Iron deficiency and liver cirrhosis

[ZABohra]

Hi there! please help me with the overcoming of anemia in liver patients. What should be the adequate source of iron supplements( maltofer) in these patients who are taking tenofevir.

[Bolly]

This is complicated ZABohra and depends on what type of anaemia.

Iron deficiency anaemia is treated with iron supplements but iron supplements can stop anti viral drugs working properly so this needs to be discussed with a doctor.

Pernicious anaemia is treated with vitamin B12

Haemolytic anaemia is difficult to treat as its a problem with the red blood cells.

Tenofovir does not typically cause iron deficiency.

Which type does your father have.

[Catfishjumpin in reply to Bolly]

My doctor said my iron was low so I began eating eggs, next visit he said it was good again. I am mostly vegetarian. I also love iron rich frshly pressed beet juice. Good luck.

[ZABohra in reply to Bolly]

normocytic normochromic anemia

[Bolly]

Thats a new one on me. Does he have any of these causes:

Sickle cell

B2 deficiency

B6 deficiency.

Long term drug therapy

Be careful not to treat with iron supplements until the cause has been established.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/866281

[ZABohra in reply to Bolly]

I don't think so. He takes B12 injections every month.

[Bolly]

B12 is for pernicious anaemia. nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaemia-v...

so it sounds like he has that. Dont give him iron supplements or increase iron rich foods as that would be treating the wrong anaemia.

From what you have said so far his doctors are on top of things.

They are treating his Hep B correctly

They have diagnosed and treated his pernicious anaemia correctly

He has, as you say, no symptoms of advanced cirrhosis.

Sounds like he is doing well. Well done you. x

[ZABohra in reply to Bolly]

Thank you, I can't tell how good it feels when someone gives you hope. I'll keep fighting with this and InshaAllah it will be cured. My father since the last is feeling a bit down. May be because he's not eating properly or may the lack of sleep because of those cramps. Can u tell me whats the best source of b12? And my father since two days is complaining about burning in urination. What should we do.

[Bolly]

Someone once said to me that its a waste of energy to 'fight' things like Hepatitis B (or even cancer, you know all those words like 'battle' and 'fight' people use to describe their time with cancer). This wise person said, its not a fight, its not a battle to win, its your life 'living with' the cancer or the liver disease.

So chill, cancel the war, and learn how to 'live with' what is going on.

I'm afraid even different Gods are unable to 'cure' Hepatitis B, but the good old pharmaceutical companies can at least offer us a way to keep it under control, undetectable and no longer harming us.

I thought he was having B12 injections? These should give him the right amount, i would not try and add more through specific diet changes.