WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for July, 1998: Re: postmenstrual anemia?

Re: postmenstrual anemia?

From: Angela (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 26 Jul 1998 08:34:18 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: Patti Tessler, FNP: "Re: postmenstrual anemia?"

At Sat, 25 Jul 1998, Patti Tessler, FNP wrote: >
>>Questions: How long does postmenstrual anemia usually persist?
>
>I'm not sure, but yours seems to straighten out during the course of the
>month as evidenced by your normal blood tests at your clinician's
>office.
>
>> Are these fingerstick tests accurate?
>They're good for screening, but a persistently low one is usually
>followed up with a blood test from the arm. Falsely low and high
>results do occur.
>
>>Is it likely for someone with only slightly
>>low hemoglobin to have anemic symptoms such as fatigue?
>Not really. Do you smoke? Smokers usually have higher hemoglobins, and
>may be anemic at higher levels than nonsmokers.
>
>>Once GI bleeding
>>has been ruled out (coincidentally I have to do a fecal occult blood
>>test because of reflux esophagitis and some bowel symptoms), is it a
>>good idea to take some iron, even though there is iron in my
>>multivitamin?
>That's a question best directed to the clinician who did your blood
>tests, since s/he has more information at hand.
>
>--
>Patti Tessler, BSN, MSN, RN, CS
>Family Nurse Practitioner
>

Thank you Patti. I am an ex-smoker (quit six years ago) which I guess isn't relevant to my hemoglobin, right? (Though I hesitate to make any assumptions after reading the very depressing article on the Web the other day from the American Council on Science and Health about all the irreversible ill effects of smoking!)

I know I need to talk to my internist, which I'll do when I follow up the FOB test I mailed in yesterday. I guess I was half hoping I could blame my fatigue on my reproductive organs, which I have been advised to have removed for some time now--but without any firm assurance that my quality of life will improve.

Angela

Next message: Jas: "Re: asons for Amnios"
Previous message: Marina: "Re: Vaginal discharge"
In reply to: Patti Tessler, FNP: "Re: postmenstrual anemia?"

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