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Posted 5/4/2009 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
I had my gallbladder out a year ago last april and the doctor cut the common bile duct he ended up doing a rerouting of the intestines and had to re connect to the liver. Now I am very anemic and finally found a doctor who is doing somthing about it. I was 4.1 hemogloban tuesday of last week I am now on my 3rd Iron infusion and dont feel a whole lot different. My back is killing me and I have become short of breath does anyone know if this is normal?
Posted 5/5/2009 5:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Kyadaya

Hope you are feeling much better now.

Would you consider taking natural stuff for improving your Hb levels. I used to take lot of mint leaves paste. You can use a mixi to make a paste from fresh mint leaves. It is very helpful. Within one week you will see the positive results.

Another thing is pomegranate Juice. Good for anemia.

Third is juice made from red carrots and beat root. Very effective for anemia.

Have lots of green leafy vegetables. It would help.

My Hb used to dip to 6.7 and I used to control the same by above remedies, as I was bleeding / having 35 BMs a day.
Posted 5/5/2009 5:40 AM (GMT 0)
It takes some time for the iron infusions to kick in, especially since your hemoglobin is so low. I'm actually surprised they didn't do a blood transfusion with only 4.1! They were considering doing that with me when I was at 7.8.

I usually had a set of 4 iron (Venofer) infusions twice a year. Since I started Humira, my Crohn's has been much better and I haven't needed any infusions since last September. With the first infusion (but not the subsequent 3), I'd feel really lousy by the evening with horrible body aches. Since you're also short of breath, I wonder if you aren't having a bad reaction to the infusions? I would definitely call your doctor and ask them.
Posted 5/5/2009 8:02 AM (GMT 0)
kyadaya

I forgot to tell you that since your Hb count is too low, you must consult your doctor to explore the option of blood transfusion. Only having iron supplements may not help with Hb count of 4.1. It is too low and a bit scarry too. Ask your doctor immediately.
Posted 5/6/2009 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, you poor thing. I thought I had it bad when my Hb was 6.2.

Unfortunately, the iron infusions (in my experience) only give a slow response. I think that my Hb went up by only around 0.4 per week. Be very careful not to exert yourself and like the previous poster said, consider a blood transfusion instead of just iron.
Posted 5/6/2009 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
My HB has been 9.8 for two months since I lost blood after an ulcer. Does it really take this long to get it back? Doc wants me to take iron.
Posted 5/6/2009 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
LondonRed - sounds like taking some iron might speed some things up for you. You'll feel a lot better when your Hb is up around 12, even if you don't feel 'bad' at 9.8.
Posted 5/6/2009 10:35 PM (GMT 0)

LondonRed said...
My HB has been 9.8 for two months since I lost blood after an ulcer. Does it really take this long to get it back? Doc wants me to take iron.

No, it means you must still be bleeding, unfortunately.
Posted 5/6/2009 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
If I was bleeding surely the HB would keep falling and the dark stools and red blood would have shown in my stools?
Posted 5/7/2009 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Not necessarily. My bleeding is in my small bowel, so I don't tend to bleed in a way I can see - but I can tell by my iron levels. I take supplements and eat red meat. Even though I love my leafy greens and beets, they don't make the difference that eating some liver does - its like the iron is predigested so its easier for my body to absorb.
Posted 5/7/2009 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Correct.

Duplessis, do you know how much liver is safe to eat? I've been eating 3-4 chicken livers a day.
Posted 5/7/2009 2:19 AM (GMT 0)

I've lived with severely low haemoglobin and severe anaemia for three years now. I've forgotten what it's like to NOT be anaemic and have just suffered all this time because my GI said he didn't "do" infusions.

Posted 5/7/2009 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
My old old GI didn't think I needed infusions, because "10.0 hg is good enough for you." So I went around him and asked my primary care doctor to refer me to a hematologist. I lied and said my GI thought it would be a good idea smilewinkgrin. I got the referral, and the hematologist got my hg back to normal.

Thankfully, my old GI sent me to a hematologist without me even having to ask.
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