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Suggest Treatment For Anemia In An Elderly Person
Hello: my mom is 98 almost 99 in hospice care at a rest home and is anemic; losing blood somewhere that doctors have been unable to eliminate. Got a call from rest home nurse that mom's hemoglobin is at 19 and normal is 34 (I think that is her comment). My sister and I do not want mom to die, although she has severe short term memory and does not know much except about her very young years. I am being told she needs another transfusion (has happened twice earlier this year before she was put on hospice). My sister and I do not want mom to be refused treatment, but just are very confused about hospice right now. Since a treatment plan for fixing the anemia has not been found, are transfusions the only solution to improving anemia in an aged person?
Tue, 24 Jun 2014
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Anemia is decreased hemoglobin below 12g% in females. I think she is talking about the hematocrit and normal is around 36. Hematocrit of 19 would mean around 6-7g%. Its very low.
At the age of 98-99, the bone marrow cannot produce as much as in the young. As they are not able to identify any cause of how she is losing blood and alongside nutritional deficiency, she would required packed red cell transfusion.
Improving nutrition will help. However, a 6g% hemoglobin will increase stress on heart and lead to cardiac problems.
Immediate aspect is to transfuse packed red cells. later on nutritional improvement can be thought of.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Welcome to HCM.
Anemia is decreased hemoglobin below 12g% in females. I think she is talking about the hematocrit and normal is around 36. Hematocrit of 19 would mean around 6-7g%. Its very low.
At the age of 98-99, the bone marrow cannot produce as much as in the young. As they are not able to identify any cause of how she is losing blood and alongside nutritional deficiency, she would required packed red cell transfusion.
Improving nutrition will help. However, a 6g% hemoglobin will increase stress on heart and lead to cardiac problems.
Immediate aspect is to transfuse packed red cells. later on nutritional improvement can be thought of.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
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