low iron levels

[RA64]

since past 5 months my blood show low iron levels, so I have to take supplements. is this a normal thing with RA? what is your experiences 🥰

[Amnesiac3637]

Incredibly usual. RA causes inflammation and inflammation causes your body to store iron but not release it causing anaemia. Therefore, iron deficiency anaemia is pretty common when you have RA. The other reason for anaemia is the drugs given which can sometimes cause slow bleeding in the stomach or intestines. Some people have low ferritin levels (low iron stores) without causing anaemia and this can rumble on.

Usually all treated by iron supplements prescribed for whatever level of anaemia your doctor has discovered. Occasionally you need three months worth of treatment and sometimes iron is injected in cases of severe anaemia though that’s not the norm in most cases.

Over the last 30+ years I have regularly been diagnosed with either low ferritin or anaemia of RA and have had iron supplements when necessary. It’s just another joyful aspect of RA………….

[RA64 in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Thank you so much for taking your time to write this. its great to hear that it is normal. I will keep taking the supplements. 🥰

[bpeal1]

Yes it is very common. It’s know as Anaemia of chronic disease. I have been taking iron supplements for years. With the iron tablets my Hb levels hover around the lower end of normal.

[Summerrain14]

Yes like other people who have replied to you it sadly is common to have anaemia with RA. I too have anaemia and now two types of anemia and have to take daily iron supplements prescribed by my GP which I have been advised I will have to stay on and I also have b12 injections every three months too which are also for life. I hope that the iron supplements work well for you as they do me and help with your anaemia. Take good care.

[Madmusiclover]

Hi! I had anaemia before I was diagnosed; but with the benefit of hindsight….after an iron infusion I take Floradix tablets as prescribed iron tablets kick off my IBS. 🥴 I also have megaloblastic anaemia very mildly. GP and I have decided that’s normal for me!

[Haz58]

This is interesting. I was diagnosed with low iron 2 months ago after taking sulfasalazine for a month. I was given iron tablets but I've been lapse taking them I must admit. Now I've read this I'll have to start taking them I guess. The nurse who got me a prescription for iron never mentioned a connection with RA. Another tablet to add to my ever growing daily medicine box. 🙄

[greynot]

Me too. I've been at low end of 'normal' ever since I started having regular mtx blood tests. I went down to 99 after hip replacement a year ago and didn't bounce back into normal range...stayed 104 -110 ish

Am currently on month 3 of prescribed iron tablets and have bounced back from 104 to 110. I'm hoping to get back into 'normal' range before I get a new knee (hopefully later this summer)

[Salamanca21]

Yes I'm afraid it is. RA can cause anaemia so you have to take iron tablets. I used to have three a day, but now I only take one because of constipation. I've changed my diet accordingly, porridge fruit and veg. Etc.

[nomoreheels]

As others have said it isn’t unusual. When mine was first on the low side I trialled ferrous fumarate to see if that would bring my level back up. They did but only slightly so had both a colonoscopy & gastroscopy to check I’d no internal bleeding. They both came back negative (for bleeds) so I continued on them until my levels were reasonable again. At the follow-up appointment after my most recent colonoscopy, for another issue, the GP recommended returning to ferrous fumarate again, this time permanently. RD… the gift that keeps on giving!