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Posted 11/18/2007 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
I recently became anemic because of the current flare I am in. 3 weeks ago when i was in the hospital my blood count was 7.5 (a normal count is around 12) and I was given 2 transfusions and started taking iron at the hospital. When I left the hospital my count was up to 9.5. Yesterday i had another test done and my count went back down to 8.8! I was taking iron sulfate pills for about a week after I was released from the hospital but they were so hard on my stomach and started cause sever cramping. So, instead I'm taking herbal pills that are high in iron, nettle and yellow dock. (yellow dock has been proven to completely get rid of anemia in only one month too.) My bleeding is almost none existent now because of the prednisone. Does anyone have any ideas about why my blood count would go down even though the bleeding is very minimal, and improving every day, and I'm taking iron in the form of herbs? any suggestions for ways to take iron without it bothering me so much?
Posted 11/18/2007 12:34 PM (GMT 0)
Even if you don't see any blood doesn't mean it's not there. You can still have blood mixed in with your stool in miniscual amounts. But any sort of bleeding can lead to anemia. I have used SlowFE in the past and it never caused stomach issues. I have also used Ferrous Sulfate, it was gentle on my system but caused mild cramping.
Posted 11/18/2007 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
I know when I was at my sickest the docs at the hospital said I was so sick my bone marrow stopped making red blood cells and I ended up needing multiple transfusions.
Posted 11/19/2007 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
If you are female, regular menstruation can add to the tendency to become anemic, but as Red says, just because blood isn't visible, doesn't mean you aren't continuing to bleed in small amounts. Iron infusions by I.V. helped me get back on track.
Posted 11/19/2007 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
Im anemic and just bought some iron pills because my energy is low, but i havent taken them yet and i'm sorta afraid to because I don't know how they'll react with my stomach... are iron pills usually bad for the tummy or have most of you been ok with taking them?
Posted 11/19/2007 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
i had the blood test in the hospital- hemoglobin count was a 6 (normal 12).
i turned down the transfusions, I felt too weak and didnt think it would go over well with my body. Now i am taking chromagen forte. i have not had a hard time taking them.
i cut my foot the other day and bled a lot then i coudlnt walk for half an hour, too dizzy

betsaronie- i find it funny that to test your blood count which they know is low they take more of your blood out

anyway i was wondering if there was anyway besides a transfusion and iron pills to get your body to produce more blood? I am still losing more blood that whatever the iron does for me and i am nervous about doing a transfusion.
thanks
Posted 11/19/2007 3:04 PM (GMT 0)

sweetmelody said...
Im anemic and just bought some iron pills because my energy is low, but i havent taken them yet and i'm sorta afraid to because I don't know how they'll react with my stomach... are iron pills usually bad for the tummy or have most of you been ok with taking them?

Side effects of therapy with oral iron supplements are most often diarrhea or constipation and epigastric abdominal discomfort. Taken after a meal, side effects decrease but there is an increased risk of interaction with other substances. Side effects are dose-dependent, and the dose may be adjusted.

Posted 11/19/2007 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
You might try the Slow-FE brand of iron. I was anemic a little while ago and this was what my OB and GI suggested. They really are very easy on the stomach. I didn't have any issues with them at all. You can purchase them over-the-counter at any U.S. pharmacy.
Posted 11/19/2007 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure if you are on this med, but Imuran can cause anemia.
Posted 11/20/2007 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
I have issues with Ferrous Sulfate because i have a severe allergy to sulfa. My doc said it wouldn't bother me, but it did. :( I'll look into SlowFE. Thanks!

Cap'n, im not on any meds at the moment, starting colazal tomorrow. I became anemic because of my flare.

1s - I would suggest you take the transfusions. my blood count was 7.5 when i passed out for two days from lack of blood and had to get to two transfusions in the hospital while I was unconscious. better to get the transfusions than spend a week in the hospital. Transfusions are alot safer now than they used to be. Also, Japanese research has found that 1000mg of curcumin after breakfast and dinner helps reduce bleeding by reducing inflammation. I'm going to try that dose. I was only taking 500mg a day so maybe I'll see some difference with that dose. maybe you could give it a shot too.
Posted 11/20/2007 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
I ditto the earlier posts about the iron brand Slow-Fe.  There are also a couple other brands that say "gentle on the system".  When my hemo counts went down to 7.1 my hemotologist suggested taking the iron with food to help the tummy and take with orange juice or even better a multi-vitamin.  She said vitamin C and folic acid taken with iron help the body absorb the iron.  This did help bring my counts up even though I was still bleeding.

Posted 11/23/2007 7:38 AM (GMT 0)
betsaronie- curcumin is turmeric. i find that in the local ethnic stores in pickled form. i have been eating that for a while. i am assuming that you are taking it in pill or powdered form? do you know hoe much fresh or pickled turmeric i should be eating to match that? I have seen a lot of solid looking research on a boswellia/curcumin combination. i will actually be taking a business trip to india and i will be searching out the stuff when i get there

Thanks fo rthe advice about the transfusiion, i was nervous about it because we suffer from an autoimmune disease. I couldnt even imagine what would happen if our bodies rejected the blood.. jsut seemed like a disaster waiting to happen, and i wasnt passing out or anything so i turned it down. ill look into it again

thanks
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