Low blood count

[13mary9]

Hi I have had a low blood count for years on methatrexate .Rhemy and gp always mention it but I decided this week to buy iron tablets but now not sure if I should have .Anyone else take them for low blood mary x

[Phoo2]

Hey I have low hb so get prescribed iron.... 40 mg I think.......will double check when I get up.......can your gp not prescribe it??

[13mary9 in reply to Phoo2]

Thanks for that I will carry on taking mine 200mg and I got them of pharmacy that I get all my other meds.At £3 it's not worth going to gp thanks mary x

[Phoo2 in reply to Phoo2]

Hi I takeferrous fumarate , 2 tabs at 210mg so your dose sounds good

[Fennella02]

When you say 'low', do you mean just your HB? I'm surprised your GP hasn't recommended iron supplements. I have needed iron for decades. I imagine you have bought ferrous sulfate which isn't always easy to tolerate. I take Ferrous Fumarate (1 - 3/day depending on need). I have a pre-payment certificate so prescription is best for me. Taken with a source of Vitamin C aids absorption. It is possible to take more iron than you need so do keep your GP in the loop and take advice on how much/how long for. My levels are always in my boots - I long for a normal HB!

[13mary9 in reply to Fennella02]

Thanks clare it's a pity we can't just send the GPS a text .I suppose that will be the next thing.I was thinking of just trying these until next bloods after Christmas as I have had a bad few months .Then I will see if there is any change.yes it is ferrus sulphate. Thanks mary x

[AllyWelshDragon]

I was on ferrous fumarate for low Hb but my GP stopped it. There has been NO drop in my Hb levels since then either.

My GP explained that there's no point taking extra iron when you have RA as production of your red cells is slowed by the disease. He tested my ferritin levels and they were high, showing that the red cells I have are not short of iron. I eat a healthy well balanced diet.

It's a well known symptom of RA, although not all of us get it.

Ally x

[Fennella02 in reply to AllyWelshDragon]

I don't know enough to dispute your gp's actions AllyWelshDragon but did you know that Ferritin is also an inflammatory marker and can be falsely high when iron levels are in fact low? I always have iron and ferritin done simultaneously because of this.

[13mary9 in reply to Fennella02]

Thanks both gp and nurse RA both say your bloods are low make sure you eat greens ect ect and I always do as I have had cancer and have ostioporosis so just felt I needed something else .I always eat liver once a week as well as was told that was good.but with this 10 min thing at gp I never feel I have time to say anything.I always have a list to remind myself but that gets their back up before I start and they say they can only deal with one problem at a time .I feel like making an appointment every day for a week and see what they say but knowing me I would just catch everyones illness while I would be in there.Sorry for rant but might do me as good as iron tablets ha ha 😀feel better already thanks everyone mary x

[AllyWelshDragon in reply to Fennella02]

Yes I was on iron therapy for six years but it wasn't doing anything for me. Stopping it made no difference at all to me or my blood counts. My ferritin levels are at the high end but within normal tolerances.

My monthly mtx bloods are for Full blood count / ferritin and inflammatory markers/ liver function tests. Had my pneumonia vaccine yesterday too, felt like a pin cushion haha 😆 x

Ally x

[13mary9 in reply to AllyWelshDragon]

It's all so confusing!

[13mary9 in reply to AllyWelshDragon]

I suppose I better check with gp as I don't want any more problems .just in so much pain it has made me feel down and you just look for anything to help .thanks mary

[oldtimer]

There is no point in loading yourself up with oral iron if you are not short of iron in your body. If not already done, ask your GP for tests to find out if you are low on iron. The anaemia is usually part of the reaction to long term inflammation. Since mine has been under control, the anaemia has improved.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Mary. Fortunately neither RD or MTX has affected me that way but before you buy iron tablets I'd have your Practice Nurse check your blood cell count at your next drug monitoring bloods. If there's anything I'm concerned about or questioning mine will always add it on to the bloods she's already sending to the lab so yours probably will too. You could seriously cause problems supplementing incorrectly & really you need to know how low your haemaglobin levels are & if they're out of wack your GP should prescribe for you. Anaemia is common in RD so it's not something out of the ordinary for your GP to deal with. x

[13mary9]

Ok thanks I suppose I should no better after 10 years but feel so run down and hate going to gp .I have only taken them since tue as thought they help with cramps in feet legs and chest shoulder ect mary xx