Ok, so I have iron deficieny anemia again. I'm almost out of "that stage" of life. I am going to get a colonoscopy and the endo test June 4th and June 9th. The Gastro doc said "if you were a 52 yr old man presenting with iron deficiency anemia I would assume you have cancer until I rule it out otherwise". Nice, comforting words huh???? He said even a couple drops a day from a GI bleed can cause anemia. My question is this. I am a klutz and I almost always have something bleeding. Right now I have a half dollar bruise on my leg-I have bruised easily all my life so that's not significant. Yesterday I bumped a mole and it bleed (it's ok, it happens, docs checked it out) about 10 minutes. Then there are my hemoroids that bleed about everyday last week. I'm quite sure something on me bleeds everyday. Can that be enough to cause anemia? I'm just barely anemic. I'm really just trying to make myself worry less. I was looking at my 18 yr old ds and we were talking about this and I said "you mean people aren't supposed to bleed from somewhere everyday?" and he gave me the "duh" look and said "no mom". At any given moment I almost have at least one bruise and one "owie". This is how I have always been. Any comforting thoughts?

I don't know if that would be enough to cause anemia, but it could certainly be a symptom of it. I've been anemic off and on most of my life. When my counts are low I bruise and bleed much easier than other times.

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Yes, I've always bruised like this. Even when I was a kid. I don't particularly think it's a sympton since I've been like this my whole life.

Ahhh...I see, If the bruising and bleeding is something you've always had but anemia's not then it's probably unrelated.

edit-
I just re-read your post. What about the hemorrhoids, is that new? How much do they bleed? Hemorrhoids can sometimes cause more blood loss than what it looks like.

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

I've got one really nasty one that bleeds about half the time. It's worse than it used to be.That could actually be part of the problem. I just never thought it was that big of a deal but in combination with everything else it can add up. I was anemic once when I was a kid and then about 4 years ago when I was having really, really heavy periods. I eat alot of meat but I don't take vitamins or eat much enriched cereal, etc... I'm hoping it's just the combination of everything and my tests turn out ok.

I'm not sure that the bleeding you have would cause anemia. I was just declared a chronic anemic but I have no bleeding just a wacked out system. Have the doc checked your clotting factors? I am just pulling things out of my head - maybe it will help you figure out how not to bleed so often.
Good luck

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I have a weird kind of anemia called microcytic anemia. My red blood cell count is low to start out with, then the red cells themselves are shaped funny and are smaller than normal. It's frustrating because it makes you tired, although otherwise I feel fine.

Here are some tips, KTS; do you have cast iron cookware? Cooking in cast iron pots, especially acidic foods like tomato based sauces, can add a significant amount of iron to your diet. If/when you do take iron supplements, be sure to drink with something acidic like citric juice, it helps with the absorption of iron.

Maybe someone else has more tips, too. Hope you get back on track..

Oh, I wanted to add that with the iron supplements, you may want to add something so that it doesn't make your hemorrhoids worse -- that would defeat the purpose! Something like a stool softener like they give you after you have a baby.

Thanks! My doc told me not to take iron supplements until after my tests are done. It's certainly on my mind all the time though.