Help! Low Hemoglobin again

[cleuger]

I Don't know what to do Oct 16th My Hemoglobin was 10.5 just checked Friday now its 8.5 WTH. I was seeing some red blood but it wasn't a huge amount I thought it might be from my Fissures. I'm not seeing any blood at all now. I was even taking my Flintstones vitamin with Iron. Of course now I'm told not to take it with coffee. I am also under the impression that Prevacid and Prilosec block Iron absorption is this true? I have to take it because of the prednisone. I put a call into my GI and asked for my lab results this is how I found out. She said my DR would have to give me the rest of the results well this was this afternoon I never got a call back I guess it wasn't serious enough for them<<<<sarcasm

Does anyone have any Iron Recommendations?? I cant do pills they don't absorb and make me sick. Any Strong liquids out there?
Thanks in advance

 

[2thFairy]

You may have to start intravenous iron infusions.

 

[cleuger]

I'm fine with that. It would have been nice if they would have called me back though.
I'm calling them as soon as they open in the morning. You know I started out with a hemoglobin of 5.6 that got me a blood transfusion, got it to 10.5 now this Grrrrrr. I know this is always going to be a battle.

 

[2thFairy]

Raise some serious hell!!!

 

[sashaz]

Do you take multivitamins for vitamin k and e? They also have some effect on regulating the blood. I only say this as in hospital they gave me vitamin e to stop the blood cells being destroyed (or something to that effect).


HD

 

[cleuger]

IM taking Flintstones children's vitamins I take 2 in the morning when I have my coffee. They did a CBC and checking my B-12 and Folate folic acid something like that. I also seem to run low on potassium.

 

[littlemissh]

You are obviously still either losing blood in small amounts so not seeing it, or have inflammation which uses up your iron stores and hb - you are either using too much iron or not absorbing though likely both.
Try and avoid taking the supplements with coffee, antacids etc as it prevents absorption.
If you can tolerate it, then taking iron/vitamins (or dark green vegetables etc) with orange juice increases absorption greatly. Take twice daily with a cup of orange juice, then get your Hb and ferritin levels rechecked in about 3-4 weeks.
Some people just don't absorb well.
It can be very frustrating, my Hb is rarely over 10 despite blood transfusions and iron infusions and result from yesterday back to 7.9 which really hacked me off because it was a reasonably good 9.8 two weeks ago.

 

[profpatient]

I have dealt with low Hemoglobin for years. I lived at 8 for years due to chronic GI bleeding. My choice was not to receive blood transfusions, so my Hematologist did IV iron treatments and Procrit injections. But the biggest thing is to stop the bleeding. You are losing blood that is why your Hemoglobin is low. If you are at 8.5 that is a big deal. Get your GI doctor on board to help you and if you deal with chronic anemia get a Hematologist. They are the experts the help you in that issue. I got my bleeding stopped and did my iron treatments and this is the first year my Hemoglobin is at 12.5. My heart goes out to you. I hope this helps.

 

[cleuger]

Im calling in a little bit I think they open at 10 they have weird hours. I started taking Ferious sulfate this morning against my better judgment My bleeding from my fissures have just stopped since this last loading dose of Cimzia but I wouldnt think the bleeding from that would cause a low hemoglobin.

 

[profpatient]

Hemoglobin

Any kind of small bleeding can cause low HgB. I never saw any blood in my stool, but my HgB was shockingly at 7.5 when I first knew I was anemic. From that I learned even a slow drip that your body can't catch up with will make it maintain a low blood count. It is kind of like a leaky faucet. After a while the water can fill a bucket. Keeping tabs on this is very important. The side effects of a low blood count can be dangerous. Please take care!!

 

[cleuger]

Well that explains it then I have been bleeding from my fissures and see it on my poo as well Im guess from the fissures up in my rectum. Happy to say though since my last loading dose of Cimzia I have not seen ay blood. that was last week.

I have been chronic anemic for years 7.4, 6.8, and 5.6 just to name a few of my results I was excited when I mae it to 10.5 I hope I can get there again

Cindy

 

[cleuger]

Well I called and I still have not got a return phone call. WTH I started taking SLo Fe this morning even though it makes my tummy hurt ill take 2 day until my next visit. This is a catch22 I have to address the anemia but I don't was to mess up my stomach and bowel movements My gastro is really good, I do however question his staff. I have an appointment with him on the 5th for a check up and another Cimzia shot I plan on letting him know how im getting the run around.

Cindy

 

[2thFairy]

That is total crap!!!! You should just show up at his office in the morning. You need attention now!

 

[cleuger]

I agree Ive never seen anything like it. Last year I went to the dermo because I was breaking out in these horrible bumps they sent me for blood work and did a punch biopsy on one of the bumps. They were painful and itched like crazy. Well it came back Prego nodularus not sure im spelling it right anyway my hemoglobin then was 6.8 this was a year and a half ago. Apparently the rash was because I had been running so severely anemic for a long time. One of the doctors got the fax from the lab and called freaking out over my results wanted me to contact a hematologist right away. I dont take this lightly even though I have delt with it for last 15+ years but apparently my Gastro's does. As far as being at their office when they open Ill already be at work by then. They have some funky hours. They'll get tired of hearing from me Ill call everyday until I get a doc even the nurse practitioner is fine.

Cindy

 

[2thFairy]

Wow!

Yep. Definitely keep calling. That is ridiculous!