Hi guys, just wanting to know if anyone else has iron deficiency problems along with pernicious anaemia? I struggle to gain any iron stores from taking tablets and have had two infusions previously. They work great but about 6 months later my levels are down again.
I had (have?) atrophic gastritis, and also have localised scleroderma which my dermatologist says can be autoimmune related.
My ferritin level is 3 at the moment. I take Ferrograd C daily which doesn't seem to be making a damn bit of difference. Is my life going to be infusions from now on? Has anyone had similar issues? My doctor is testing me for Coeliac disease although I don't think it's the cause, as I have no gastro issues.
Any info would be appreciated. I'm feeling pretty confused about it all.
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LauraF1
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Hi, yes. I have pa and also iron deficiency anemia. Plus hashimoto's and svt(type of tachycardia)...
I was told that it is common that with Pa. My iron levels will need attention and check every 6 months. I had 3 iron infusions in November before the pa was discovered. I am injecting b12 now and slowly starting to feel better finally.
I was also tested for celiac but is negative.
As long as I can get back to being myself again I am willing to put up with injections, iron infusions and vitamin supplements to make sure I am good for as long as I have to.
You should be taking folic acid daily also. 5mg. It helps so much for your b12 injections to work better.
I got some results back yesterday and my folate is good, b12 is 455, and ferritin is now 13 (the doctor said marginally improved lol). I guess it's a step in the right direction! I just gotta figure out a way to get my iron stores up, hopefully without getting the infusions. Previously I've had 2 infusions but only when my haemoglobin was low (it was around 7), and my health insurance kicked up such a fuss about it that I'm really keen to avoid them in future.
If the only way you are getting your iron is from the Ferrograd C tablets, then you won't be getting any benefit from them as they are slow release and have a protective film on them which prevents you absorbing the iron from them in the part of your gut which is working, carrying the tablets down to a part which isn't working for you.
The following is copied from the package insert:
"Ferrograd C tablets are a 'modified-release' form of ferrous sulphate and vitamin C. They are designed to release the medicine slowly over the day as the tablet passes through the gut. This may help to reduce the digestive side effects that can sometimes be a problem with iron supplements. However, if side effects are reduced compared to other iron tablets this may be because less iron is being absorbed, because Ferrograd C tablets carry the iron into an area of the gut where absorption may be poor.
What is it used for?
Preventing and treating iron deficiency anaemia in people who also have a vitamin C deficiency.
Directions
One Ferrograd C tablet should be taken once a day, or as directed by your doctor. The medicine should be taken before food on an empty stomach. However, if the tablets upset your stomach, then you may take them with or after food.
The tablets should be swallowed whole and not chewed or broken.
The absorption of iron may be reduced by tea, coffee, eggs and milk. You should avoid consuming these at the same time as taking Ferrograd C tablets.
Warnings
This medicine may discolour the stools black or darker than usual. This is normal and not harmful.
This medicine contains iron and so should be kept well out of the sight and reach of children, as iron overdose can be fatal in children.
This medicine may give a false negative result with the clinistix test for the presence of sugar in the urine.
This medicine may interfere with tests used for the detection of visibly inapparent (occult) blood in the stools.
Not to be used in:
People with anaemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia).
People with anaemia due to folic acid deficiency.
Genetic disease resulting in too much iron storage in the tissues (haemochromatosis).
People with a disorder that affects storage of iron in the body (haemosiderosis).
People with a condition where there is sudden loss of haemoglobin (oxygen carrying protein in the blood) in the urine at night (paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria).
People with other disorders involving haemoglobin, such as sickle cell anaemia or thalassaemia.
People receiving repeated blood transfusions.
People with an active peptic ulcer.
Inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease."
As you can see, it says "not to be used in people with pernicious anaemia".
I have found Solgar Gentle Iron, which is iron bisglycinate, to be effective.
You could try the recommended dose of 1 per day although be aware that when I had lots of absorbtion issues I needed several of those capsules every day to get my levels up.
