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What Causes Weakness Inspite Of Having Low Hemoglobin Levels?

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Posted on Mon, 22 Jun 2015
Question: Is it leukimia, lymphoma or a blood disorder of some sort? It all started April 9 I started feeling off but figured I was just run down from work and I needed rest. My family and I went to XXXXXXX that night and the next morning April 11 I was really sick to my stomach ate a little but not much. We went to Mall of XXXXXXX and walking around I started feeling weak like I could pass out so I sat down for 45 minutes while my family shopped. They came back at lunch time I attempted to eat and I couldn't it made me sick and it all came back up so my husband took me to the motel so I could sleep. I slept the whole time they were gone which was around 4-5 hrs. That night at supper my husband tried to get me to eat and I said no I feel sick and I went back to sleep. The next day was Disney on ice that we were taking our girls too I was determined not to miss it so I stuck it out. We met my mom at the mall again afterwards and I attempted to eat a salad ate a little got really weak and sick so told my husband I was going to sit in the van. I ended up throwing up and sleeping for those 2 hrs. On the way home I wouldn't eat supper and my mom and husband convinced me to go to ER so I did, they drew blood and 5-10 minutes after it was drawn the doctor was back saying your bloodwork was flagged your hemoglobin is 8.5. Over night with iv fluids dropped to 7.3. They did a scope and it was clear and a colonoscopy and it was clear. He discharged me on Tuesday and it was 7.5 and told me to take iron pills 3 times a day. I had a appointment that following friday and it was up to 8.5 again so he felt confident it was rising. I was still feeling weak and sick so I went back to doctor Wednesday and it was up to 10.5. He is referring me to a digestive disease doctor and doing a ultrasound to look at my gallbladder. He gave me iron and hospital and it didn't really touch it. Last Thursday I went to a digestive disease doctor and my hemoglobin was 10.5 same thing it was 2 weeks before that. The digestive disease doctor is going to have me swallow a pill that has a camera so they can look at my small intestine she thinks it could be a small bleed. She is also checking for celiacs disease. She said if those 2 things don't show anything a referral to a hematologist cause that means my bone marrow isn't producing red cells. She was surprised he didn't refer me there instead of with her. She was upset that they discharged me out of the hospital when my hemoglobin was 7.5 What could be wrong? Is she right that my bone marrow might not be producing red cells? If it wasn't producing red cells why did the iron bring it up then? I had a test done on Friday and the radiologist said she didn't see anything concerning. Now they want to send me to a hematologist, in your opinion what could be wrong with me and what should my next step be? I tested negative for celiacs disease also.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (40 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You may have iron deficiency anemia.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern. You have weakness due to low hemoglobin. You may have iron deficiency anemia. You may have some internal or external bleeding that leads to iron deficiency.
Please send me your report of complete blood count, peripheral smear examination and blood indices.
If you have gone through iron studies then send me report of serum iron and ferritine level. If you have not gone through iron studies then go for it and send me the report. So that I can help you further.
Continue your iron treatment till final diagnosis is made.

Don't worry much about leukemia or lymphoma. Possibilities of leukemia and lymphoma are less likely.

Please send me your reports. I will wait for your reports.
Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (2 days later)
I can't seem to upload them. I do know that night they admitted me they looked for iron deficiency I believe. I went to er yesterday for feeling like I could pass out. My hemoglobin was 12.3 but everytime I stood up OT sats dropped down to 70. The doctor thought it was from the way it was positioned. They told me they think it was viral and also keep my other appointments with GI and Hematology. Thank you so much.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You should take treatment of iron deficiency.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.
Your hemoglobin is increasing with iron treatment. So you should continue iron treatment. Iron tablets like ferrous sulphate or ferrous fumarate can be taken. If you can not tolerate that then injectable iron is also available.

I would not be worried about leukemia or lymphoma yet.

And capsule endoscopy (swallowing pill to look into the intestine) is going to be very helpful and therefore is necessary.

If you have copies of the reports, you can mail it to YYYY@YYYY with subject as "Attn: Dr. Hardik". Don't worry about privacy.

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. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (28 hours later)
Thank you so much for all your help you have answered my questions completely.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Most Welcome.

Detailed Answer:
Most welcome.
Thanks for using health care magic.
Wish you a very good health.
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now

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

Hematologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 7043 Questions

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What Causes Weakness Inspite Of Having Low Hemoglobin Levels?

Brief Answer: You may have iron deficiency anemia. Detailed Answer: Hi, dear I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern. You have weakness due to low hemoglobin. You may have iron deficiency anemia. You may have some internal or external bleeding that leads to iron deficiency. Please send me your report of complete blood count, peripheral smear examination and blood indices. If you have gone through iron studies then send me report of serum iron and ferritine level. If you have not gone through iron studies then go for it and send me the report. So that I can help you further. Continue your iron treatment till final diagnosis is made. Don't worry much about leukemia or lymphoma. Possibilities of leukemia and lymphoma are less likely. Please send me your reports. I will wait for your reports. Thanks for using health care magic. Wish you a very good health.