Blood Test

[simplysal]

So have been experiencing fatigue, dizziness and my restless legs have become worse.

All since starting new meds since my cardiac stent was put into my LAD in Nov 2021.

After the stent, was put on daily aspirin, an anti-platelet drug Prasugrel, Atorvastatin, Propranolol, Omeprazole. Was already on Thyroxine.

So due to symptoms, had blood tests done on 26/5. Hadn’t heard anything so called my GP Surgery earlier. They said my Ferritin level is low at 5. And my D3 is low too.

Have emailed the secretary to Cardiologist to ask his view as to whether the meds are causing these symptoms and blood results.

Has anyone here experienced being started on blood thinners to help with the stent but then found they become iron deficient?

I know and was told I can’t take multi vitamins due to some having contraindications with the heart meds.

Oh what a pickle I’ve found myself in lol!

Your help as always is so appreciated, Sal 😊

[Hidden]

Hello

I had 3 heart attacks and a triple Bypass

I was on Ticagrelor and Aspirin along with another load of meds

I am not on Ticagrelor now and what I believe to be a low dose of Aspirin I take which is 75mg

But all my blood tests are coming back fine except Iron that keeps coming back on the lower side was 14 last time and I just had it done a couple of weeks ago and it had gone down two more to 12

I will be speaking with my Doctor who suggested looking at iron tablets and pardon if to much info but they go straight through me so that will not be an option so I shall see what she has to say but one thing I know is they will want me to stay on the Aspirin

Let us know what answers you get will be interesting to know x

[simplysal in reply to Hidden]

Huge thanks for your message. Yes no probs, will update once I’ve spoken with GP on Wednesday afternoon. I have to stay on Prasugrel for twelve months post stent. That I believe will then stop. So that will end in November. Aspirin to stay forever long. I am not sure whether they’ll suggest I take iron supplements (but this might make the blood thinners less effective re. stent). Or whether they suggest I simply eat more iron rich foods. But wouldn’t doing that also make the blood thinners less effective too? It all goes above my head, I have to say.

Huge thanks, will update soon 🥰

[Hidden in reply to simplysal]

Hello

I agree it can all get very confusing

I am talking with my Doctor tomorrow as she suggested getting more iron in my diet yet things that have iron in that I actually like can say not good for people with heart problems so when I read up on it I get very confused to so you are not alone getting confused but hopefully you will get some good advice x

[simplysal in reply to Hidden]

I actually love Brussel Sprouts lol! Could eat a bowl full. Yet I’m mindful I don’t want to eat iron rich foods if it results in my blood thinners being less effective. But having low iron increases risk of blood clots lol! I’ll see what Cardiologist suggests later on this week when he returns from leave. I hope I can still go on holiday to Spain on Saturday. We’ll see what he says 🙈

Huge thanks 🥰

[Hidden in reply to simplysal]

Hello

O I hope you can still go on Holiday to it will do you so much good to get away

I am no Doctor but I doubt they will stop you going on Holiday

Hope you get better weather in Spain than what we are having x

[simplysal in reply to Hidden]

Ha! I’m sure it will! But I’m fair skinned. Go red in the sun, peel and go white again lol. Huge thanks 🥰

[Hidden in reply to simplysal]

Hello

As long as you enjoy yourself go red , peel and then go white again it will be worth it having a nice holiday x

[simplysal in reply to Hidden]

Huge thanks lovely 🥰

[Hidden in reply to simplysal]

x

[Hoocher in reply to Hidden]

My last blood test showed my red blood cells to be borderline. I asked about iron tablets and the GP said eat more red meat or lots of greens like spinach, broccoli etc. I opted for greens over red meat and last week my latest bloods were all normal .

[Hidden in reply to Hoocher]

Hello

I like red meat and I like eggs as well as my greens yet when you read up it says these things should not be eaten often with heart conditions so I have really cut back to hardly any and I was not low on iron before I did it all gets confusing doesn't it

My Doctor is phoning later so I shall ask as I would rather get more iron from my food than tablets

I am glad changing your diet has got your levels back up x

[Hoocher in reply to Hidden]

I have researched this in the past and spoke to medical professionals who told me that leafy greens are incredibly good for your heart. I ve attached this I just read too. It appears there is conflicting evidence with what you were told and I was told. Who knows who is right 🤣

Text

[Hidden in reply to Hoocher]

Hello

Where ever you look there always seems to be conflicting information and guess what I spoke to my Doctor tonight and forgot to ask her !

On my list for Friday when she phones again

Thank you for sharing that with me x

[nellie237]

Hi simplysal,

Oh, you must be feeling dreadful.😞 Did your GP prescribe anything for your Ferritin? because they should do, and then they need to monitor it. First re-test in 2-4 weeks....

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

Do you know your Haemoglobin result (which will confirm whether or not you are anaemic.........yet)?

I'm Hashi's since 2007. HA & stent in LAD in 2012........so basically on the same cocktail of meds as you, although clopidogrel (now replaced by aspirin), bisopralol, lansoprazol, atorvastatin & of course thyroxine .

I got access to my online GP account last year, which now gives me access to all my results going back to 2007. I can now see that my ferritin was always on the low side, (when it was occasionally tested that is), and I don't think the heart meds made any difference at all for me.

I also learned last year (I know.......took me long enough) that us Hashi folk are known for having a problem with low levels of Iron, Vit D, Folate & B12 (not that your GP will tell you), and that we need to keep an eye on these, rather than getting on and off the merry-go-round of backwards and forwards to the GP because we feel rubbish, followed by blood tests, followed by Iron pills etc to get levels up. Rinse & repeat is not very healthy .

