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Posted 3/19/2011 10:55 AM (GMT -5)
I have been in remission for quite awhile and actually feel pretty dang good most days.  I still suffer with my osteoarthritis and fibro joint pains, but my pain meds help with that.

Had my quarterly visit with the GI yesterday and my recent blood tests show that my anemia has returned.  No wonder I am soooo tired of late, even with my twice monthly B12 shots.  My Ferritin levels while still in the normal range dropped from 251.7 in December 2010 to 110.7 as of March 2010.  And my CBC showed all low again too.

I would have thought that since I recently added some red meat back into my diet that would help out in the anemia department.  But no, the exact opposite.

We are going to check my bloods again in one month, and if still dropping will do another iron infusion.  The last one helped immensley, so keep your fingers crossed this one does too.

Ok vent over:)

Hugs

Gail*Nanners*

 

Posted 3/19/2011 1:52 PM (GMT -5)
Hey Nanners--

My doc just put me on Bifera for Fe. I used to do the iron dextran IV but this pill is supposedly really ultra gentle on your digestive system, and provides both heme and non-heme iron. So far I haven't had a lick of trouble with the pill, and its OTC in the states. Maybe worth a shot if you want to augment your red meat efforts....
Posted 3/19/2011 1:53 PM (GMT -5)
Fingers crossed Gail!! (((hugs)))
Posted 3/19/2011 5:22 PM (GMT -5)
Nanners, consuming vitamin C with iron containing foods helps your body to absorb the iron. Some people put lemon juice on their meat, or just take a vitamin C pill after they eat.

Also, since you're on a PPI, that affects how well your body can absorb iron (it needs stomach acid). It's possible you just may have to rely on the iron infusions rather than food to boost your levels.

I suffer from low stomach acid. I'm taking Betaine HCl at the same time as I take dessicated liver tablets to see if that will help boost my ferritin levels. I won't know until my next test in April, at which point I'll have consumed a big jar and a half of liver tabs! If that doesn't do it, I'll probably have to get infusions too (I haven't had one in 3 years or so).
Posted 3/19/2011 9:08 PM (GMT -5)
I have been told that cooking in a black iron pot imparts some iron into whatever we cook, plus, its hard to beat the way they cook. You are what you eat you know. I have never trusted aluminum so maybe all the things I am hearing about it is true. One thing more, I use to do a considerable amount of wood work and if you have ever seen a carpenter hold his nails in his mouth, well ,sense I have only two hands, so did I. Maybe why I need no iron now. Just my opinion, but, 16 penny bright taste much better than finishing sprigs...Feel better soon Nanners...
Posted 3/19/2011 10:08 PM (GMT -5)
I'm glad at least you know why you've been tired. A friend of mine swears by using cast iron cooking vessels for getting iron into the diet. Don't know if it really helps. I know you have trouble with a lot of supplements, so maybe cooking it into the food would help? Perhaps that is something to try if the supplements cause tummy trouble. Though, it takes quite a heft to pick up some of the cast iron stuff.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and hoping you will find a supplement that will work for you without needing a transfusion. Also, can you tolerate eggs? Egg yolk is supposed to have a lot of iron. Dried fruit (prunes and raisins), chick peas, spinach, scallops, and artichokes are also rich in iron. And spooky is right - if you take it with vitamin C, it helps absorb the iron.

(((Gail))). Now at least you know why you're dragging, and hopefully you can get back to feeling stronger. I know you've been struggling ever since the surgery. I hope you improve soon.

PV
Posted 3/19/2011 10:22 PM (GMT -5)
Good luck, Nanners. Fingers crossed for you.
Posted 3/20/2011 10:11 AM (GMT -5)
Sniper....hahaha...you always make me smile:) Actually I grew up with my Southern Belle Mama cooking in cast iron pans. That lady made the best fried chicken in those pans. Of course the gravy she made after frying the chicken was Heavenly too. I even remember little black spots in our food, always wondered if it was from the pots. Great now made myself hungry. Wonder if Mama is up there cooking her cast iron specialties for God!! LOL

Spookyh my last infusion was about 3 years ago too. I know I can't do oral iron it just upsets my stomach too much, and also really constipates me and I already have issues with that. Oh hubby puts lemon on everything, it hurts my tummy too much. Too acidic I guess. And PV, I would eat some of that stuff by the majority of it, I don't like. Spinach, blech!! LOL

Thanks again for your well wishes. I had the feeling I was becoming anemic as of late no matter how hard I try, I fall asleep all the time. And waking up for work in the morning, I feel like a drunk for awhile. Lets see what next month shows. Hugs!
Posted 3/20/2011 10:22 AM (GMT -5)

you know gail, surgery can induce anemia, for know reason. I was like that for years, then it just went away. I can't take iron either. no joke about cast iron pan. if you like liver and oinions, it is excelllent form of iron, and for sure eating vit. C with meat helps alot. dr bernard jensen has a good food combo book. Its old book, but it rings true today.

