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How do you handle anemia ?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/23/2010 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
On my discharge it listed Anemia and I noticed walking up a steep hill yesterday that never used to be a problem was cause for me to stop 3 times, I felt out of breath.

But everything I read about Iron supplementation sounds risky ?

My red blood cell count and hermaticrit is low, yet my platelets are very high and were climbing over the summer from my normal 250. I entered the hospital at 688 and after hydration ( dilution ) was still 466. Blood thinners are counteracting that but the anemia needs to be resolved and I believe its from all the blood loss in a big August flare I had. I imagine this is common to other UC people here so after seeing the warnings about iron supplementation/overdose I was wondering how other people are dealing with Anemia.
Posted 10/23/2010 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
I should have Googled first, perhaps remaining within the guidelines of the Iron supplement is all that is required.

"Anemia: In ulcerative colitis, this is usually the result of chronic blood loss. To combat anemia, gastroenterologists often prescribe supplements, and recommend a diet rich in iron."

www.remicade.com/remicade/uc/understanding_uc/uc_complications.html
Posted 10/24/2010 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
consider using a herbal supplement like "Hema-Plex", it is natural and doesn't cause constipation...however it will make your urine a bright yellow color.

NBT
Posted 10/24/2010 6:13 AM (GMT 0)
Iron supplements didn't work for me, even the Slow-Fe ones. They gave me diarrhea. So I ate beef. I'm normally not a beef eater, but it worked. After I stopped feeling so out-of-breath, I stopped eating beef.
Posted 10/24/2010 6:14 AM (GMT 0)
i eat a lot of liver, pork, chicken, turkey.
Posted 10/24/2010 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
I read that clams and oysters are good for iron. I used to take supplements but since my iron levels have recovered, I haven't been. I have heard supplements can be bad for UC symptoms. I would inquire about an iron infusion if your iron level is really low.
Posted 10/24/2010 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
there is a form of gentle iron, i can't remember right now, but the one to avoid is any derived from ferrous sulfate. If you see sulfate, don't take it, it'll upset your tummy big time. You could try a health food store and talk to a knowledgeable clerk about which forms are gentler.

I used to use Nettle leaf religiously. I took it with every meal and was able to raise my blood count in just a week! nettle is perfectly safe too, you can by it for salads in the grocery store even. It just happens to be a green veggie super high in iron. Only reason i stopped is because i got a couple blood transfusion in the hospital recently and now I'm all good since I'm not bleeding anymore.
Posted 10/24/2010 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the tip on nettle. I've seen some nettle teas in the store, perhaps Ill give it a try. I love tea and I drink a lot of it, maybe it will help with my energy level if I get something with nettle.
Posted 10/24/2010 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
So this would not be the same thing as 'Stinging Nettle Root' then would it ?

I found that low RBC, low HCT and High Platelet can all be related to iron deficiency anemia. Further I see what the Neurologist was saying when he told me that controlling my UC would control my clotting since UC flares cause high platelet counts:

"Often, it occurs in tandem with an inflammatory disease, as the principal stimulants of platelet production (e.g. thrombopoietin) are elevated in these clinical states as part of the acute phase reaction."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrombocytosis

Post Edited (aguywithuc) : 10/24/2010 4:49:25 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/25/2010 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
I forgot that Spinach is also high in iron.

NBT
Posted 10/25/2010 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
My mother in law was anemic until removing gluten from her diet. if your gut can't absorb the iron, it won't matter what form you give it. might be worth getting an allergy test (or whatever kind of test would detect a gluten issue) before trying many forms of iron.
Posted 10/25/2010 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
cooking your foods in an iron skillet will add iron to the food.
Posted 10/26/2010 11:52 AM (GMT 0)
I don't get on with pharmaceutical iron, but use either Floravital (liquid iron which contains vitamin C to help absorption) or FSC black strap molasses iron capsules which also contain vitamin C. I take higher than the recommended dose, but seem to be able to cope with both these products. I have had ulcerative colitis since 1997 and my feratin levels (stored iron) were really low. They're much better now :-)
Posted 10/26/2010 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
aguywithuc:

I have been anemic at different times over the course of my last 20 years dealing with my UC.  I take otc iron supplements.  It's hard to overdose with iron because it take months to see any change in one's Hg value.  Also one is supposed to take iron supplements for about 6-12 months, depending upon the severity of the anemia, once the values have normalized anyways to give the body a back up storage of iron for future use.  When I am actively taking iron supplements I first get my iron stores tested through a routine blood test and on an annual basis I will have my B12, folic and iron levels checked to see how they are.  Those are the three main types of anemia.  I take the one that is available at Costco.  It's cheap and it works.  Not much stomach irritation.

