(No Subject)

Well folks I've been away for a while. For the past 6 mo. I've been fighting infections and new conditions from the Crohn's and Humira.
Since the last week of Dec. I developed and infection which became chronic and had to see a Dermatologist, who diagnosed me has having "Chilblain's" of the feet. My immune system had bottomed out and out came the chicken pocks over my hands, feet, legs, forearms. Everything seemed to have cleared up by the 3rd week of March and I went back on the Humira, every other week. I had been taking it every week for the past year. After 2 wks, I had a cellulitis of the left leg. Both feet and legs doubled in size. Pocks came back and I now have 3 draining ulcers on the left leg and 1 on the right. No infection yet. Been feeling very tired. Blood check my hemoglobin is at 11, down from 13. Anemic probable due to GI bleed. I am at a loss and feeling pretty low. Run short of breath when trying to do anything. Thinking of going to the Cleveland Clinic.

11 would be lower for a man than a woman. Also, a reduction in haemoglobin is the last stage of iron-deficiency anaemia: first of all you lose your iron stores, but the haemologlobin remains normal. Only once your iron stores are gone, does your haemoglobin drop. So while 11 Hb may not sound severe, it still indicates a problem that needs correcting. Personally I think iron transfusions are the way to go - so much faster and without the unpleasant GI side-effects of oral iron - but doctors seem reluctant to use them unless your Hb is like 8.

Rojon - Wish I could help, but I can't really. If you think the Cleveland Clinic can help you more than your current GI can, then I would go. It seems like a med change is in order, if nothing else.