Iron deficiency - scared of stomach/bowel cancer

[Pastycakes]

A few days ago, I posted about the weird symptoms I've been experiencing. It's all been going on for a couple of months now. I've had blood work (normal other than anemia), chest x-ray (normal), and am scheduled for an MRI of my brain this Friday (freaking out about that). I've always had low hemoglobin because I have beta thalassemia minor, but now it's lower than normal at 9.6. My ferritin is at 5. My hematologist seems pretty concerned with this and now wants me to see a gastroenterologist to get an endoscopy and maybe a colonoscopy to see if I'm bleeding internally. So now on top of worrying about MS or a brain tumor, I'm freaking out about the possibility of stomach or colon cancer. I just feel totally doomed. I have two kids and I can barely function to take care of them because I'm so scared. I've just been crying constantly. I want to get these tests over with and have some answers, but I won't even know when my GI appointment will be for another 1-2 weeks and then they still have to schedule the tests! What if it's too late by then? I've been told in the past that I have GERD and I've been on Nexium for it for quite some time and also a history of gallstones, but now I'm worried the GERD has been cancer all along. Any advice at all? Has anyone been through anything similar with the iron deficiency? I had a miscarriage 3 months ago and lost a lot of blood, but the hematologist doesn't believe my iron deficiency could be caused by that.

I've had more discomfort lately in my upper abdomen, but thought it was from my anxiety. Now I'm afraid it's something worse. I've also been feeling off balance, constant tinnitus for the last two months, pins and needles (especially left hand), sore neck and upper back, etc. etc. The list seems to go on and on. I have never felt this bad. I'm only 27.. this is ridiculous. :unsure:

[Shellyhay]

Funny that I had a miscarriage 4 months ago and just found out my irons low at 7. Dr said it's quite possible it's due to miscarriage. I also have pin prick sensations all over my skin. Try not to worry, I know it's hard. She also mentioned low iron is due to our periods. .. My dad had bowel cancer and you could tell he was ill way before he was diognosed I won't go into details because I know you will imagine these symptoms and make the situation worse.

[Pastycakes]

Thank you for your reply! I'm sorry about your dad. Thanks for reassuring me. That's interesting that your doctor says the miscarriage could be the cause of the low iron. I wonder why mine is insisting it has nothing to do with it. Well, fingers crossed that's the reason for it. I have so many tests coming up, I'm really wondering how I'm going to get through all of this. But what can ya do? :shrug:

[sherry68]

I have alpha thalassemia minor so my heaemoglobin is often on the low side. At my last check-up it was around 11 and my ferritin is at 5.8. We are quite similar there. I have never been under the care of haemotologist but the group of specialists I am currently seeing, none of them is overly concerned about it. As thalassemia minor patients, we are not advised to take iron supplements. I was only told to increase my iron naturally through iron rich food.

I have done an endoscopy and was diagnosed with GERD. I only had very mild gastritis and small polyp. No GI bleeding. I have also done a thorough check-up with my O&G, have done all the tests under the sun, everything is normal. I have undergone brain MRI because of my migraine and the results is normal. I can totally identify with you. Before the MRI I had cooked up all sorts of stories in my head. I truly understand what you are going through. But trust me, it will all go well.

It could be me who is writing about all the discomforts you are experiencing. Upper abdominal discomfort is just our GERD acting up. I also have tinnitus, sore neck, stiff shoulder, pins and needles down one arm. When I did the brain MRI, I also did cervical MRI and this is where they found out that I have mild cervical spondolysis. It is quite common according to my neurologist especially for those who have desk job and constantly hunching at the desk clucking at the computer. The spondolysis is what causing all the symptoms - tinnitus, stiff neck and shoulder, the pins and needles. I have been going through physiotherapy for almost 6 weeks already and I am so glad that all the symptoms are almost gone now.

As someone who also suffers from HA, I truly understand what you are going through. I am sure you will be just fine.

Take care.

[Pastycakes]

Thanks for the reply, Sherry! We do sound very similar in the issues we're having. I'm glad everything turned out alright with you, I hope the same goes for me. My hematologist put me on ferrous sulfate 325 mg twice a day. Hopefully this is okay. I have been told the same thing about being careful with iron supplements with thalassemia. Might be TMI, but I've only taken two doses of the iron and my stools are very soft and dark green. Then again, I had an abdominal ultrasound today and my stomach is in absolute knots over it. And of course the ultrasound tech didn't say anything that reassured me during the ultrasound. I have a history of problems with my gallbladder and all he said was "have you ever had any problems with you gallbladder or liver?" So now I'm terrified something is wrong with my liver. I feel like there's something wrong with every organ in my entire body. UGH!