what can you do if your doctor will not do anything about low iron may

Posted by melvina @melvina, Sep 14, 2025

i have low iron and my doctor is doing nothing to get it up or find out what is causing it to be low i have kidney disease 3b and a bowel disease???? which causes poor absorbition of vitamins and minerals what can i do

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@melvina, it is frustrating when we believe follow-up or action may be necessary, but the doctor is neither making a referral or taking action. Low iron can be caused by many things. Here is more information from Mayo Clinic
- Iron deficiency anemia https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355034

As the article states: " Iron deficiency anemia isn't something to self-diagnose or treat. So see your doctor for a diagnosis rather than taking iron supplements on your own. Overloading the body with iron can be dangerous because excess iron accumulation can damage your liver and cause other complications."

Are you able to discuss your iron levels with your doctor to find out why they are not concerned or are not making a referral? Do you see a nephrologist for kidney issues and a GI specialist for bowel disease?

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perhaps see an endocrinologist for complete blood, hormonal & mineral/vitamins panel.

Otherwise get a new doctor if not getting help or answers from current one.

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Profile picture for kobe2026 @kobe2026

perhaps see an endocrinologist for complete blood, hormonal & mineral/vitamins panel.

Otherwise get a new doctor if not getting help or answers from current one.

Jump to this post

we have a waiting list of 10,000 people looking for a doctor in nova scotia

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contact doc in Boston have them send script to your local lab to run test then do video call with doc to review results

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Profile picture for kobe2026 @kobe2026

perhaps see an endocrinologist for complete blood, hormonal & mineral/vitamins panel.

Otherwise get a new doctor if not getting help or answers from current one.

Jump to this post

Many patients here do not have the choice of another doctor. We do not live in a city or do not have access to specialists for many reasons.
I have Iron deficient anemia, and have access to a medical group in a small town. There is a small hospital nearby. My kidney doctor has prescribed several iron infusions and a blood transfusion, but they take a few weeks to be effective.
Perhaps your doctor might consider that treatment. Anemia is nasty!!!!

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Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@melvina, it is frustrating when we believe follow-up or action may be necessary, but the doctor is neither making a referral or taking action. Low iron can be caused by many things. Here is more information from Mayo Clinic
- Iron deficiency anemia https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355034

As the article states: " Iron deficiency anemia isn't something to self-diagnose or treat. So see your doctor for a diagnosis rather than taking iron supplements on your own. Overloading the body with iron can be dangerous because excess iron accumulation can damage your liver and cause other complications."

Are you able to discuss your iron levels with your doctor to find out why they are not concerned or are not making a referral? Do you see a nephrologist for kidney issues and a GI specialist for bowel disease?

Jump to this post

hello,

I have PV with Jak2 a blood cancer and iron can be a big issue.. I'm a pt at MDAnerson downtown Houston and here's what they offered to me. because PV Patients get Phlebotomies it drains your blood supply of iron and they keep a very close eye on it.. I was told not to take any iron supplements, period. I'm feeling ok because I understand the iron pathways and have a root cause..I'm didn't read your ay you definitely have a root cause.. I see a hematologist on a regular schedule. I can eat foods that have iron heme and non heme..non heme is basically from vegetables and heme is from meat. ive done a lot of educating myself and think the world of my hematologist ....I don't know if this helps but I know the root cause would be a good start..

any suggestions ive made are of my own making please, please educate yourself it helps put you at peace.

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