Anaemia

[julie1908]

I would like to know if anyone has anaemia and if it is a common thing to have when you have RA

[Kalimers65]

It is very common with RA. When i have it I up my intake of green veg, Brown rice etc . Google foods good for anaemia. I also buy Floradix from Boots. It's a herbal iron tonic. It's wonderful stuff and with changes yo my diet and Floradix my anaemia went within 2 weeks. Check with your pharmacist 1st though as I don't know what meds yoyre on.

[Hidden]

I got some blood results today and my haemoglobin is borderline low - did some scholarly research and it does seem to be an issue - more to deal with, hey ho!

[julie1908 in reply to Hidden]

Hi do you know what your reading is?

[Gnarli]

As others have said, it's pretty common with those with RA. I was told by lovely rheumy nurse that I was slightly anaemic, so went to see the GP who ordered bloods and said that if I didn't hear back from them that it was all fine. I've heard nothing from them but lovely rheumy also said I'm anaemic since then. I flipping hate being kept in the dark and one of these days I'm going to have a hissy fit over the non-communication and inaction. Sorry. Rant over

J

[Mummyola]

If your on methotrexate don’t take any vit supplements ask your dr or pharmacist first as they can react, I had to have mine changed, I take one folic acid tablet a day except for the day I take mtx. It seems it’s quite common, I have always been anemic due to my diabetes, I eat lots of green leafy veg to help combat it, spinach and broccoli are two of the best, plus believe it or not Liver, I know a lot will go yuck! But if you can stomach it once a week or month it is good for it. Good luck. Chris.

[Elmo333]

It’s often called anaemia of chronic disease. If linked to RA, it is generally only slightly below optimum level I.e mine is 101 or 10.1 whereas it should be over 110/120. It’s different to normal anaemia in that it’s not simple iron deficiency so shouldn’t be treated with high quantities of iron. It is recommended to not treat the anaemia (unless it’s very low) but to control the underlying disease ie the RA.x

[Ouchyjenna]

Yes, I've always suffered with anaemia. It's hard to know whether the fatigue I feel is caused by the anaemia or the RA. I tend to know when I very anaemic as I crave ice really bad. Strange I know. Only when it gets very low does my consultant treat it.

[Anniesclappis]

I was borderline organ failure when I finally spoke to a nurse after doctor after doctor how seriously anemic I was. I did not care for the pill form of iron and the doctor said it would take a year and a half to get back to normal, so I went to a nutritionist and took home a list pretty much everything I loved to eat and doubled up on my intake. Example I would have oats and raises with two boiled eggs and lunch and dinner I would have a medium side dish of steamed broccoli. Couple times a week made my own pea soup. I had it back up in 6 months. I know I would of gained extra weight with my extra but at the time I had three kids in elementary and was full time student with a part time job on top of home life. The fatigue is from the anemia from knowing how I felt before being diagnosed with anemia.

[julie1908]

Thank you everybody for your advice, I think I may of panicked a bit as my GP phoned me the other evening and said I was anaemic and she had put a prescription through to the pharmacy for iron tablets and also that if I get constipated on them to take laxatives as well. I just thought for God’s sake if I am not on enough medication as it is. I am not sure what all your levels are but she said mine was 10.8 which didn’t seem to low.

I am very interested in what elmo333 said above about it not being a normal anaemia and should be treated different from iron. I am seeing my rheumatologist today so will ask his opinion as I have not started taking the iron yet.