OPINION ON RECENT LAB WORK (31Y.O. BLK FEMALE)

[qtnla]

I went to see my family doctor and when my first set of labs came , he noticed that I had an iron was low and he also gave me a B12 shot.  When I went back after 3 weeks, there was no improvement so he sent me to a hematologist.  The hematologist ordered several labs and said that my iron was low.  His suggested treatment is intravenous iron therapy for 6 weeks.  I was wondering if this would be an effective treatment and I will also list my lab results to see if you agree with his diagnosis.            
WBC 6.8   RBC  4.2  *HGB10.4    *HCT  32%   *MCH 25 aL  MCHC 32.6 % *MCV  76aL PLT  380    RDW 15.1    
MPV    7.6   ANC   3.13  EOS   3.0    *LYMPH 45% MONO  6.0 SEGS   46  HYPOCHR  1+ MICROCY   1+
PLT MORPH  ADEQUATE GLU 80 BUN 12.0  CREAT 0.9 BNCR 14   NA 140.5  K   4.44   CL 105.2  CO2 24.9  
*A/G RATIO    1.0  AGAP  10 OSMO  270.1  GFR   77.65  CA  9.19  DBILI  0.04   TBILI    0.2  *IBILI <0.2    
ALB  3.8    ALP 76.0 ALT 16  AST  22  TP 7.7   LDH  170  CPK  128   TIBC  444  *IRON   26 TRANSFERRIN 317  **%SAT    5.5   PT   11.70sec   INR  1.10   PTT 26.30sec   T3-UP   39.1%   T4  7.9    TSH  1.180 FERR  10.0    
T7  7.7    4.2-13.0 RBC 4.17 HEMOGLOBIN  10.3  HEMATOCRIT  32.1  MCV   76.9   MCH   24.7  *RDW  16.8    
HEMOGLOBIN A   98   HEMOGLOBIN F   <1.0 HEMOGLOBIN A2 (QUANT)     2.0 BLOOD LEAD    <3
***COPPER SERUM   182  CORTISOL, TOTAL  8.8   PREALBUMIN 17  RETICULOCYTE COUNT   1.6    OCCULT BLOOD   NEGATIVE      ALDOLASE 4.8          

[qtnla]

In response to your comment above, I am a 31 year old, black female.  I have four children ranging from the ages of 6-13. My reason for seeing the doctor originally was because I had no energy.  I was gaining weight even though I regulated my diet. Easy tasks were becoming exhaustive and I was having to force myself to move.  I was experiencing swelling in my lower extremities, dizziness, and memory and concentration problems. With all of the lab work that was ordered, would low iron cause these problems? And I will speak with my doctor in regards to the colonoscopy.

[J.M. Keyes, MD]

Hi there,
I don't know your full history, and I haven't examined you as your doctors would have, but any time that there is iron deficiency anemia in an adult (especially if you are over 50), I would be concerned about blood loss from somewhere causing it.  I would ask your doctors about whether a colonoscopy would a good idea for you, as blood loss from the bowel is one of the more common worrisome causes of such blood loss, depending on your age and the rest of your history and exam.  If you are very young, they may not be concerned about this, but I would mention it,  and ask if they think colonoscopy would be prudent for you.  

Good luck,
JMK MD