AG

Posted 3/20/2011 1:46 PM (GMT -5)
Nanners, what, if anything, has changed since December? Are you taking any supplements, or taking them at a higher dose, since that time? Any new foods? I don't understand the Ferritin levels - they seem too high...could you let me know the units used? Is it ng/mL?

My daughter's ferritin on one lab test was 50 ng/mL, which is considered within the normal range.

Posted 3/20/2011 2:13 PM (GMT -5)
Njmom Im sure Nanners is measured differently. I had a iron infusion a couple weeks ago. My ferritin level was 11 ng/ml and the range was 13-150 ng/ml . My iron serum was only 20 and supposed to be 52-150 ug/dl and my iron saturations were 6% when normal is 15-50%.\ . Really I haven't felt that much better with my infusion and its been a couple weeks. How long does it take people to usually feel better?? I have to get my blood tested again in a week to see if any of the numbers have gone up. Would the numbers go up if there is active bleeding involved??
Posted 3/20/2011 8:41 PM (GMT -5)
Good luck!
Posted 3/21/2011 2:25 AM (GMT -5)
{{{nanners}}}

poor you - just when you seemed to be on a roll too! Hope the energy comes back with the iron :)

Lesley

Posted 3/21/2011 8:26 AM (GMT -5)
I have been anemic for years.  Finally when my ferritin was down to 5 and all my other iron levels were so low, my GI and my oncologist agreed it was time for an infusion.  i have had 3 now in the past year.  I was hoping to finally have a decent store and get my numbers up after the last 2 however not in the cards.  I am just not able to store iron due to my CD. So I go every four months for an infusion. I have to say that within a few weeks i feel like superman.  LOL  
Posted 3/21/2011 11:06 AM (GMT -5)
Well it was good that you had the bloodwork done so you can start addressing the issue and get that energy back. It's amazing how our bodies react when certain elements( pun intended) are lacking. I hope you get this levels back up soon and find the good feelings back in place. Fingers crossed and hugs applied.
Posted 3/21/2011 12:08 PM (GMT -5)
Me too, Nanners! I jsut had my first hematology appt. this past Friday. She (the hematologist) wanted to do iron infusions, but I wanted to try oral supplements first. So I'm on 2 tabs a day, taken with orange juice & a Vitamin D. Supposedly helps with absorption. My GI suggested I see a hematologist after my labs repeatedly came back a little off- turns out the iron levels were even lower than we'd originally thought. Apparently the tests done thru the hematology dept. are much more in-depth than your usual CBC, etc. I had thought it may be a waste of time, as I didn't really feel like dealing with another doctor, but now I'm glad I went- at last I know why I've been so very very tired! Here's hoping we both get energy back ASAP.
Posted 3/21/2011 10:32 PM (GMT -5)
Eva Lou, yes, orange juice helps with absorption of iron. But Vitamin D does not help with iron absorption...Vitamin D and any other supplement, food, or med, should be taken at least one or two hours after taking iron. 
Posted 3/22/2011 9:18 AM (GMT -5)
right, I thought that- I had been taking the Vitamin D with the iron, but will have to bump it back a few hours, take it with my late AM meds, I suppose. I misunderstood the hematologist's recommendation, thought she meant take the 2 together!

Posted 3/22/2011 9:48 AM (GMT -5)
Nanners, do you take iron supplements and which ones? I feel like I've been low since my surgery, but I am afraid to take too much iron because of the hysterectomy. Before, I was taking double doses and I was still low.

Hope all goes well for you!
Posted 3/22/2011 10:34 AM (GMT -5)
No Roni I can't take oral iron, it makes me too sick to my stomach and adds to my constipation which is bad enough on its on.

njmom, the only thing different I have done is add some red meat back into my diet. No new meds or supplements. If you go back and read my second post you will see that I said while my iron stores are still in the normal range, they went from 251.7 to 110.7 in only 3 mos. So we will check it again in one month and if the my blood levels are still low or lower and my iron stores drop some more, we will do the infusion again.

Hugs!
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