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Suggest Treatment For Anemia And Gastric Ulcer
Question: hello - my hemagloben was 6 last week I received 2units of blood and IV iron and it a dup to 10 . They did an endoscope and found a small ulcer then they did a colonoscopy and found nothing . Originally they thought the ulcer was too small to account for the amount of blood lost. I have a history of treatment was completed. What are other reasons for loss of blood. I am 67 and had a hesterectomy in the 1990's for endometriosis. PLEASESR RESPOND ON MY E-MAIL XXXX. Thank you
Brief Answer:
Ulcer as sole cause for blood loss
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
You recently was found to be anemic and had a gastric ulcer. The size of an ulcer will not determine the amount of blood loss. If that ulcer had been bleeding for weeks to months your iron stores and blood loss would account for the low Hemoglobin. Since you colonoscopy was clean and you are past menopause the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia is Ulcer. If you have a history of drinking alcohol that could cause gastritis and hence anemia. Also use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen or Aspirin can also cause gastritis and hence anemia. But since a source of blood loss was found I think healing that ulcer would be my first priority.Since you do take aspirin daily I would recommend stopping it until your blood counts are normal. Once they are normal you may restart the aspirin but then need close monitoring to be sure no further bleeding.
In summary
1. Anemia iron deficiency due to GI blood loss
2. Ulcers most common
3. Stop Alcohol
4. Stop aspirin and any NSAIDs like ibuprofen
5. Restart aspirin with close monitoring only after blood counts back to normal
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
Ulcer as sole cause for blood loss
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
You recently was found to be anemic and had a gastric ulcer. The size of an ulcer will not determine the amount of blood loss. If that ulcer had been bleeding for weeks to months your iron stores and blood loss would account for the low Hemoglobin. Since you colonoscopy was clean and you are past menopause the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia is Ulcer. If you have a history of drinking alcohol that could cause gastritis and hence anemia. Also use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen or Aspirin can also cause gastritis and hence anemia. But since a source of blood loss was found I think healing that ulcer would be my first priority.Since you do take aspirin daily I would recommend stopping it until your blood counts are normal. Once they are normal you may restart the aspirin but then need close monitoring to be sure no further bleeding.
In summary
1. Anemia iron deficiency due to GI blood loss
2. Ulcers most common
3. Stop Alcohol
4. Stop aspirin and any NSAIDs like ibuprofen
5. Restart aspirin with close monitoring only after blood counts back to normal
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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