MyUC

Posted 10/26/2010 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
If you're not bleeding most GIs would advise supplementation. If you're flaring, regular iron supps will irritate your gut. We use a product called nanoparticle iron from world health mall. It was recommended to us by an alternative health practitioner for my daughter. You can read all about nano minerals on their site or google it, but basically it's not absorbed in the gut and the particles are so tiny that they are much more highly absorbed by your body's cells. Anyway, my daughter has been flaring pretty badly but we've been adding about a tsp to every glass of water she has and her hemoglobin has remained stable and her ferritin is slightly higher than before. After starting this product we noticed a change in her colour within a few days. We also use their bone support (calc/mag) and multi mineral products.
We also feed her lamb every day and when we can broccoli. When eating iron rich foods, avoid calcium and consume with vit C.
Posted 10/26/2010 6:52 PM (GMT 0)

killcolitis said...
If you're not bleeding most GIs would advise supplementation. If you're flaring, regular iron supps will irritate your gut. We use a product called nanoparticle iron from world health mall. It was recommended to us by an alternative health practitioner for my daughter. You can read all about nano minerals on their site or google it, but basically it's not absorbed in the gut and the particles are so tiny that they are much more highly absorbed by your body's cells. Anyway, my daughter has been flaring pretty badly but we've been adding about a tsp to every glass of water she has and her hemoglobin has remained stable and her ferritin is slightly higher than before. After starting this product we noticed a change in her colour within a few days. We also use their bone support (calc/mag) and multi mineral products.
We also feed her lamb every day and when we can broccoli. When eating iron rich foods, avoid calcium and consume with vit C.

Can you tell me why this is ?  We are giving our daughter liquid iron and she is also taking Oscal  (Calcium w/Vit D), the calcium supplement is b/c she is on prednisone.  Should she not be on both ?

thank you.

Posted 10/27/2010 4:45 AM (GMT 0)

MyUC said...
aguywithuc:


Also one is supposed to take iron supplements for about 6-12 months,



MyUC

Holy cow and I stopped after just one week!

Thanks for the feedback all.
Posted 10/27/2010 10:25 AM (GMT 0)
momuc19, She can have both but not at the same time of day. Calcium inhibits the absorption of iron while Vitamin C increases it. So, it's best to take iron supps with OJ and not with milk, coffee/tea etc.
Posted 10/27/2010 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
I was so bad that I had to have 4 blood transfusions in a month, plus IV iron infusions..my veins were devasted..

Now I am on minerals given to me by the naturapath, plus I use fresh lemon on my veggie and on meat, because the c vit helps the iron to be better absorbed..
Posted 10/27/2010 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Take iron away from food for better absorption, make sure that you don't exceed the ADA by more than 100%.

Ferritin is a molecule that helps absorb and store iron, I take 1 pill every night.

Sublingual B12 with folic acid, twice a day, make sure that you swallow all your tongue saliva first, then pour the drops in.

B-12 shot every other week, this is the one that makes a big difference.

Ensure Plus twice a day, sometimes 3 times, this will help you gain weight and complete your nutritional needs. This stuff is magic.

Light calisthenics and exercise will get you poised for better circulation and energy.

***all of this takes time, there is a tendency to do all these things urgently now, anemia and weight loss take months to correct, it is best to take supplements, eat right and exercise consistently every day, and not be lax skipping days, keep it up and in a couple of months take blood tests to see where you are.
Posted 10/27/2010 4:54 PM (GMT 0)

yohimbe said...
Take iron away from food for better absorption, make sure that you don't exceed the ADA by more than 100%.

Ferritin is a molecule that helps absorb and store iron, I take 1 pill every night.

Sublingual B12 with folic acid, twice a day, make sure that you swallow all your tongue saliva first, then pour the drops in.

B-12 shot every other week, this is the one that makes a big difference.

Ensure Plus twice a day, sometimes 3 times, this will help you gain weight and complete your nutritional needs. This stuff is magic.

Light calisthenics and exercise will get you poised for better circulation and energy.

***all of this takes time, there is a tendency to do all these things urgently now, anemia and weight loss take months to correct, it is best to take supplements, eat right and exercise consistently every day, and not be lax skipping days, keep it up and in a couple of months take blood tests to see where you are.

Neighbors gave me Ensure but it was so loaded with sugar I stopped consuming it. The high sugar does not cause you GI grief ?

Thanks

Theagremling - can you expand on what happened to your veins ? My vascularity is getting too visible, my high school girlfriend flew into town after my hospitalization and she noted that it seemed excessive.
Posted 10/27/2010 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
My veins harden due to the IV iron, this is what they told me at the hospitals..at the end of the recovery they had difficulty in finding veins for my IV steroids and for the Remicade..the espression the nurses used was that iron "burned" the veins..but I do not know if this happens with oral iron as well.
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