Maria Fisher46 said:Hello,
This looks like an incidental finding on your lab work. This specific hemoglobin level shouldn't be causing the typical symptoms you'd see with anemia, like a racing heart or dizziness.
The reason you've been sent for more testing isn't because this level is making you feel sick, but to figure out why your hemoglobin dropped in the first place.
Low levels can often stem from blood loss, particularly within the digestive tract. Given your age, the likelihood of this being caused by a malignant GI tumor (like colorectal cancer) is low, but we still need to investigate where the bleeding might be coming from and why. We can't know for sure without more detailed testing.
Thanks for the response!
Looking back at my labs from the start of the year, my hemoglobin was also borderline at 140, and my hematocrit was 0.148.
I've dealt with intermittent seborrheic dermatitis on my face for years (around the nose, mouth, and chin). There was some suspicion regarding gluten, but my celiac tests have been fine so far:
IgG 14.2 (7 - 16)
IgA 2.29 (0.7 - 4.0)
IgM 0.89 (0.4 - 2.30)
My doctor ordered referrals for iron levels and other blood work, along with a stool sample to check for occult blood and parasites. Is there anything else you'd recommend?
Because of my skin issues, my doctor is also recommending treatment for Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis (I'm seeing someone privately for this since insurance won't cover it).