Surgery And Anemia

[cupotee2]

OH saw the Anesthetist today prior to hip replacement surgery. He came away very dissapointed as he was told he is Anemic and needs Iron Injection and possibly a Gastroscope.

Once these are arranged any idea how long it takes to build the blood count up enough to continue with the surgery?

He is in agony from the painful hip and been desperate to get this far up the long waiting list to end up do dissapointed.

Many thanks

[Sqad]

Depends upon what his Hb level is to star with, what kind of iron replacement is prescribed (tablets or injections), but generally, very generally, it will start to rise within a week and be satisfactory for hip replacement at about 6 weeks.
The gastroscopy ( camera in the stomach) is to exclude a cause for his low Hb e.g bleeding .

[cupotee2]

Thank you Sqad. He wasn't told the present reading other than low.

" it will start to rise within a week and be satisfactory for hip replacement at about 6 weeks." that's exactly the answer I wanted. I understand about the Gastroscope.

Iron Injections he said..More time will be wasted,waiting for the GP to get the request for treatment and getting an appointment from our very slow surgery!