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Low Iron
My son (18 years old) started to feel very tired with headaches about 4 months ago. Blood tests were done and it showed that his serum ferritine level was very low (6.3) - at this stage the serum iron and saturation was still normal. We took him to the specialist who did the following tests: gastroscopy and endoscopy, thyroid gland test, blood tests of the liver - everything was normal. They prescribed iron pills with vitamins. It's now 4 months later and my son is much worse, his serum ferritine is 10.5, serum iron 9.6 and saturation 13.6. His iron levels continues to drop and I don't have any answers to what is causing it. They also did a blood clotting test and his blood takes longer than normal to clot. Last week he started having nosebleeds and his gums are also bleeding everytime he brushes his teeth. I've tried everything but nothing seems to work. He's very pale, get terrible headaches, the shakes and often get very tired and sleep the whole day. My question is how far can the iron levels in the blood drop for it to become dangerously low and can it become dangerous to the organs such as the heart. My other question is what can be the cause of his low iron levels. He was a blood donor, but stopped more than 4 months ago donating blood. His blood pressure is at this stage 105 over 80 but at one stage was 90 over 50. His HB is normal. I can only get an appointment at the specialist in middle October and since his iron levels are dropping quite fast I'm really concerned about the situation - how long can he still go on feeling like this.
Answer:
Low Iron
just a suggestion, have you talked to your family doctor? sometimes the doctor that refers you to a specialist can call to make the appt., and get you in much sooner. mid october is ridiculous considering the status of your sons health.
Answer:
Low Iron
It's my GP who had made the appointment and it's the first opening at the specialist to see us. My question to my GP was can we wait another month and a half to see the specialist and how serious is the fact that his iron levels are so low and still dropping and at what point is it too low. I'm considering to try and find another specialist who can help us sooner, but how urgent or serious is the fact that his iron levels are so low, if it's not too serious we can wait but nobody can seem to answer my question.
Answer:
Low Iron
it seems he has a blood disorder-is it a hematologist your waiting to see?
Answer:
Low Iron
Did they do a stool test for occult blood or test B12 levels?
or malobsorption of B12?
Answer:
Low Iron
No, the specialist is not a hemathologist. They have done a stool test where they have tested for occult blood and parasites (since we're living in Africa) but as far as I know not for malobsorption of B12 levels. I at one stage was scared that maybe Malaria was the cause of all his troubles, but bloodtests was done for Malaria and it was all negative, but on the other hand they can not always detect Malaria in the blood but Malaria also don't drag on for so long. He had a bad case of bhilarzia when he was still small but he was on heavy doses of medication to kill that bug. We still regularly take him for check-ups for the Bhilarzia and up to date was still clean. They also did not detect any blood in his urine.
Answer:
Low Iron
Has he been tested for HIV/AIDs, hepatitis or has any bone marrow biospy been done, or is this not a concern?