It depends how low Vit D is whether or not the GP will prescribe. If the result is under 25nmol/L..........they should, but they still might advise you to buy your own.

[simplysal in reply to nellie237]

Thanks for such a lovely message. Yes have just been feeling so tired and lethargic. Yes mine is the autoimmune hypothyroidism too. Weird how we both had issues with LAD. No, no Haemaglobin result. Only told by receptionist that Ferritine was 5. Has booked me a telephone consultation on Wednesday afternoon.

Thing is, the GP might suggest iron supplements but have read this might make the blood thinners less effective. Given its not been a year yet since my stent, wouldn’t want to take something that could increase risk of clots. But I did look briefly online and it says having low iron can increase risk of clots. So assuming my iron was fine before the blood thinners, I’ve been put on both Prasugrel and Aspirin to thin the blood but by going on it, has lowered my iron levels thus inadvertently increasing the risk of clots!

I’m not stupid by all means but this conflicting stuff is frying my brain lol!

I’ve emailed the secretary to Cardiologist. Have been told he’s on leave until Wednesday. I’m due to go away to Spain on hols this Saturday. Not even sure if it’s safe to go given my low Ferritine. All so much lol!

Huge thanks again, Sal 🥰

[nellie237]

"So assuming my iron was fine before the blood thinners" ...........but was it?

I hope that you get answers before your holiday...........at the very least you'll be topping up your vit D.😎

You should also ask the GP to test you for coeliac, if not tested recently. More & more people are being dx due to low Iron, rather than gut symptoms, and we are more prone to it,

[Persevere99]

Hi simplysal

Did your symptoms start only after taking those meds you’ve mentioned?

If so, one of them must be responsible?

Were you aware that statins are the most myopathic medication on the planet?

Did anybody tell you this?

Were you given a Statin Side Effects Risk Percentage Score? See my post please for more. For full informed consent to be given.

All the best!

Persevere99

[simplysal in reply to Persevere99]

Hi there, so I’d say my symptoms only started since having the stent fitted and these new medications started yes. Both of which was in November 21 (7 months ago now). I was already on Thyroxine, Propranolol and Aspirin for ages before without issue.

Prasugrel, Ramipril, Atorvastatin we’re thrown in and boosh!

As the meds were started within a couple of days of the stent, difficult to know in my head whether these symptoms have arisen from actually having the stent or from the medication. I have developed swollen feet/ankles - predominantly in left foot. Yesterday eve could barely get my lovely boots on that I’ve worn comfortably for the last three years.

I wonder whether it’s the stent, that new diagnosis in March 22 of a moderately leaky valve or whether it’s medication related too.

I’m getting in a right pickle lol.

No, re. the statin, was told I’d need to be on a statin. Risks of being on one were not explained. Although I did look these up. Whilst I’d rather not be on any medication, my cholesterol has come down quite significantly. So I’ve chalked up the adverse effects for the benefits of having reduced cholesterol levels.

Huge thanks for your response 👍

[CRTD]

Did your GP test for B12 deficiency? Often overlooked and often the cause of low iron and definitely gives restless legs and fatigue. When my B12 injection is due the fatigue and restless leg syndrome along with other symptoms becomes very pronounced . Good luck

[simplysal in reply to CRTD]

Thank you! Yes apparently my B12 is fine 🤷🏻‍♀️

[IgottaStent]

Ramipril needs to be watched as can affects potassium levels dangerously. Get that checked . Statins also have fatigue and muscle ache side effects . Exercise and life style changes have better effects on blood Fat levels if you can get off Statins . Fe+ levels affects ability to transport oxygen around your body. As you build up iron in the diet , red meats and greens good also try practice deep breathing and relaxation exercises maybe on your walks .

[Ghost-233]

Hi Simplysal ( love the name) through the years due to Ulcerative Colitis and perhaps medication my ferritin levels are frequently low. I have tried various tablets which for me were no good causing my existing bowel problem to be worse. I was then put on sachets of natural iron supplements that are given to pregnant woman and found them to be easier to absorb but eventually I couldn’t tolerate them.

I was then given an iron infusion and felt better than I had for a long time but best of all my restless legs disappeared! I had wonderful relief for about 6 months but alas it has started again but my iron levels not low enough yet to warrant another infusion. I said to my Gastro consultant if someone could identify the part of the iron infusion that cures restless legs they would make a fortune.

I can’t advise you about your medication but perhaps you try the liquid iron supplement and failing that ask about an iron infusion.

Good luck.

[Jules2021]

Hi Simplysal

I think i replied to one of your posts about blood thinners and monthly cycles before....i was having the very same problem and that is what landed me on iron tablets. Now on a double dose of cerelle to see if that stops it🤞🙏

Julie x

[Peileen]

Hi simplysal a lot of meds to start at one go. All I can say is that my RLS was worse when I needed iron tablets. A close link with low ferritin. When I started propranolol for benign tremor it certainly helped so continued without question but propranolol does make you tired and so does a lot of statins. Atorvastatin made me more tired as well. But a friend who refused to take statins died suddenly from a heart attack when they might have saved him. So I continue with mine. Life savers will have side effects. Only logical. What I do know about propranolol is that it depletes melatonin and can cause insomnia so I take a supplement every night. In fact a GP years ago suggested I buy online because he isn’t allowed to prescribe. I had been already. When I mentioned this to the girls in the chemist they said they too ordered melatonin. It’s not illegal but doctors can’t prescribe it. There is an interesting write up on Wiki about the Scottish doctor who developed Propranolol and Tagamet. He shared the Nobel Prize for its development. Dr James White Black. His middle name after his mother’s. Best wishes with the RLS. As well as getting my haemoglobin up t9 par I found the Gabapentin I take for neuropathic pain a great help.