Hello
Thanks for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I am Dr.R.K and I am pleased to assist you.
It is difficult to say why your hemoglobin dropped within a few weeks after the treatment. There might be an ongoing bleed from any residual lesions.
Moreover there are umpteen number of different causes for a drop in hemoglobin.
Since you have a history of GAVE, the next step is to have an upper GI endoscopy to see if GAVE is still present which might be responsible for the drop in hemoglobin.
If no lesions found, then tests for other causes should be done including a peripheral blood smear test and a stool occult blood test.
Till then you can continue taking iron supplements.
I hope that answers your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr.R.K.
Patient replied :
Thank you so much for the thorough answer. I'm wondering if antibiotics I had to take in April and May for a urinary tract infection could have interfered with iron absorption?
thanks!
Hello.
What antibiotic did you take and for how long?
Once you answer, i will be able to help you further,
Regards.
Patient replied :
Hi, and again thanks.
The first antibiotic was nitrofuran, 5 days; then amoxicillin ten days; and finally bactrim for 7 days.
I also (after infection cleared up) was given methenamine which I take in a very small dosage: 1 GM tablet once a day.
Thanks so much!
Hello.
No, nitrofuran, amoxicillin, methanamine and bactrim do not interfere with absorption of iron in the gastrointestinal tract.
But amoxillin and bactrim can rarely cause other forms of anemia like hemolytic anemia and aplastic anemia.
But these are very rare side effects.
So the next step is to get an upper GI endoscopy done to look for GAVE lesions.
Regards.