Hematologist appointment for anemia

Hi everyone,

I've decided to see a hematologist prior to my surgery. My original surgery date was canceled due to low hemoglobin and other blood counts which all indicate that I'm quite anemic. I'm not comfortable going into surgery without a specialist's input.

I've been taking Slow FE iron and folic acid 3x daily, but I am in the 3rd day of my (final?) menstrual cycle and it is probably the worst I've had -- ever!
The bleeding is SO incredibly heavy that I'm going through 3 overnight pads fully saturated every 15/20 minutes. (I won't even get into the pain!)

By the time I see the hematologist next Monday, I'm sure my hemoglobin will be much lower than the pre-op test was.

Has anyone had any experience seeing a hematologist pre-surgery? If so, did they postpone your surgery? I'm nervous that he may not give me clearance since he is a specialist.

Thanks for any input.

MarieMarie

Hi MarieMarie,

I decided last December to have my fibroids removed, and my doctor sent me to a hematologist for blood tests first since I had had serious postpartum bleeding a few years ago. All of the tests came back normal--no Von Willebrands (the obvious guess), nothing at all, and my hematologist said she checked me for everything under the sun. She even sent me to a dermatologist to be checked for connective tissue disorders (none). I think I would have preferred being diagnosed with something I could label (for me, naming things makes them easier to deal with) than just knowing I might bleed internally as a fluke.

What did make me feel better was that my surgeon had my blood typed & crossed twice, the second time immediately before my SAH, and had two units of blood on hand just in case. I didn't end up needing it. I found my doctors very sympathetic to my past experience, even though the tests didn't show there was a problem.

The tests delayed scheduling surgery, since it can take over a month here to get an appointment, but I'm glad I had things checked out first.

I think you're wise to err on the cautious side. If you do have a bleeding disorder, your doctors can be prepared with blood factors or whatever else you might need; and if you don't, you will have put your mind at ease. Goodness knows we already have enough to worry about pre-hyst!

Good luck at your hematology appointment!

--Liz P

Hi MarieMarie

I am currently going through the same process. I went to see a Hematologist after my last menstrual cycle and going through an entire bag of overnight pads in 1 night. Scary situation to be put in. It was teh right thing for me to do. I have found after tests that I have Von Willebrands disease....this is a disease of the plateletts that can be increased through medication and decreases your bleeding risks during surgery. I would have never found out about this heretitery disease if I did not go. Now my family and my daughters will be tested so that they will have a betetr advantage to control the issue if they have it. Take it from me do what is in your gut and go see the hematologist. It is also best if you have all your lab results for them in advance. This sped up my process and in a couple weeks I will be having my surgery.

Hey and if you do not have anything at least you will sleep easier.

Hugs
Nudgeit2

Thanks for your responses!

Did the hematologist postpone your surgery, or tell you to wait until blood levels came up before booking surgery?

Thanks!

Actually the Hematologist has not put a hold on it yet as there are still 3 weeks before the surgery. He feels he can get my plateletts back to normal by then. But if I had not gone to see him as soon as I did I am sure I would be post-poning the surgery. I already have the surgery schedule but that could be cancelled at the drop of a hat.....I am most important. That is what we have to keep telling ourselves.