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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Question: 49 year male pretty good health I work out twice a week but am very active.
On May 19th I bent over and my lower back on my right side popped so bad that I went to my knees.
I was slightly bending over to get bottle of dishing washing soap from under sink.
I had surgery and disk removed from L4 / L5. Always been a little stiff but that was over 12 years ago.
Got on xray and went over with doctor and nothing wrong in spine area.
also 10 years ago I had a vagotomy because I over produce to much acid. 2 years ago doctor put me back on Prolisec 20mg once a day.
On May 21st I just happen to be signed up from Blood Work from a health fair.
So now I am a little worried. Lower right of my still aches. To make me think of everything
that could be going on with me.
Tired more than normal and hard to think straight. Stool has been softer than normal colors change alot
but not Tar looking or feeling. When I wipe does feel gritty. Constapaited more than normal you could say.
I am an avid blood donor so I have never been told I have an iron problem.
When I donated the sample of blood the nurse made a comment that she had never seen blood fill the tube that quickly. With that being said I have listed the results that came with alerts listed on the results. The only reason I took the full blood workup was it was only a little more than just the lipid panel as I watch my Cholesterol is 116. (It has been as high 300 in back before the Vagatomy)
My UIBC count 412
iron, Serum 30
Iron Saturation 7
Hemoglobin 11.9
MCV 77
MCH 24.2
RDW 17.9
Monocytes 13
On May 19th I bent over and my lower back on my right side popped so bad that I went to my knees.
I was slightly bending over to get bottle of dishing washing soap from under sink.
I had surgery and disk removed from L4 / L5. Always been a little stiff but that was over 12 years ago.
Got on xray and went over with doctor and nothing wrong in spine area.
also 10 years ago I had a vagotomy because I over produce to much acid. 2 years ago doctor put me back on Prolisec 20mg once a day.
On May 21st I just happen to be signed up from Blood Work from a health fair.
So now I am a little worried. Lower right of my still aches. To make me think of everything
that could be going on with me.
Tired more than normal and hard to think straight. Stool has been softer than normal colors change alot
but not Tar looking or feeling. When I wipe does feel gritty. Constapaited more than normal you could say.
I am an avid blood donor so I have never been told I have an iron problem.
When I donated the sample of blood the nurse made a comment that she had never seen blood fill the tube that quickly. With that being said I have listed the results that came with alerts listed on the results. The only reason I took the full blood workup was it was only a little more than just the lipid panel as I watch my Cholesterol is 116. (It has been as high 300 in back before the Vagatomy)
My UIBC count 412
iron, Serum 30
Iron Saturation 7
Hemoglobin 11.9
MCV 77
MCH 24.2
RDW 17.9
Monocytes 13
Brief Answer:
You have Iron Deficiency Anemia.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir!
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
From the blood test results I can tell that you have Iron deficiency anemia.I am going to explain every finding in your test report.
Normal adult hemoglobin values are generally 13.5 to 17.5 gr/dl for men.
Anemia in men it is defined as hemoglobin <13.5 g/dL ( your value is 11.9 g/dl and you have moderate anemia).
The differential diagnosis of anemia is quite broad and extensive, but is initially narrowed when the red cell indices are evaluated - MCV and MCH.
All causes of anemia can be found in one of three categories: microcytic, normocytic, and macrocytic.
The normal values for MCV are 80 - 100 fl. Your value of MCV is 77 fl and your anemia it is called microcytic
Normal values for MCH are 27-33 pg and your value of 24.2 pg is low.For this reason it is called Hypochromic anemia.
An anemia microcytic and hypochromic is characteristic for Iron deficiency anemia.
The fact that serum iron is low 30 ng/dl (normal range is 65-176 ng/dl) and Iron Saturation is very low 7 %(normal range is 15-55 %) confirm the diagnosis of IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA.
Iron deficiency is caused by two broad categories of conditions:
1- inadequate intake due to diet poor in iron or malabsorption
2- chronic blood loss especially from digestive tract.In this case blood loss may be occult and microscopic.
Iron deficiency anemia in a male or postmenopausal female mandates an evaluation for gastrointestinal sources of blood loss, especially cancer.
In your case there are many risk factors for this anemia:
-If you have used NSAIDS (Ibuprofen,Paracetamol) for long time.
-If you have gastritis,peptic ulcer.
-The use of PPI drugs for long time.
Omeprazole(Prilosec) is an acid-reducer that is used to treat acid reflux and stomach ulcers.Lack of enough stomach acid caused by chronic use of omeprazole can affect the absorption of iron from foods and this can lead to Iron deficiency anemia.
I suggest to consult your treating doctor and get examined.After examining you and have excluded all other possible causes(digestive disease) he will decide the best option of treatment for you.
Hope I have answered your query.If you have any further question please feel free to write me,I will be happy to help.
Take care
Dr.Rovena Murati
You have Iron Deficiency Anemia.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir!
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
From the blood test results I can tell that you have Iron deficiency anemia.I am going to explain every finding in your test report.
Normal adult hemoglobin values are generally 13.5 to 17.5 gr/dl for men.
Anemia in men it is defined as hemoglobin <13.5 g/dL ( your value is 11.9 g/dl and you have moderate anemia).
