I was diagnosed with crohn's a few years ago. Recently I had blood work and was found to have hemoglobin of 12.7 and low ferritin 11. I had a upper endoscopy and colonoscopy to look for bleeding and none was found. I had a small bowel x-rays and those came back normal. I have to swallow a pill with a camera in a few weeks that will take pictures of my small intestine. Can you have malabsorption of iron when your crohns is inactive? I have been taking lialda and it has put it in remission.
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Iron deficiency anemia
- Thread starter GEORGEP
- Start date
Have you had surgery? I had six centimeters of my intestines removed and I believe that contributes to malabsorption with me.
No, I did not reach that point. I recently had the endoscopy/colonoscopy done to see if I was bleeding and they also did fecal occult test and there was no blood. My doctor had taken a lot of biopsies all along my colon and she said it was well healed. I had xrays of my small bowel and that came back normal. I am just concerned about the camera that I will be swallowing to take pictures of my small bowel.
- Location
- Southern British Columbia
Your body will absorb iron better if you have it with food that contains vitamin C, like fruits and vegetables. Coffee, tea, and calcium can make you absorb less of it. A family doctor told me this, I hope it is of some use to you.
Lynda Lynda
Member
- Location
- USA
A few years ago I had a blood test, just the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel. My doctors office called me and said my hemoglobin was 4.6 and I was instructed to the hospital right after work and so I did ! I had a blood transfusion. Got 2 units of blood and went home in the morning. I hope you feel better soon. 
Thanks, I have been taking my iron supplement with orange juice. I spoke with a Pharmacist yesterday and she said it is very common for people who take proton pump inhibitors like Nexium to have an iron deficiency. I told her that I have to swallow the capsule camera to check my small bowel and she said they have to rule out any bleeding there.
- Location
- Southern British Columbia
I hope all goes well with the pill cam.
Hi Georgep, I think your anemia is not dramatic. 12.7 is not so low... when i had real anemia and bleeding my hemoglobin dropped to 9/8 and ferritin around 3/5...
Could be the nexium then, or minimal inflammation that in some way "consumes" iron.
It's good your doctors try to rule out any bleeding.
Have you had your fecal calprotectin tested recently to see if there is trace of inflammation?
Could be the nexium then, or minimal inflammation that in some way "consumes" iron.
It's good your doctors try to rule out any bleeding.
Have you had your fecal calprotectin tested recently to see if there is trace of inflammation?
Lynda Lynda
Member
- Location
- USA
When my symptoms started to worsen, the very first tests that my GI ordered was a stool sample test for C-diff and for my calprotectin level. No C-Diff but calpro was 674.
- Location
- Southern British Columbia
Hang in there George, you have my support. I hope you get some answers soon.
- Location
- Southern British Columbia
No sense worrying, they will check you and whatever is wrong will eventually be found. The main thing is getting a swift diagnosis and treatment. You have my support.
- Location
- Southern British Columbia
It's so darn easy for us to say we wont worry...and rather hard to actually do it. I hope you can find a way to stay chill, I often distract myself with a small project or by reading. Best wishes to you, George.
I swallowed the camera pill and I got the results back this morning. They found two ulcers in my small intestine and a third possible ulcer at the end of the small intestine where it meets the colon. There was no bleeding but I was told that this could prevent me from absorbing nutrients and iron. They are going to change my prescription from Lialda to Pentasa and I have to follow up with them in September. I also had blood work to check my iron again. The doctor was debating on whether or not to take my off my low dose aspirin but she said since there is no bleeding to stay on it.
- Location
- Southern British Columbia
I hope it clears up soon after the change of meds. I'm glad you got some answers, hopefully you will feel better soon. Hang in there.
I was just notified that I am no longer anemic. I have been taking 324mg twice a day of ferrous gluconate iron. My ferritin is still low at 28 so I was told to take 3 instead of 2. Does it take awhile to build up your iron reserves? I have been taking the iron supplement for a couple of months.
- Location
- Southern British Columbia
I'm glad it's improving. I read on drugs.com that If blood level goals are not met with oral iron after 1 to 3 months the doctor may consider IV iron supplementation. There are also other medications and foods mentioned that you should avoid that can affect the absorption of the iron. Here is a link...https://www.drugs.com/mtm/ferrous-gluconate.html