Stool test

[Windyspinsthewind]

I have in the past had iron deficiency anemia from having an ulcer. That has now been treated but at my last blood tests, my ferratin level was lower than it should be. My doctor said it was unlikely to be my anaemia back as my iron count was within normal levels. It was my stored iron that was low and my red blood cells were enlarged. Oxygen wasn't going round my body enough and I am breathless and fatigued. My normal blood count is 120 but it had slipped to 106. After two weeks, my doctor ordered a bowel stool test and did the blood tests again. He got back to me to say that the stool test was borderline but at this stage was not going to ask for a colonoscopy as he knows I won't have one. Because my blood count has gone back up to 120, he wants another blood test in a months time to see if I have maintained the same blood count. If it slips back down again, combined with the borderline stool test, we need to possibly have further investigation, which scares me.

Has anyone else had results like this?

[sylvi]

Sorry i haven't had such problems , but i hope you get some answers. I do suggest you contact your dr. to get some answers darling.xxxx

[Windyspinsthewind in reply to sylvi]

Thank you xx

[Wobbies]

Me I had the colonoscopy which was fine. So, GP just writes Abnormal to be expected against my results now.

[Windyspinsthewind in reply to Wobbies]

I don't normally have stool tests, I wouldn't have a colonoscopy anyway, as if they found an abnormality, I have told the doctor I wouldn't have treatment for it anyway. I won't be having another. Thank you for your answer though. x

[Wobbies in reply to Windyspinsthewind]

No, I wouldn't have accepted treatment either so stupid to have the test but he was a GP registrar who was very anxious about it and I felt sorry for him. How soft am I?P xxx

[Windyspinsthewind in reply to Wobbies]

Ha ha. I really like my GP, I am severely needle phobic due to something that happened when I was only about 5 and he does understand and tries to work ways around things, although I do have to have regular blood tests to check my iron levels are not slipping. So I don't have to book in advance and stress even more, he books me an appointment, then rings me on the morning to tell me. My brother died of cancer and had had so many operations, biopsies etc which didn't help. I said I did not want any of that so wouldn't go for the cameras when they were trying to find out why I had an ulcer. That was in 2017. It was eventually put down to the tablets I had taken with no protection for my stomach.

When my bloods dropped but my iron was ok, he wanted the stool test just to rule out anything sinister 100%, but it came back borderline - I'm not even sure what that means, either there was blood there or not. I had it against my better judgement just to humour him. I wish now I hadn't, I won't be having another, too much stress!!

I've got to have more blood tests around the beginning of April - hate them. Even though they get the right vein etc, as soon as they put the needle in, by brain tells my body 'no' and collapses the vein. Its taking over half an hour, two nurses and five jabs of the needle before they can get any out of me. xx

[oldtimer2]

Yes! I'm a vegetarian so my iron stores are often a bit low and I have to take some extra oral iron. Then the Rheumatoid Disease when active depresses my blood count generally so that I have 'anaemia of chronic illness'. Both the azathioprine and the adalumimab that I'm on cause bone marrow abnormalities and I've currently got large red blood cells with normal B12 and folate levels. I've had both an endoscopy of my upper and lower gut (found it uncomfortable rather than distressing) and a barium meal and follow through - nothing like being thorough! All normal.

[Windyspinsthewind in reply to oldtimer2]

So sorry you have such problems xx