My 15 year old daughter has been anemic since June. Her ferritin was initially 5. She started on iron supplements and the ferritin rose slowly to 11 over a couple of months. The pediatrician then told me it was normal. I pointed out to him that it was the bottom of a very big range and that Adequate iron replacement has typically occurred when the serum ferritin level reaches 50 µg per L http://www.aafp.org/afp/990315ap/1598.html

We then checked to see if she was loosing blood through her urine or stool and blood was found in her stool samples. I feel if we had checked for blood loss in the beginning she would be 2 months closer to feeling well. We are now working with her GI doctor on this and although she is able to go to school and play sports she really bottoms out on energy. She also has had ongoing hair loss that has yet to resolve.

It sounds like you are starting a high dose of iron sulfate. You may need to take a laxative also. My daughter is taking a form of iron that is supposed to be more bioavailable (http://www.myvillagegreen.com/detail.aspx?ID=727). I am beginning to wonder if a different iron supplement might work better for her.

Based on our experience you should ask you doctor to check for blood loss now rather than wait for 2 months. You can pick up the stool cards (we did 3 double cards) and they can check them in the office. There really should not be a lab fee for that.

Keep us posted.

--Judy

Judy, thanks so much for sharing your daughter's similar experience. I have an appointment with my primary Dr. on Wed. and I hope she will share my concerns with this and go further with the testing. I've been on the 81mg daily asprin for four years now so I think the possibility of blood loss needs to be checked.

If you don't mind me asking.....did your daughter have any low blood levels on her CBC before the blood was found? I ask this because I have had a chronically low WBC for at least 4-5 yrs. The RBC has dropped below normal a few times and when it is not below normal it is right on the edge. Same with my hematocrit and hemaglobin.....right on the edge of being low. Just wonder if all this is related???