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It was the placebo effect

Just got the results of my bone marrow biopsy, and while nothing seems to have changed MCL wise, the report did indicate "Stainable iron is present" in the marrow.

Despite the amount of stainable iron not being quantified, and my having started taking an iron supplement prior to the biopsy, there are other indicators (MCV having always been in the normal range for one, and no increase in my hemoglobin on my last blood test for another) which would lead even a layman, such as myself, to conclude I am not iron deficient.

So it's back to the drawing board, and the realization that if I was stronger on the bike, as I originally thought, it was either because I was training more and with greater intensity, or the more likely scenario after considering today's ride, it was all just the "placebo effect", and I have not gotten any stronger at all.

Oh well, at least I can stop going through all the gyrations I concluded were necessary to insure I was absorbing the maximum amount of iron (I stopped taking the iron about a week ago), and I can put the colonoscopy on the back burner for now [which is also a great relief].

But to be sure there is still not some other underlying [maybe more sinister] reason for my low hemoglobin, other than my MCL, I have been told, by my resident expert, I should
check multiple stools for blood ........... weekly for maybe 6 months or so

Now that sure sounds like a lot of fun.
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