Haemoglobin

[Spiritlove]

Had my check up 2 weeks ago and the WBC was 56 and haemoglobin 12.

The Dr said 12 is low. I was disappointed as I have been taking iron tablets for a year.

Is 12 very poor result or not too bad? Is anyone else only 12?

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

How is your red blood cell count? You should discuss having your B12 levels tested. I was very anemic and doctors thought it was CLL. In fact I had no B12 uptake and this caused my anemia for the most part. I get a monthly B12 shot now...

Forget B12 supplements, if you have no intrinsic factor, you have no B12 uptake, you need injections...

patient.co.uk/health/vitami...

A good source of blood work references can be found at the link below, but you need to know the scale being used by your lab... there are a number of them...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refer...

[Spiritlove]

Thank you cilcanada. I am lifelong vegetarian so that could make B12 low. I didn't know that made haemoglobin low, I only knew my iron is probably low. I will read those articles and also am seeing my GP on Monday to see if he has any advice or info. Thanks for replying x

[speckly]

Hi Had emergency gall bladder removal at Xmas. Now have hb level of 9 but was told by Haemotologist it will take 3 months for count to go up. The good news is that my lymphocyte count was89 before surgery and is back down to 30 so I do wonder ifI had an underlying infection before the surgery. My main symptom of low haemoglobin is tiredness and fatigue so no real problems with it. Hope your count goes up with some treatment or the injections if you get them.

[Spiritlove]

Thats really good Speckly that your count went down so much after the op, every cloud....

Yes I am very tired too, been taking iron tablets but they don't seem to have put the count up. GP wants to see me Monday so will let you know what he says. Thanks x

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

Spiritlove - I believe, from past posts, that you are female. The bottom of the HGB range for women in the US was 12. It is now 11.6 or 11.7 depending on which lab I go to. That would make your HGB on the low side of normal, but still within the normal range for women. I am also a vegetarian, and once I got my kidney issues, part of my CLL, under control my hemoglobin went up to normal from a low of 8 and runs between 11.7 and 13. I would not panic over one lowish HGB. Mine usually sits right around 12 and has for about 8 years. None of my doctors (I seem to collect them) has ever seen my count as being of concern.

Do ask about having your B12 and D levels checked. Mine were both low and getting them into a healthy range helped the way I felt.

Pat

[Spiritlove in reply to MsLockYourPosts]

Thank you Pat, yes I am female. That is very reassuring, I don't know why they are worrying me over this and going on at me to take iron pills all the time. I haven't heard of problems with VitB12 or VitD so that is interesting. You must have felt very tired when you were as low as 8?

Glad you are much better now. Lynne

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

Lynne - I'm just catching up with things. I had an over scheduled week and thought if I made it past the weekend that I would have a completely open week this week to get things done, then I came down with the flu - first time in 11 years so I can't complain too much. but I have done nothing but sleep for the last week.

When my HGB was 8 I passed out in public 3 times and again at home during the night the night I finally got my BMB results breaking a rib. My then doctor kept ignoring things. I don't know whether it's worse to deal with that or a doctor who ties you in knots over nothing. My HGB goes down into the 11s from time to time and it makes me nervous, knowing what it feels like to have a really low one, but it always bounces back up again. My hematologist has her "don't worry" speech down cold now, as she has given it to me s many times. I have finally learned to relax with the 11s. as long as they stay on the high side of 11.

[Spiritlove in reply to MsLockYourPosts]

Aww flu is really nasty, must have taken it out of you. It is good that you slept a lot though. Hope you are feeling better now. I pick up things so easily, one bad cold after another and then a sinus infection every time, still could be a lot worse I know. I know what you mean about a keen Dr who ties you up in knots. I have this, very laid back at the haematology at hospital but a GP who frightens me! GP rang me last week said as haemoglobin low, 12, he wants to check my blood every 3 months, where the hospital said leave it a year! So I will be checked in June and meanwhile going to eat loads of greens and iron rich food. vegetarian so no meat. Yes I will have to relax like you Lynne x

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer in reply to Spiritlove]

Lots of spinach! I'm also a vegetarian. Have you had your Ig levels tested? As long as your doctor wants more regular blood work ask for an add on of IgA, IGg, and IgM. If your IgG is very low IVIG infusions can make a big difference if you are sick all of the time. It changed my life. Between that and the flu shot, I have gone through whatever this was totally congested, but not a sign of infection, a first in my life!