Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a main part of red blood cells and binds oxygen. If you have too few or abnormal red blood cells, or your hemoglobin is abnormal or low, the cells in your body will not get enough oxygen. Symptoms of anemia -- like fatigue -- occur because organs aren't getting what they need to function properly
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It is also one of my biggest problems...it is common in Crohn's patients, and with people with Factor V leiden, both of which I have, along with kidney stone formation problems...all problems that taken together mean I have a very low hemoglobin count.
The normal level for a healthy male is 14....if your level is below 7 then you get blood transfusions. I've had 4 such transfusions the last time I was in the hospital, with my lowest level reaching 6.2.
I've been told that just taking iron supplements by mouth will not do it, and I will need to have iron taken via IV to raise my hemoglobin to acceptable levels....fun stuff maynard.
Anyways, I was wondering how many other Kossacks out there also have Anemia, as it is the most common type of blood condition out there, affecting 3.5 million 'Mericans out there.
More information can be found at: This handy site