What to do about anemia?

[chrisnsteph1022]

My doctor just called and said my latest results showed slight anemia. They didn't tell me to do anything special about it, though. Do I just live with it, or should I be taking a supplement or something?

 

[stratford]

Hi,

Sorry to read your post.
Are you still in a flare?

You could try an iron supplement.I always found they didn't agree with me(prescibed ones).I've taken Spatone in the past which i tolerated fine.

If the anemia is due to Crohns i hope you can get into remission ASAP

Best Wishes

 

[Lisa]

I would take at least a multi vitamin with iron, and/or an ion supplement - you could also try to find foods that agree with you that have a higher iron content.....

Oh - and how slight is SLIGHT?

 

[Tesscorm]

My son's GI recommended he take Proferrin as it is usually easy to tolerate. Haven't given it to him yet so not sure how he'll tolerate it.

My daughter and I (no Crohn's) both take it and haven't had a problem. However, we were both warned that iron supplements can cause constipation - but didn't happen to us at all.

Have also been told to take iron supplement together with a form of vitamin C (not necessarily a vitamin pill, i.e. orange juice is fine).

Previously I was taken Slow-FE, again didn't have any problems with it but my doctor recommended Proferrin as it has either a higher concentration or a more easily absorbed form of iron (can't remember which it was...).

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

It was very slight, as in norm is 12-16 and mine was 11. I am still in a (bad) flare. I'm supposed to start Remicade today, but am still fighting with my insurance for approval. Apparently, there's an issue because I haven't failed Humira yet. I guess failing Cimzia wasn't enough? I'm so irritated right now. I've been on the phone off and on all morning trying to sort this out.

 

[Lisa]

Geeze that sucks! What insurance do you have? Mine never asked about trying other TNF blockers first.....maybe because I had fistulas though.....

 

[ekay03]

chrisnsteph1022, I am curious about failing a drug. What condition do you have to be in to have failed a drug. Or really you didn't fail the drug. The drug failed you. Also my gp told me last month that I am anemic and take Ferros sulfate.

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

I guess if you're on the med and still in a flare. I've been on Cimzia a year, then we added Imuran 4 months ago. Neither are working. I'm still having bloody diarrhea 8-10 times a day, in pain every day, nauseous every morning.

I have Cigna. I'm about to call right now to see if they have a decision yet.

 

[Bamagrl]

I take Ferrous Sulfate also and have for years

It can constipate you but I'm like you in that I have chronic, bloody diarreha so it has never constipated me

Even with the iron supplements, I had (1) blood transfusion and (2) iron transfusions last year

Almost had a 2nd blood transfusion but didn't - I was right at the borderline of when the docs tell you that you need one now

 

[Bamagrl]

I just had my 2nd Remicade infusion on 1/6 and so far, I see no difference

GI has increased my pred dose and I go see her next Friday

I have to fail Remicade also before anything else can be tried

Was originally given the choice of Remicade or Imuran and I chose Remicade

I guess Humira would be next but I definitely have to fail Remicade before the request can be processed - by failing, that means no improvement of symptoms - not necessarily worse just not better and mine is definitely not better and has gotten somewhat worse

 

[outlier]

this might help with you insurance.

ask the dr. if you should be talking iron and b12 and ask how much. i was taking the wrong amount of iron for years and wondered why i was always aneimic

 

[QueenGothel]

Ferrous Gluconate is like Ferrous Sulfate but better absorbed and wont constipate you. But if your experiencing D than you might like it. We are switching bc it is totally binding for my DD. Also you dont need as much of it and it is made from food. You can get it at health food store. A good homeopathic to build blood and is Super Chlorophyll, which also help in aiding tissue regeneration and healing if you are flaring. You can get Chlorophyll in powder or capsules.

 

[shamrock15]

I would second Proferrin - I was on it and it did not cause me any problems. Any other oral iron supplement I would take came with issues. Proferrin is expensive, easily absorbed - you need to find out why you are anemic though. If it is absorption, ingesting all the iron in the world won't help. If you are bleeding it out, you do need it.

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

I'm guessing it's from bleeding. My small intestines are not affected, so I don't think I have absorption issues. He checked my B12 at the same time and it was fine.

 

[mickey]

Make sure iron supplements will not interfere with anything else you are on, and as long as doc is okay with it. Or, increase iron rich foods in your diet, which makes most sense and safest. Since you are bleeding, it makes sense and sounds like doc not much concerned. I am sure he will keep an eye on it. Feel better!

 

[Miss Underestimated]

I think iron deficiency is pretty common with us. I take slow FE once a week with a meal. It seems to help. I was very anemic at first, because apparently I wasn't absorbing iron from my food. B12 deficiency is pretty common too. Some of us are missing an enzyme that does something with B12 in the gut.