Low haemoglobin levels

[Humpy D]

My 85 year old father has been feeling under the weather for some months and a blood test showed low haemoglobin levels. Treatment for this was 2 sessions of iron transfusions rash one taking 2-3 hours. Despite everyone telling him he'd feel better immediately he doesn't. He is going to speak to his GP regarding next steps but anyone had similar experiences?

My own view is that at 85 he's not going to have the energy he used to have plus at that age any treatment takes time to take effect.

Thoughts?

[g3org3y]

The first question would be why he's anaemic rather than just symptomatic treatment.

Losing blood from somewhere (bowel/other part of the gut etc) or not being made properly (kidney disease/bone marrow issue/dietary deficiency etc).

That needs investigation in the first instance (May need both an upper and lower endoscopy +/- CT scan).

[ucb]

g3org3y said:

The first question would be why he's anaemic rather than just symptomatic treatment.

Losing blood from somewhere (bowel/other part of the gut etc) or not being made properly (kidney disease/bone marrow issue/dietary deficiency etc).

That needs investigation in the first instance (May need both an upper and lower endoscopy +/- CT scan).

Exactly this.
You've treated a symptom but iron-deficiency anaemia should be investigated for a cause.

[crankedup5]

Just gone through exactly this following my radiotherapy treatment after six months I started to lose significant blood. My blood count dropped to 72 and I found myself in for investigations and a blood transfusion. After being given a unit of blood I felt much better but that situation soon changed as I was still losing blood. Eventually I had a procedure that stemmed most blood loss and I was given, over a period of several weeks 2 units of iron transfusions. Feel much better for now.
The iron transfusions can take varying times for patient to feel benefit. Some it’s a few days others several weeks.

[Humpy D]

Thanks for the responses.

He has had other investigations which I believe included an endoscopy but nothing untoward was found.

Should he be having blood tests after the infusions to check his levels? I would have thought so but he said nothing has been said.

[crankedup5]

Humpy D said:

Thanks for the responses.

He has had other investigations which I believe included an endoscopy but nothing untoward was found.

Should he be having blood tests after the infusions to check his levels? I would have thought so but he said nothing has been said.

For me, I am having regular monitoring blood tests for iron deficiency ( three months apart atm) and also PSA levels. I would be surprised if he was not offered monitoring blood tests.