Low iron levels - at my age?!

4 years ago I had a bout of norovirus which left me so tired I couldn't climb upstairs without resting. A blood test came back so low I apparently was on the verge of a stroke. My doctor diagnosed internal bleeding and I was subjected to every test known to man. All negative. Since then I have failed 3 bowel cancer tests and colonoscopies are still negative. I have been pumped full of iron which leaves me feeling great but runs down quickly and am now prescribed just 2 iron pills a week to keep the ferritin levels up. Clearly somethings wrong if bowel tests show occult blood, but they can't find it. Still I feel ok so I suppose that's all right?

Hollycat, that's what happened to me, it wasn't until I had a Capsule Endoscopy that they discovered the whereabouts of the bleeding, my small colon. I was lucky that all this happened while I was working and had private medical insurance through my company. You can get it done on the NHS though. If I were you I would ask your consultant.

Hello Nannymarg, (and Hollycat) A few years ago, I went through the same fatigue, couldn't walk up a small hill to work without a pounding heart. Blood tests showed hgb 60 (should be 120) ferritin 4 ( should be 40 at least), Dr. sent me to hospital for an emergency blood. transfusion, and then to a GI specialist. Tubes up, down, camera swallowed, ultrasound, CT scan.......no source of bleeding identified. On to a hematologist.... For two years, I had to have iron transfusions once a month, and about 18 months ago, on my last endoscopy, the GI found Cameron's Lesions in my hiatus hernia. He cauterized them, and it was like a miracle! I only had a few more iron transfusions, and my hgb level is now over 140 and holding. I still have a blood test once a month, because if the levels drop, I'm bleeding again. So far (9 months down the line) it's looking good.

Thanks for the info - I have Cameron's ulcers too and a small hiatus hernia but they have been discounted. However, I have another blood test due on Monday and I will ask the question again. Personally I think I had a problem for sometime which was aggravated by the norovirus, but they look at me as if I am completely mad when I mention it - hazard of growing old I guess!