The differential diagnosis of anemia is quite broad and extensive, but is initially narrowed when the red cell indices are evaluated - MCV and MCH.
All causes of anemia can be found in one of three categories: microcytic, normocytic, and macrocytic.
The normal values for MCV are 80 - 100 fl. Your value of MCV is 77 fl and your anemia it is called microcytic
Normal values for MCH are 27-33 pg and your value of 24.2 pg is low.For this reason it is called Hypochromic anemia.
An anemia microcytic and hypochromic is characteristic for Iron deficiency anemia.
The fact that serum iron is low 30 ng/dl (normal range is 65-176 ng/dl) and Iron Saturation is very low 7 %(normal range is 15-55 %) confirm the diagnosis of IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA.
Iron deficiency is caused by two broad categories of conditions:
1- inadequate intake due to diet poor in iron or malabsorption
2- chronic blood loss especially from digestive tract.In this case blood loss may be occult and microscopic.
Iron deficiency anemia in a male or postmenopausal female mandates an evaluation for gastrointestinal sources of blood loss, especially cancer.
In your case there are many risk factors for this anemia:
-If you have used NSAIDS (Ibuprofen,Paracetamol) for long time.
-If you have gastritis,peptic ulcer.
-The use of PPI drugs for long time.
Omeprazole(Prilosec) is an acid-reducer that is used to treat acid reflux and stomach ulcers.Lack of enough stomach acid caused by chronic use of omeprazole can affect the absorption of iron from foods and this can lead to Iron deficiency anemia.
I suggest to consult your treating doctor and get examined.After examining you and have excluded all other possible causes(digestive disease) he will decide the best option of treatment for you.
Hope I have answered your query.If you have any further question please feel free to write me,I will be happy to help.
Take care
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Dr.Rovena Murati
Thank you for all of your feedback.
I will say over the last 6 months I have just felt something is wrong.
Colon and Esophagus Cancer runs in my family.
Part of the reason when I started having problems with ACID reflux I took the route of the Vagotomy to not be like my father and walk around with TUMS in my pocket all day.
I did not see the problems on the blood work up on previous results monitoring my LDL.
I was concerned with my research that the pop or the pain in my back was not related to my spine as it closer to where my Kidney would be.
Was afraid of a pending Kidney stone that would release at anytime or with what could be IBS it was related to something in the colon or digestive track.
I have a military school I have to leave for a month on the 18th of XXXXXXX I will be gone for a month. With this being said...
I have a short window to request a test to confirm anything.
We know there is a problem, MRI, CAT scan, Colosncopy?
I do not want to be 1500 miles from home and develope a larger problem.
Just looking for which test might be the best to confirm the best answer. Would one test be able to confirm or deny better than the other?
Thank you for all of your feedback.
I will say over the last 6 months I have just felt something is wrong.
Colon and Esophagus Cancer runs in my family.
Part of the reason when I started having problems with ACID reflux I took the route of the Vagotomy to not be like my father and walk around with TUMS in my pocket all day.
I did not see the problems on the blood work up on previous results monitoring my LDL.
I was concerned with my research that the pop or the pain in my back was not related to my spine as it closer to where my Kidney would be.
Was afraid of a pending Kidney stone that would release at anytime or with what could be IBS it was related to something in the colon or digestive track.
I have a military school I have to leave for a month on the 18th of XXXXXXX I will be gone for a month. With this being said...
I have a short window to request a test to confirm anything.
We know there is a problem, MRI, CAT scan, Colosncopy?
I do not want to be 1500 miles from home and develope a larger problem.
Just looking for which test might be the best to confirm the best answer. Would one test be able to confirm or deny better than the other?
Brief Answer:
You should do a colonoscopy.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Well for the kidney problem,If you suspect that the back pain might be due to kidney stone, you can do an abdominal ultrasound (kidney ultrasound) and if there is any stone this test will identify it.
Related to the Iron Deficiency anemia,the only way to exclude a digestive disease (including digestive cancer) is to perform a colonoscopy.
Considering your age and your family history for digestive cancer ,a colonoscopy should be done even if it is done as a screening method. Probably an Upper endoscopy should also be done if the colonoscopy result clear.
Once excluded serious digestive conditions as a probably cause of anemia,then other possibilities may be taken in consideration (e.g long term use of Omeprazol).
I suggest to consult your treating doctor and discuss with him the above options.
Hope my answer has helped.
Let me know if you have additional questions.
All the best.
Dr.Rovena Murati
You should do a colonoscopy.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Well for the kidney problem,If you suspect that the back pain might be due to kidney stone, you can do an abdominal ultrasound (kidney ultrasound) and if there is any stone this test will identify it.
Related to the Iron Deficiency anemia,the only way to exclude a digestive disease (including digestive cancer) is to perform a colonoscopy.
Considering your age and your family history for digestive cancer ,a colonoscopy should be done even if it is done as a screening method. Probably an Upper endoscopy should also be done if the colonoscopy result clear.
Once excluded serious digestive conditions as a probably cause of anemia,then other possibilities may be taken in consideration (e.g long term use of Omeprazol).
I suggest to consult your treating doctor and discuss with him the above options.
Hope my answer has helped.
Let me know if you have additional questions.
All the best.
Dr.Rovena Murati
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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