You may need haem iron which I don't think is available in supplement form in the UK so your only source is red meat and fish. For many months I needed to eat this 3 times a day as well as taking the iron bisglycinate but I can cope with just daily intake now which suggests it is possible to get better, depending on your body.
I can't believe its contraindicated in those with pernicious anaemia. My doctor recommended it as a gentler type of iron. I was on Galfer previously but it made me very sick and nauseous so I had to stop taking them. I will have a look for Solar Gentle Iron. Should I give up the Ferrograd altogether? My ferritin has come up from 3 to 13 and that's from taking it for about 10 weeks.
It took 9 months to raise my ferritin levels. Theh were not anywhere near as yours. The only thing thF worked for me was cutting down on drinking tea ans taking ferrous fumerate 210 mgaway from food.
I was prescribed 320 with folate but coykdnt tolerate that. (Diarrhoea)
Now take if every other day. Take solgar gentle iron and aspartame on the other day. My multivig has 14 mg in it too which I take every other day.
I tried all sorts. My diet is rich in iron but must be an absorption problem. Folate always good. Have had to look at diet again . Cholesterol gone up !! Trying. to increase iron. I'm starting to think little Nd often in the right way works well.
Also then at approx the same tone di toud body has a rhythm.
I'm far from well but bloods showed it works for some things.
Thanks for your input, yes the iron can be very hard on your stomach can't it? I had to stop taking Galfer as it was giving me such pain and nausea. It's such a hassle trying to raise iron levels with tablets, especially when one infusion can sort you out for a good 6 months!
If you have PA then you have autoimmune gastritis. As well as preventing the absorption of B12 this reduces the amount of stomach acid that is produced. Which can cause a problem absorbing iron.
Iron needs to be in solution to get absorbed, and it is more easily dissolved in acidic solutions. So people with PA, who don't produce stomach acid, can find it very difficult to absorb iron from their food, especially if most of their iron is from vegetables rather than haem iron (see deniseinmilden 's reply).
Of the various forms of iron supplement available iron sulfate is one of the least effective. The inorganic iron just doesn't want to dissolve. You can help the process by taking the sulfate along with citric acid and/or ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), The citrate and ascorbate ions formed from those two acids grab hold of iron atoms (called chelation) and make them more soluble.
But the iron in the sulfate needs to be dissolved before it can be chelated, so those two acids don't help as much as they do in people with normal amounts of stomach acid.
That's why most people find that supplements containing a chelated iron (fumarate, bisglycinate, etc.) are much better at raising iron levels. I find that a diet that includes meat or fish once a day, plus 25 mg of iron bisglycinate (Solgar Gentle Iron) keeps my levels OK.
A brief bit about iron from green vegetables.
Popeye has to carry a lot of the blame for the idea that spinach is a great source of iron. While it is true that 100 g of spinach contains about the same amount of iron as 100 g of steak the amount you absorb is quite different. i1.wp.com/www.compoundchem....
The steak contains haem iron, which is already chelated, easily soluble and easily absorbed. The spinach contains polyphenols - which also chelate the iron but the chelate is insoluble. So the amount of iron you get from 100 g of steak is about 10 times the amount from 100 g of spinach.
There are other good reasons to eat your spinach. 100 g provides almost half your Vitamin A requirement, 15% of folate and almost twice your daily requirement of Vitamin K. It also tastes quite good and the colour looks cood as a contrast in tomato-based dishes.
Yes and keep up the meat. I batch cook so can have smaller portions more often. I'm hoping to absorb a bit more this way. Also have vinegar or juice with meals . I've always eaten loads of veg from the allotment so folate never a problem even since absorption. Problems.
I do feel less shaky and weak since raising my ferritin levels.
Due blood test next month hoping regime working still.
Unfortunately I am a vegetarian and have been since I was a child. I would start eating meat again for health reasons but I just can't bring myself to!! The habit is so ingrained at this stage. I know it would probably make my life a bit easier if I did.
A family member who is vegetarian has had a fright seeing me so ill. Was tested and low as was aching ect. B12 supplements are working and changes in diet. A friend also got very scared seeing me so ill. She does have chicken now heavily disguised. I never thought she would. And b12 tablets as she can absorb
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