your taking something like Plavix or another type of blood thinner, it can & will cause stomach bleeding that starts out small & only gets worse. Happened to me last year. Dr. had me on that stuff for almost 3 years for PAD. One year at the max, most doctors say. I got to feeling bad like I had the flu, tired no energy. Got myself up off the couch to take a squirt and passed out in the bathroom. Woke up in the ambulance. Three days in ICU, 3 pints of blood and worst of all, broke my foot in the fall. Cost me 16 weeks on the sick & injured list. My hemoglobin count was 8 . Find out whats wrong my friend, don't wait!

[Rikao4]

LOL..
going on those runs is never pretty Ed..
it's crowded, stinky...
and the old fool has his garments all tangled around his feet....
me..
well I waited until I got into the garage..
Racer..best you get your butt moving..

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by FLYGEEZER

Don't know what kinda meds your on but be advised that if your taking something like Plavix or another type of blood thinner, it can & will cause stomach bleeding that starts out small & only gets worse. Happened to me last year. Dr. had me on that stuff for almost 3 years for PAD. One year at the max, most doctors say. I got to feeling bad like I had the flu, tired no energy. Got myself up off the couch to take a squirt and passed out in the bathroom. Woke up in the ambulance. Three days in ICU, 3 pints of blood and worst of all, broke my foot in the fall. Cost me 16 weeks on the sick & injured list. My hemoglobin count was 8 . Find out whats wrong my friend, don't wait!

No Blood thinners, no stomach pains or issues, and because of the meds, I have regular blood work. My poop don't stink and no blood in it either.

If in doubt get a second opinion about your 8.7 hemoglobin. In your health system it might cost you $$$ but I would consider it worth it. Not all docs/specialists are created equal.
G.

Setting that up, and boy do I know that, had I stuck with the Doc I was seeing when I 1st started having health issues (2008) I would have colon cancer now and would still be losing oxygen (sleep apnea) when I sleep and my heart would still be stopping and only pumping at 20%

Nothing to mess with. (2) years ago I was becoming winded doing routine tasks--carrying laundry, walking up flights of stairs--finally went to the doctor--he immeadiately indicated that I looked pale and asked if I was anemic--did a blood test. Called me the next day and told me that they were waiting for me at the emergency room--blood count was (6). Went to the hospital--(3) days hospitalization and (3) transfusions. Battery of tests--colonoscpoy, endoscope, camera-containing capsule swallowed---to this day they don't know the intial cause. No longer on iron suppllements and my blood count has stabilized(routine tests), but was told I could have had a heart attack when my count was depleted and keeled over at any time. Initial cause still a medical mystery.

Boy, do I know that feeling, but figured it was my COPD, so I just been pushing harder to do things, when my breathing was down to 12% I was having trouble just walking to get my newspaper everyday(yes, I'm old school, still like the paper in my hand) and my docs alse see me as a medical mystery.. Between my heart & lungs, the Doc told me that I have a 10% a year of having a stroke, and that it will go up each year

Having an occult stool test would be helpful. In the mean time, watch the spice and alcohol.

I quit drinking in 2008 and spicy food & I never got along, so I have always avoided it.

Kidney function?

Checked & fine.

Just waiting for the next appointment and will go from there.

[Tobra]

How is your nutrition? Try going gluten free for a little while and see what happens.

[VFR750]

You might ask your doctor about meliofibrosis. It affects your bone marrow and results in loss of red blood cell production. Symptoms start out as easily exhausted. Dropping hemoglobin levels.

Hope this is not your case, but it came to mind as soon as I read about your low hemoglobin.