Was wondering about anemia?

[Willow7733]

I just had blood work taken by my rheumatologist, and it shows that I am getting anemic again. This happens every 6 months or so. I had all kinds of tests to see if I have cancer, but it is negative (thank goodness). I have had tests to see if I am losing blood (endoscopy and colonoscopy). Both show nothing. I even had a hysterectomy last October. That will help they said. But no. I hate to have to go back to my GP with this same problem again. Anyone else have problems with low hemoglobin?

I also have a blood clotting problem (APS), and am on blood thinners for life - and my platelets are showing high. Is that because of the APS or lupus? I am tired of one thing after another these days.

[PMRpro]

There is a form of anaemia called the "anaemis of chronic disease" which is very common in autoimmune disorders - once they had ruled out all those other possibilities someone really should have recognised that is what it is:

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

[Dalilatm]

Hi hi,Sorry to hear that you’re unwell.

I have SLE and I’ve always suffered from anaemia. It’s been very difficult to keep decent levels of haemoglobin, and I found out that I suffer from autoimmune anaemia. You could check for this, and also check your kidney function, anaemia in lupus could also be related to kidney damage.

Good luck 😊

[Willow7733 in reply to Dalilatm]

I was wondering about that too because last month they found protein and blood in my urine. My eGFR was lower than before at 75. They told me people my age should be around 97-99.

[Dalilatm]

Highly recommended to check that then! x

[Sher78]

My iron stores are always shockingly crap and my ferritin levels are always low. Even when I am taking iron supplements it is only 'just' in the low level of 'acceptable'. I also have APS & lupus (along with loads of other comorbidities) and am on lifelong warfain. Have has many discussions with my hematologist about low iron etc and he doesn't believe it's a case of just being on warfarin (which endocrinology seem to believe). My kidney & liver function is always pretty decent. High platelets could possibly be a combination of both lupus & APS.