Anemia

[hotdog]

Has anyone else suffered with anemia due to PBC?

[Karaliz]

Hi hotdog. I have had this issue over the past decade ( diagnosed 11 years ago). My consultant says it is related to having a chronic inflammatory process going on in one's body as opposed to anaemia directly related to being female/pregnancy/low iron diet etc - of course these can and do add to the problem !! I have had 2 iron infusions in recent years which are definitely beneficial.

Hope you get sorted soon.

Karaliz

[hotdog in reply to Karaliz]

Hi Karaliz

Thank you for your very informative reply. I am going to see my GP about this on Thursday and will show her what you said as I do not think the GP's know all about PBC and might be looking for something else. I am not due to see my PBC consultant until March but will ask her opinion then as well.

Will get there in the end.

[snowqueen13]

I have been suffering from anemia for a year now but I don't know if it is related to PBC. I have been on iron tablets and when were levels were normal again I stopped taking them only to be told 3 months later that my iron was dangerously low so I am taking the tablets again! I will certainley ask the question when I see the specialist in May and will update you.

[Hidden]

Hello hotdog.

I first had a short course of iron tablets back in the late 1990s when I went to give blood, was told I was not needed that day as I needed to see my GP as it was showing my iron was low. This was long before I had PBC.

I had another short course of iron 2 years prior to starting to itch in 2010 for a lower ferritin count but at the time I was suffering from nose bleeds (caused by a pin prick graze inside my nose).

I was diagnosed with PBC Dec 2010. I had another short course of iron tablets January 2013 but at the time my nose bleed issues hadn't quite been resolved. (Been fine since April 2013 after another cauterisation.) My July last year and also January this year have proved good with regards to ferritin levels. My HB for the first time in several years was well within normal too this time as it had always appeared one point below normal.

My anaemia at the time was solved with short course of iron tablets but the cause thought to be due to nose bleeds and nothing else.

I think with PBC it is possible to experience anaemia as the liver can struggle with absorption more and certain vitamins (the fat soluble ones in particular) can have an impact on other things.

Since my history with short courses of iron tablets I added certain other things to my dietary. A few years ago I bought 2 different cast iron fry pans and use for certain foods (tomatoes is one) as the food, more acidic the better apparently absorbs iron from the cooking. I also eat more of things like broccoli and also licorice has iron in it too. Beetroot is another. I'm not a big red meat eater myself so I try to intake other things that will keep anaemia at bay.

I think too with anaemia due to it causing tiredness at the end of the day anyone with PBC and experiencing fatigue (I don't have, I get tired due to lack of sleep at night with the itch), having this resolved is probably better in the long run.

[Junolee]

Yes. There are a few threads on this you should look back through. Lots of info. I have had blood transfusions, iron infusions and two different courses of tablets in the past 3 years x

[hotdog]

Thank you for all your helpful comments. I will let you know my outcome from GP and consultant. x

[GrittyReads]

I think you should maybe ask to see a nutritionist who really, really knows all their vitamin and mineral stuff, as a lot of deficiency conditions can be linked to imbalances in other nutrients. Often with vits and mins, there can be some complex feedback system, so that introducing one factor can upset others .... or with some shortages, we may need to take other nutrients, as well as (eg, here) the iron, for it to be absorbed properly, or given the corrent environment in the body to function properly.

Over on the thyroid site they have amazing advisors who watch all the posts, and frequently pop into discussions with the best advice. Most of them are amazing on the subject of vits and minerals, so have a look there.

You could also phone the PBC foundation, to see what advice they have.

I hope you get some good advice, take care.

[Val02]

Yes I have suffered with anaemia since having PBC...you may need to top up.

[llanelltyd]

Highly recommend a whole body ctscan as part of annual pbc screening check and colonoscopy. My husband had anemia for over a year went for ct scan unfortunately was only abdomen failed to do whole body. After nearly a years delay a colonoscopy showed bowel cancer stage 3, must have been there at least 2 years. All signs indicated cancer,feeling the cold easily ,anemic and breathlessness when walking uphill. The delay in investigating the underlying cause for the anemia was detrimental . Can't urge you enough to get an answer.

[mharib]

I have suffered with anemia for a few years. I was always told it was due too heavy periods. I had the lining of my womb burnt about a year ago. it didn't change anything. I moved house just before Christmas which meant a new doctors they did some tests and they think it's because I have a b12 deficiency.