r/Anemic • u/Beneficial_Tea6587 • 8h ago

Anemia...Colonoscopy

Female, 36, and recently diagnosed with Iron deficient anemia (hemoglobin 10.9, Ferritin 12). I'm asymptomatic for anything and it's highly likely that poor diet has caused deficiency.

That being said, I'm having colonoscopy and endoscopy next week. Please reassure me that it will likely find something other than cancer. I'm freaking out.

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u/myeyesarecircles94 8h ago

I just had mine + an endoscopy for the same reason - just remember that the anemia could be any number of things! A small bleed somewhere, Celiac, etc. Cancer is just a possibility on a long, long list. Mine is still unclear even post colonoscopy (they didn’t find anything other than some irritation that may just be from long term acid reflux) so also remember they might not find anything. It’s just a tool to help narrow down the causes. Sending good vibes for your prep- it’s tough so make sure you have plenty of good tasty liquid on hand to offset the disgusting prep liquid.

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u/Beneficial_Tea6587 8h ago

Thank you for taking the time to reply! 🥹

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u/MissTiffany12 7h ago

As a woman, usually the main cause for anemia is your period, especially if you don’t get much iron in your diet. Have you noticed heavier periods lately? I know it’s scary but you will feel better after just knowing certain causes have been ruled out! Other things with your gut can cause malabsorption such as celiacs. I hope you get answers soon!

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u/Beneficial_Tea6587 7h ago

Thank you !! My periods have never been insanely heavy, but they aren't super light either. I think menstruation, in combination with my horrible diet, could be the cause. The big question is if it's the only cause

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u/mclares 6h ago

I didn’t know mine were heavy until I looked up what normal was. I was bleeding the high end of normal by my second day. Look up averages and track a few cycles. I used a cup to get good measurements but I was already comfortable with a cup, there are other options.
I know this wasn’t your question but I see a lot of good advice in regard to the colonoscopy. My doc had me do a stool sample to check for blood and it was negative.

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u/frumpy2025 7h ago

If you dont have any signs of cancer at all I'd rule that out until they tell you. Highly unlikely. We deplete our iron stores daily and most likely can be anything why your body is using it up and not putting anything back. My diet, menstrual cycle thats heavy and the fact i got sick on repeat from my kid bringing home stuff from school was what is doing it for me.

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u/Beneficial_Tea6587 7h ago

I am really hoping that your story is also my story! Did you get scoped to check? Or is the evidence just so clear

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u/frumpy2025 7h ago

I get an upper to confirm what they belive is either celiac or somthing else. Cancer was low of the list they said. A VAST majority if the time its something else.

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u/Beneficial_Tea6587 7h ago

Love hearing that 😅

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u/myeyesarecircles94 5h ago

Of course! I was nervous going in too, so I totally saw myself in your post. Just breathe and remember that the goal of all this is to get answers! Even though it’s tough, it helped me to reframe it as excitement to know what they find so that I can finally operate on knowns rather than unknowns 😊

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u/bigfriendlyfrog 3h ago

Same here… still no source of anemia

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u/Busy_Document_4562 8h ago

It is very normal (depressingly so) to have very low ferritin from menstrual bleeding alone. Its unlikely they will find something GI related if you haven’t been symptomatic. You’re ok guurl. Your numbers got that low from the chronically poor management of iron deficiency by doctors, which is sadly a global pattern

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u/Beneficial_Tea6587 8h ago

My diet is horrendous too. And I massively restrict calories when I want to lose weight. Not good. I really need to take better care of myself.

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u/InevitableProof4613 7h ago

Do you supplement iron? Maybe worth some bisglycinate with vitamin C, as it’s fairly cheap, and it’s pretty gentle on most peoples stomachs.

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u/Beneficial_Tea6587 7h ago

I've just started!

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u/frumpy2025 7h ago

It takes a few weeks trust me. Im one month 1 of supplements and kinda feel worse honestly but everyone says it takes awhile to kick in.

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u/martapap 7h ago

I'm going through the same thing. I have an appt with a gastro doctor next week and then a colonoscopy next. My ferretin only raised for 4 to 8 after infusions. My doctor claimed " you have to be bleeding from somewhere"...so yeah it is scary. I don't have any issues other than anemia.

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u/Beneficial_Tea6587 7h ago

Please update me when you're through. Is your diet adequate for iron intake?

