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Vitamin Dificiencies - New development-Please advise

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Posted 5/26/2009 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
The last few days have been very eventful.  I went last week for blood work because of elevated glucose levels with home testing.  My morning fasting levels are great but as soon as I eat it goes anywhere from the 150's to 202 two hours after eating. 

The weird thing is that the glucose tests came back just fine but the other blood work showed I was anemic, which I know is common for UC'ers.  The doctor is running more tests to try to determine the cause of the anemia.  He said that because of the anemia the glucose test (a1c) is not accuate.

I've done some research on the internet this weekend.  The doctor is testing for an iron deficiency but based on my symptoms I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't a B12 deficiencey.

Does anyone here have vitamin definciencies because of UC?  If so, which ones?  Should I have my doctor test for more than just the iron and b12?

Posted 5/26/2009 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Yes. I have had to recently start taking B-12 injections after my new GI ran some routine blood work. At first it is weekly, then monthly after 4 weeks.... I think it is indefinite since my colon no longer absorbs B-12 correctly.
Posted 5/26/2009 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks mbx5. Were you having any symptoms of the b12 deficiency?
Posted 5/26/2009 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
you just need to get the entire gamut of blood work done and test everything ... I figured I would have B12 deficiency but I had iron and vitamin D deficiency ... I have noticed that since I have started taking supplements for this, my fatigue and achiness has been reduced -a good sign! I go back for more testing in 1.5 months to see what my levels are again.
Posted 5/26/2009 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
Fatigue was pretty noticeable but I thought it was just because of my flare and new meds... I am on week 3 of injections - havent noticed a new flood of energy, but I would say I am not quite as fatigued...however I am getting used to the Imuran too. The injections arent bad at all...just squeeze some skin, stick and squirt...no biggie...not painful at all...a little sore after the fact...
Posted 5/26/2009 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. I will be calling the Dr. in the morning and requesting the test. He's usually pretty good about giving me what I want so hopefully he won't give me to much trouble ordering the tests. It's hard when you know something is going on with your body but you don't know what. I never know when to blame it on the UC (been in flare since January), the meds or something else. All I know is....something isn't right!
Posted 5/26/2009 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Which other blood work?

Your Iron or your Ferritin? My Ferritin is low right now as well.

Posted 5/26/2009 8:58 AM (GMT 0)
Risan...the doc should have done a B12 test...but I'd be surprised that he didn't considering low B12 could also be a cause for pernicious anemia.

I don't know how the other tests would be in relation to that...

One thing...if one has NO B12 levels, they won't show on any test because there are no levels.

How are you eating? Have you totally cut out grains?

Are you taking any other supplements?

quincy
Posted 5/26/2009 10:48 AM (GMT 0)
Quincy,

I have no idea what to eat and what not to eat. I'm still flaring (since January) and it seems like during the day I will always find something that causes problems no matter how careful I am. I'm also battling some slightly elevated blood sugar readings so it seems like what they say to eat for the sugar aggravateds the UC and vise versa. It's a no win situation.

I'm getting a little depressed with it all. I'm tired of spending so mucy energy figuring out what to eat. To bad I can't just stop.

I am also taking a multi-vitamin and probiotic along with the Colazal and Prednisone. I am in the process of trying to taper the prednisone but it seems like every time I drop back the symptoms come back for a few days, but I'm determined to get off this stuff no matter what.

Thanks so much for your advice!
Posted 5/26/2009 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
What do you eat during the day?

Are rectal meds something you'd be interested in trying? I strongly suggest them...

While tapering the prednisone, you could ask the doctor about an alternating schedule...such as 20, 15, 20, 15, 20, 15...15, 15, 15....15, 10, 15, 10, 15...etc. That's how some other medications are withdrawn.

This was suggested by another UCer a while ago, and I can see how it would work well.

The other option is to add a steroid rectal med to the mix to help with the withdrawal.

quincy
Posted 5/27/2009 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
I was on Rowasa and it seemed to cause more problems than it was solving.

After getting the low RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit results my doctor ordered a TIBC and ferritin test. I got those results back today. They are all in the normal range although at the VERY low end of normal. I'm not sure if being at the low end of the normal range for these tests would cause the RCB and other numbers to show up low.

Today I went for the vitamin deficiency test (all the B's, D, E, C, etc). I should have those results tomorrow or Thursday.

The doctor put me on iron supplements. I'm a little worried about that after reading the side effects. Who knows what to do.
Posted 5/27/2009 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Prednisone can make the blood sugar go up. If you are borderline diabetic, having an infection can make your blood sugar go up as well. I've had a similar problem with my fasting sugar since I got colitis. For a while when I was on antibiotics, the fasting sugar went down. I thought that was interesting. My post meal blood sugars aren't too bad. Keep us posted about the A1c and further blood sugars.
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