Iron deficiency anemia...need to learn about this.

[elias7]

23. New iron deficiency means blood loss. First, rule out colon cancer, upper GI bleeding from NSAIDS

Physician here. With no history of anemia, and given IV iron and discharged on iron supplements, I must assume your SO’s bloodwork was consistent with iron deficiency. They must have checked stool guiac for occult blood in hospital and should arrange a colonoscopy pronto if they haven’t already, unless there is some other reason for chronic occult blood loss - upper GI bleeding/ulcer/gastritis from regular NSAID use, chronically heavy menses, renal or bladder cancer, other…

Poor absorption from proximal GI tract (duodenum, jejunum) is an uncommon cause and would primarily occur in setting of previous upper GI surgery or chronic inflammatory conditions, which I’m sure they asked about and you would have been aware of.