Anemia

[JaimieL]

I was at the nephrologist last week and I told him that I have been very weak and fatigued lately and asked him if it could be related to my ckd. He didn’t think it was a problem and said it was probably due to my medications. Well after I left I noticed that I had a new diagnosis of anemia related to ckd. I read the symptoms and it was exactly what the symptoms are that I’m having. I’m only in stage 3a and feel that I don’t have any energy. I feel like an old lady. I’ve read that anemia of ckd can be caused by iron deficiency or low Erythropoietin. How do I know which one I have and how do I feel better.

[Hidden]

The new diagnosis you saw was on the Care Summary from the physician after your appointment?To be fair, contact the nephrologist again. It seems highly suspect that he listed it on your summary but downplayed it to you.

He should have offered suggestions like an adjustment to your meal plan, or shots of Erythropoietin, or an iron supplement.

I had a similar situation several years ago but my doctor put me on a daily iron supplement. No anemia issues since then.

You should ask why he listed the diagnosis on the care summary but failed to offer you medical advice.

Find out why.

[JaimieL in reply to Hidden]

I will call the office to get some answers. Thank you.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to JaimieL]

Good idea contacting your Doctor. My bloodwork also showed anemia (macrocytic ) I was prescribed B12, and I take a vegan iron pill. I also have low RBC due to CKD. Here is a link to article on anemia from National Kidney Foundation. kidney.org/atoz/content/wha...

[Hidden]

I take iron twice a day for anemia.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

Hemoglobin and iron sats work together. If your iron is low then your Hemoglobin will drop too. Ive been getting erythropoeitin supplements (injections) and iron infusions for 20 years. It's unfortunately part of CKD, ESRD. Don't let your Vit D levels get too low. We don't convert this properly when we suffer from CKD/ESRD. Vit D is a necessity for good bone, hair, nail health.

[JaimieL in reply to KidneyCoach]

Ok. I’ll start taking Vitamin D. Thanks for that.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador in reply to JaimieL]

Consult with doctor before supplements of Vit D. Too much vit D is dangerous.

[JaimieL in reply to KidneyCoach]

Ok. I will.

[DEZIN]

Your Doctor should test your iron levels and also if you need vitamin D.With kidney disease anemia can be a result. My renal doctor orders a CBC

Test every two months, and we review lab tests together l receive my

Results on My Chart. When something on my test is too low or too high he

Addresses the situation and tells me what l need to do. You should not be

Guessing, that is what your Doctor is there to help. I have learned to ask

A lot of questions and it took me a while to find the right Kidney doctor

Who treated my symptoms and communicated with me.

It is the most important thing is to have confidence in your Doctor, and to

Continue to educate yourself on your health issues.

[JaimieL in reply to DEZIN]

Thank you. I’ll have to bring this up with my nephrologist. I don’t understand why he didn’t address this all with me at my last visit.

[DEZIN in reply to JaimieL]

Good idea! The more you speak up, the more you will learn what you need. I wish l had been more vocal when l was first diagnosed.

[horsie63]

Get a CBC (complete blood count); an iron, B12 and folate test. The CBC hemocrit and hemoglobin will tell you what your RBC counts are in relation to the normal range. I have anemia not caused by low iron, B12 or folate but it's not low enough to warrant EPO shots which come with their own issues. I take a beta blocker and that is contributing to my fatigue. I used to do ultramarathons but I can't even walk 30 a day now.