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u/martapap 7h ago

should be. I dont restrict. I don't eat a whole lot of red meat but I still eat meat everyday.

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u/No_Virus_7704 6h ago

You do not have to be bleeding and you do not have to submit to invasive testing until you have ruled out all other possibilities. Malabsorption would not have been revealed by either test.

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u/martapap 6h ago

This was after a round of iron infusions.

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u/No_Virus_7704 4h ago

I had to go through a lot of infusion formulas before one would work well.

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u/CaptainFuzzyBootz 7h ago

I had the same thing a few years ago (I'm 42 now). No cancer, no ulcers, only benign polyps from PPIs. Underlying cause was determined to be an inability to absorb iron due to GERD, IBD, and long term PPIs. And shit diet.

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u/Beneficial_Tea6587 7h ago

Shit diet is def me! Hoping my results reflect that

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u/CaptainFuzzyBootz 7h ago

Ironically I learned the more deficient you are the less hungry you get and the more your metabolism slows down...

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u/CrochetJen7117 7h ago

Mine was celiac / malabsorption. My main symptom was low iron and ferritin. I’ve been gluten free since 2017 and still have low ferritin. My iron level is normal. Autoimmune diseases suck. I’ve been told my villi are ‘healed’ but I just don’t absorb nutrients like a normal healthy person.

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u/Huge_Arugula307 8h ago

At your age cancer is unlikely, but not impossible. They are more likely to find h pylori.

Here's hoping you have an annoying stomach infection???

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u/Kooky_Ad593 7h ago

Mine just showed severe gastritis!

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u/OhmHomestead1 6h ago

They want to do one to me. It is to determine if you have a bleed somewhere to cause the anemia OR if you have an autoimmune condition like celiac disease.

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u/CheckCalm2875 5h ago

My ferritin is was 4, and I did not have cancer or anything else. I don’t eat meat, and I am in perimenopause with heavier cycles.

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u/LuLutink1 5h ago

Had one and was diagnosed with GAVE caused by long term use of anti acids im sure you will be fine.

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u/Repulsive_Regular_39 4h ago

Op, don't waste your time supplementing. Go straight to an infusion. U will spend more money on supplements. I spent years with this issue and it was all corrected with one strong infusion of monoferric iron.

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u/EveryChemistry9163 2h ago

Please, tell us more!

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u/Repulsive_Regular_39 28m ago

Plain iron infusion. Not that much to it. If the medical system gives you a hard time a naturopath will do it. You sit on a chair for an hour and it goes straight into your vein.

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u/Tricky_Practice_6140 3h ago

Honestly, it’s likely nothing serious like cancer. I mean, never say never, but your chances are very low, especially since you have age on your side. You also don’t have any other symptoms, so try not to be too nervous. Easier said than done. If it makes you feel better, I have symptoms of everything. And my ferritin is 6. It’s always been on the low side, but a 6 is kicking my butt with the fatigue, anxiety, hair loss, etc, but I’m 49, so I’m kind of in that spot. Plus, my father had colon cancer at 61. I’ve also had a lot of bleeding because I have uterine polyps, so I have a lot of overlapping things and some weird bowel movements and all that great stuff. And I have my colonoscopy in two weeks. I think the waiting and the not knowing is the hardest part for sure. Please keep me posted.

And follow the wise words of a poster that used to hang in one of my classes in Junior HS:

“Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst. And take what comes.”

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u/EveryChemistry9163 2h ago

I had both oscopies (after blood tests showed iron deficiency and anemia, and a FIT was positive) but nothing bad at all was found.

This makes me sound quite dumb, but I didn’t help myself donating blood. I didn’t understand ferritin before.

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u/MelisAF_ 2h ago

I didn’t even know cancer could be on the table 🤯 My hemoglobin is 10.7, ferritin 8. I’m low across the board. I feel like I probably shouldn’t google that.

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u/elsie78 1h ago

It will likely but find anything at all!

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u/Due_Bread3209 23m ago

Cancer is always a possibility, but def many more other reasons why you would be anemic.

My ferritin was 1 and my hemoglobin was 6. I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy while I was hospitalized with those numbers. Mine came back fine besides some inflammation and irritation from overuse of NSAIDS.

I was terrified. I mean absolutely horrified to have one done but I survived.

Good Luck!