Low RBC Level

I have had several blood tests in the last year - each time a result of being sent to the E.R. for pain, dizziness and vomiting. I have also been extremely tired since July, and I am normally never tired. Normally,I can't even sleep at night. As of late though, all I can do is sleep. The doctors say the low blood count means nothing. Your sight seems to indicate differently. Should I be concerned?

RBC L 3.88 (3.9 - 5.2)

This is the only one that said low, but the others below it are, for the most part, only one point from being low. Seems odd to me.

Thank you,
Victoria

Comments for Low RBC Level

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Unless it's dropped significantly, it's nothing
by: Kerri Knox, Registered Nurse

Hi Victoria,

Unless your RBC level has dropped significantly (and by significantly, I mean 5 to 10 points, not tenth or hundreths of points), or you are vomiting blood, then it's completely insignificant and likely simply due to normal variation in your body. It might even be the same (or insignificantly different) from a previous test and the lab has determined that your number is now low per a change in their scale, or it's a different laboratory with a different scale.

It's completely normal and actually desirable to be on the 'low end' of the RBC blood cell count for women and is in no way the 'unexplained anemia' that I mention on my site as being a problem. This is especially true if you are a menstruating woman, as you lose red blood cells every month normally and will normally be on the low end for this reason.

Now, I understand that you are looking for a cause of your tiredness, vomiting, etc. But it's not likely to be found in your blood tests, if this is the only thing that they found abnormal.

It's more likely to be found in problems like:

The H Pylori Bacteria

Gluten Sensitivity

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

and other problems that your doctor will be unlikely to even bother to test for, or would be inaccurate and misleading even if he did.

Kerri Knox, Registered Nurse

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