Blood Count low, how low is too low?

I've been reading posts and noticing that a few have said that surgery was postponed due to a low blood count. In fact, I saw one lady say hers was 9 and delayed!

I'm scheduled for February 25th and know I'm low as usual. I've been taking 650 mg of iron a day at Dr. order. The last time I was checked I was between 5 and 6 and was still working two jobs and playing softball. At that point was put on Lupron with some success but have been off since October. I don't remember the last time I was as high as 9. I don't want to think about delaying this as I can't get the count up with all the bleeding.

Any thoughts? Thanks sorry to ramble.

I had a hemoglobin level of 6 when I had my hysterectomy on 8/1/02, BUT it was an emergency hysterectomy and I wouldn't recommend anyone doing their hysterectomy this way UNLESS IT'S AN EMERGENCY.

On the morning of August 1, 2002, I was hemorrhaging and losing blood rapidly. Even though I was taking Ovral-28 (the morning-after pill?), I had to keep taking it every six hours to keep the bleeding at bay. At 10 AM, my gyn-surgeon told me to keep taking Ovral-28 and scheduled my surgery for 5 PM that afternoon! Prior to surgery, I had one blood transfusion and another was commenced about an hour before I went into surgery. This was a dangerous situation, and I regret now that I didn't have the hysterectomy before it became such an emergency.

I would like to add that even though my hemoglobin was very low, at all times my vital signs were stable.

If there's a way for you to build up your hemoglobin, either by taking Slow-Fe iron pills (after surgery, I was taking three a day for a month), or by getting iron shots, or by having transfusions (ask your doctor about all these options), please do so before having a hysterectomy. Even 9 is not high. That's the level at which people are admitted to the hospital to have transfusions. I believe that 12 is low-normal.

Good luck!

Laura
08/01/02: TAH/BSO
01/22/03: bilateral inguinal hernia repairs (not related to TAH/BSO)
Premarin .625

Hi,

I'm really not sure how low is too low. I was quite low when I went to the DR to schedule surgery, but I don't remember the numbers, for 6 weeks before surgery I was taking 450mg iron/day, and then for 6 weeks after 300mg/day.

You may want to check with your DR. Usually you'll have a pre op about a week before surgery and they'll do blood work, but it would be nice to have some idea before that.

In addition to the iron he has prescribed make sure to eat a healthy balanced diet and include dairy, protein, and dark green veggies.

My DR told me to take each iron pill with a glass of oj. She said the oj helps the body absorb the iron, plus the pulp helps avoid constipation.

Best wishes!