Hi, JG.
Welcome to Marrowforums. You've certainly had a lot of symptoms that can be associated with anemia/low iron/bone marrow problems. I think you're doing the right thing to see your hematologist to try to get to the bottom of these problems. If it does turn out that you have aplastic anemia or MDS, you'll want a hematologist who is familiar with bone marrow failure diseases. The average community-based hematologist will only know of these diseases from medical school and will probably have not seen any, or at most a few, cases in an entire career. In Birmingham, you are lucky to have an excellent center at the
University of Alabama Birmingham, Comprehensive Cancer Center. I hope that you will be able to take advantage of their services, even if it is just for a second opinion regarding any diagnosis or treatment plan your own hematologist gives you.
Let us know what questions and concerns you have. Marrowforums members have lots of experience and are very good at helping each other.
Regards,
Ruth Cuadra