What Causes Low Hemoglobin Levels?

Posted on Wed, 29 Apr 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 Answered on

Wed, 27 May 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I am a 55 yr old single white female. live alone with my service dog for 8 yrs after 10 long yrs of being physically emotionally mentally verbally sexually assaulted. Choked, kicked, punched, knocked out via a punch to the head, squeezed till passed out and held under water till the last second. was 132lbs at age 41 and when released from being held hostage for almost 2 yrs i weighed 76lbs. i only give you a small amount of history cause I believe some health issues are deriven from this time in my life. I have spent the last 3 yrs in solitude with "XXXX" (dog) Leave home only to go to Dr.s appt. I have a nuerologist for TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY/SEIZURES INCL: GRAN MAL, PETIT MAL, LOSS OF TIME (CAN NO LONGER DRIVE) Diagnosed with osteoporosis, bone loss, degenerative bone ??? the scoliosis has now given me a 3in difference for obvious reasons. I HAVE BEEN AT CRITICAL LEVELS OF VITAMIN D, POTASSIUM ALONG WITH BEING ANEMIC NOW TAKE 50,000 UNITS Vit D three x's wk and its been 3 months along with daily dose of potassium, I HAVE BEEN WEAK BEFORE AND BOUTS OF FATIGUE BUT THIS SO CALLED FATIGUE IS NOTHING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED AND DR.S TAKE BLOOD MONTHLY AND THATS IT, WHILE I LAY HERE SO LIFELESS ITS HARD TO TAKE DOG OUT. WHAT IS CAUSING MY BLOOD TO BE DEFICIENT ? I HAVE AN ONCOLOGIST/SPECIALIST OF BLOOD DISORDERS AND SEE HIM ON THE 7TH - WHAT DO I ASK HIM ? PLEASE HELP ME. I AM NOW DISABLED AND HAVE NO MONEY - HAVE NO FAMILY AND AM NOT READY TO DIE. I AM A SURVIVOR AND DIDNT FIGHT TO STAY MENTALLY THERE TO GET AWAY FROM ABUSIVE PIG TO COME OUT AND LAY HERE HELPLESS. PLEASE HELP. XXXXXXX XXXX

Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You should search for the cause of low hemoglobin.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
I m very sad to know about your painful history. I want to congratulate for your bravery.

You have traumatic brain injury. You should continue your treatment for that.

You have osteoporosis, scoliosis and bone loss. These all ars due to vitamin D deficiency. You should also continue your treatment of vitamin supplements.

Now comes to your weaknesses and anemia. You have low hemoglobin and your severe weaknesses is due to your anemia.

There are many causes of low hemoglobin.
Iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, chronic blood loss or hemolysis are the common cause of low hemoglobin.

You should search the cause of that.

For that you should go for complete blood count, peripheral smear examination and anemia profile. You should also go for ultrasound abdomen to rule out gastrointestinal bleeding.

This will help you to search the cause. Then you should take treatment accordingly.

Consult your haematologist and discuss this and plan accordingly. Give me follow up with your reports.

Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic.
Wish you a very good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar