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Original poster

Does anyone know normal HB levels for a woman (not pregnant) please

26 replies

Twiglett · 31/01/2006 19:31

when I googled it came up as 120 g/l to 160 g/l but as the figure I have been given is single digit I think that it might be a different scale in UK

thanks

OP posts:
Socci · 31/01/2006 19:32

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Twiglett · 31/01/2006 19:33

isn't that for pregnant though?

OP posts:
chapsmum · 31/01/2006 19:39

basically if its below 10 you need treatment,quickish

Socci · 31/01/2006 19:42

Message withdrawn

chapsmum · 31/01/2006 19:42

and by treatment I mean a transfusion
checked my guidlines and they say -11.5-15.5

Original poster
Twiglett · 31/01/2006 19:46

have to have more bloods taken in a couple of weeks then another check up

have been taking multi-vitamins with iron tablets (and vit c)

level was 10.3 so not so bad

interesting reading up on anaemia as most of the symptoms I've had for months .. nice to have a reason for it

OP posts:
chapsmum · 31/01/2006 19:56

what dose of iron you on?

skettle · 31/01/2006 20:25

I have just been diagnosed with anaemia although I didnt get to find out what my levels were!

Can I be nosey and ask what your symptoms are? mine seem to mirror that of extreme anaemia but the doctor doesnt seem too bothered!

Original poster
Twiglett · 31/01/2006 21:09

the multivit I'm taking offers 14mg iron, 200ug folic acid plus vits C, B6 and B12 (plus others) .. basically all at 100% RDA

re symptoms I can go down this list and tick all of them these .. under general symptoms ...

OP posts:
chapsmum · 31/01/2006 21:38

Thats not enough iron for a low hb like that you prob need to be taking in the region of 100mg, get a script from your gp, or ask your pharmasist

skettle · 31/01/2006 23:43

fwiw I was prescribed 200mg tablets.

Clary · 31/01/2006 23:54

twig whenever I was pg mine went down from about 12-13 to single figures and they gave me iron tablets.
Had a blood test in the summer and it was 7
doc however says it's not unusual for women to have low iron - not that low, surely?
(I'm not pg any more btw)

chapsmum · 31/01/2006 23:59

clary a hosp woul consider a transfusion for anything less than 10 and an urget transfusion for less than 8, that sounds a bit odd?!

Clary · 01/02/2006 00:08

chapsmum is that so really?
The low level was discovered when my GP was testing to see what was wrong with me (I was feeling sick all the time - not pg hoho).
Turned out to be some nasty bacterial infection and all sorted now, but not the cause of the low blood count.
She put me on iron tablets and my energy got better (eg able to run again). I was referred to th ehospital to see why it was so low. Still awaiting final tests on that. No mention of transfusion tho!

Original poster
Twiglett · 01/02/2006 07:09

thanks I'll get some flouradix .. real iron tablets disagree with me

OP posts:
HandbagAddiction · 01/02/2006 08:17

Chapsmum - forgive me if I'm wrong and if you have medical knowledge or training, but a hospital would not automatically consider you worthy of a transfusion for an iron level of below 10. I know this from personal experience.

For a level of 7 - then yes - I would agree, some hospitals would immediately recommend a transfusion. From my own experience - my levels were 8 after childbirth and I was a borderline case, i.e. wasn't forced by it was a suggestion and I was able to make my own decision, i.e. transfusion or heavy dosage iron tablets...as let's face it - having a transfusion is serious stuff and doesn't come without it's own risks.

Clary · 01/02/2006 08:47

However I feel all right now. Took iron tablets for several months. Have stopped them in last few weeks as need to for latest test, but fingernails are still pink (a key sign I have been told).
Maybe it's time I had another test to find levels....at hosp on Mon so will inquire

chapsmum · 01/02/2006 08:51

Handbags, its no problem, am talking about a specific hosptiatals transfusion ploicy, the need to transfuse would depend on hoe symptomatic of anaemia a patient was. To some people an HB of less thatn 10 would be causeing very marked symptoms. However I do agree that normally a hb of margonally less than 10 would prob be managed conservitively.
it it would considered for transfusion (if it was sudden) This does not mean it will get one, it is a possible but unlikely treatment. Cheers for clarifying that

fairyjay · 01/02/2006 08:53

I understand that the ideal level for a woman is 12, but that menstruation, it is often not at this level.

When I was pregnant with ds my levels fell below 9, and I was given a course of iron injections (ouch!!!).

A different doctor felt it was necessary with dd, although again they fell below 9.

I think the first doctor was just being cautious, incase I lost a lot of blood in delivery.

Hope this helps!

HandbagAddiction · 01/02/2006 08:54

Clary - please try not to worry too much - I posted my response as I was concerned that Chapsmums advice would panic people. I know twiglett wasn't asking for pregnancy related levels but I was tested several times during pregnancy and even though my levels were at 9 - neither the doctors or midwifes thought this was low enough to warrant any action...hence why I disagree wholeheartedly with Chapsmums view on what happens at 10!!

Best thing you can do if you are still worried is to organise another blood test and then ask for someone to talk you through the results again and need for action or reasons for not doing anything.

If you feel OK however then things might be OK. If you were severaly anaemic you should be experiencing some pretty nasty sypmtons....

foxinsocks · 01/02/2006 08:56

I think you'd probably need to take more iron than that to make a difference twiglett (especially if you have heavy periods).

Was also told by the GP that although they can measure iron levels and come up with a reading, some people appear more sensitive to iron levels than others so you can get people with v mild anaemia who display quite bad anaemia symptoms and vice versa. They don't know why this is.

chapsmum · 01/02/2006 08:57

CLary These iron level in someone who was not prg would be worrying.
It is excepted that preg puts a strain on the body and more iron is used than normal. that is why your level have fallen so low. Had you not been preg this would have been worrying. T

If your hb had been 7 as result of a post partum haemmorrage you prob would have been transfused...however gradual depletion of iron stores caused by preg does not make the body as shocked and it more easily treatable.

There is not much else normal that will make your hb fall that much. After preg the cause of your iron depletion has stopped and your iron level should rise again. If your feeling ok I wouldnt worry too much. but might be worth getting you practise nurse to check your levels every once in a while.

HandbagAddiction · 01/02/2006 08:58

Chapsmum - cool, understand what you're saying !

chapsmum · 01/02/2006 09:00

Hand bags in action your are right, didn't mean to panick anybody.
preg related anaemia is another matter entirely and appologise if I have you worried.
To clarify if a person becomes anaemic through menstuation or over a period of time due to dietary insufficency etc their anaemia uless v severe will prob be managed medically.

Clary · 01/02/2006 11:15

My post was not clear... My hb always went down when I was pregnant, usually to single figures, at which point I would be prescribed iron.
But when this level of 7 was taken last summer, I was not pg! In fact hadn?t been for more than 2 yrs (ds2 3 in April). Blood had not been taken since then so whether it had been gradually going down - I have a general tendency to anaemia I think - but why?
Will ask about this on Monday.