3GenFamily Blog

A study* done by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center found that anemia takes a serious toll on the elderly, threatening their ability to  remain independent.  The researchers recommended that doctors pay more attention to anemia in their older patients.

As I read the article, I was struck by how accurately it described my father’s situation. Now, my Dad has a number of very serious conditions–heart disease, diabetes and prostate cancer. But the most elusive issue has been his anemia. And, because my father didn’t understand that he could feel better than he did, he didn’t really pursue the cause of his fatigue. He regarded the bruising on his hands and arms as a sign of old age.

In addition to the skin bruising (purpura), the doctors found out the he had bleeding in his lower GI tract when he was hospitalized a year ago for shortness of breath. A year later, this was followed by serious nosebleeds.  At this point, the doctors removed the Plavix** from his regimen. The nosebleeds stopped but now he could barely walk.

As I look back on it, it is possible that the cardiologist who prescribed the Plavix did not know about my Dad’s prior ulcers. It is unclear why his primary care physician ignored the obvious purpura on his hands and arms. She was trying to address his anemia by prescribing Procrit.

The treatment made Dad feel better for a while.  Then, the fatigue would return. Over a two year period, Dad went from being independent in his own home (walking with a cane) to needing assisted living (walking very short distances with a rolling walker.)

While my father is struggling to regain some of the mobility he has lost, it looks like he won’t go back to living independently. Some might say this is inevitable for someone who is 84 year old.

I don’t agree.  I can’t change what happened, but now I talk to the doctors directly. 

*Source: Anemia and Decline in Physical Performance Among Older Persons” American Journal of Medicine” Vol. 115, No. 2, 8/1/03, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

** Plavix prevents the blood from forming clots to help prevent heart attack and stroke but can cause bleeding under certain conditions.