had my blood tests for my diabetic review and all good apart from my Hb result.
I am wondering if this is to do with PMR and also the fact that I have eaten no meat only vegetarian food.
I think my GP will be asking for a routine f2f appointment at some stage so would be glad if any information.
Just the fact that you haven't been eating meat is loads to account for that if you aren't being really careful about what you eat or using iron supplements. And then there is possibly some component due to the PMR.
Thanks for that. I think that I ought to start taking iron supplements but was concentrating on getting my eGFR up as it was low and never thought about my Hb.
Have you always been veggie? It isn't that difficult to get iron in a veggie diet but I'd probably struggle as I can't abide tofu and don't eat cereals at all - they are fortified!
member.dietitiansaustralia....
Vit C with veggie iron sources improves uptake - and not drinking tea or coffee at mealtimes! Too much calcium doesn't help either.
Maybe have a chat with the GP about a supplement and speak to a dietician?
Only for a couple of months. I don’t like tofu so eat Quorn
If you have only been veggie for a couple of months then I'd be concerned if your Hb has fallen far so quickly at our age - you are post menopausal I assume, though I shouldn't! I think a word with the GP is called for.
Just checked and it is 105 not 10.5!
Same thing!!! They've gone from units per 100ml to units per litre of blood - factor of 10.
Thanks. Thinking back I have hardly eaten meat for ages. A bit of turkey at Christmas, a small sausage roll now and again but hardly any meat
You don’t need a lot, but you do need dark meat, beef comes out as top, but lamb and dark turkey meat are good sources.
The ones I don’t eat!
😳
Hi
I to have been told lm very low on iron
Like you don’t eat a lot of meat GP. Is investigating to see if their is a bleed anywhere could be due to hil replacement back in June . But he doesn’t want to give me iron supplements
So at this point for me it’s wait and see
Hope you get sorted out
What is the value of the MCHC , MCV and MCH? Helps sort out if it is iron deficiency or not. Low Hb on its own not much help to point to cause.
MCH is normal
MCV is slightly up at 103
Packed cell volume is down as is red blood cell count.
Probably not chronically iron deficient; needs GP input as advised already and probably a few more focused blood tests to decide what type of anaemia and possible cause. Best not start iron supps because will foul up any further tests. Eg ferritin, b12 and folate etc. Auto-immune disease and reduced kidney function can be assoc with chronic low grade anaemia, with normal indices as above. As a veggie will do you no harm to crosscheck on your dietary intake re iron, folate, B12 etc. 🥦🥑🥬🌰🍌🍳 as also suggested above.
Doctor asked to check haematinic levels plus serum ferritin levels and they have come back as normal
I’m just like you KJ … am very tired too. Am having ferritin blood test and thyroid blood test too next week. Going to get Spatone recommended by friend. Always some milarkey. 🙄
wondering if I just need a good rest and to up my steroids as I suddenly feel like I have struggled for the last few weeks
You will if you are anaemic. In that case, you do need some tests.
Yes I think we both do! Can MTX cause an anaemia Pro?
It is associated with an increased risk of anaemia but it isn't entirely clear why other than it can cause folate deficiency, folate is needed to make red blood cells. That is why you get folate supplements alongside MTX - but some doctors don't give enough, some patients need it 6x a week.
I saw that I would need it x6 a week.. initially they only gave me 4 tablets.. so I asked for x6 weekly which they gave me.
Twill be interesting for us both to know the result of the blood test!
just looked back at my diary for the last month and realised I have been on the go for the last 4 weeks. We have had our daughter over from Sydney and done something every day and then went over to Ireland and was on the go all the time. Got back and it was all the washing, drying, ironing, shopping etc. Today is going to be a day of rest, I had my Covid vaccination yesterday and my arm is aching so that is a good excuse.
You don’t need an excuse to rest - it’s a must a times… 😊
I don’t rest enough I know but today I will!
Aye - no suprises then with that record is there! Makes me tired reading about it!!!! You need a holidau now 
Our breaks usually involve art galleries and museums, walking round them tires me out due to the slow pace!
Yes, funny that isn't it, dawdling is far harder than a gentle but steady walk, I have done such things but not my favourite occupation. I did the Louvre in half a day and didn't feel I'd missed a lot. Philistine me ... OTOH - the photography museum at the top of the mountain here was amazing and I'd love to go regularly if it weren't for the price of the cable car to get there! There is something obscene to me about it costing 34 euros return for a local when a day ticket is 49 euros and you can just ride up and down all day - with your bike or paraglider as well! Which mostly tourists do ...
I was feeling rough the day I posted and yesterday. I think it was to do with having had the Covid jab on Wednesday morning. Yesterday everything ached in the morning including my head which is unusual for me. I had some bites the week before and they came up again Wednesday evening so had a bad nights sleep. Yesterday evening I started to get over it and feel my usual self. Today is a good day with no aches just a bit of stiffness some itching but so much better. Now for the flu jab tomorrow!
Yes I agree… I’ve struggled for 10 days and yesterday was too tired and fatigued to walk home a pathetic distance from a balance and falls event which was excellent. I ended up having a Decaff coffee and some banana bread in a cafe and taking a taxi home. Mind you the event was 3 hours long! I think it could be iron or thyroid … my hair is thinning … but then that could be telogen effluvium as it’s 4 months since a traumatic fall. Anyway let’s get us both sorted!! xx
"Anyway let’s get us both sorted!"
Good idea!!!! And report back!
Will do PMRpro!
Got an appointment booked with the GP (one I don’t know) for November 6th
FFS - wouldn't do to be really ill would it!!!!!!
My surgery would always fit me in if was really ill and I have been! But my appointment with GP on Monday was a month long!!!
Hopefully they will put results into context of your previous ones and advise if further investigations are needed. FWIW if reticulocyte count is normal or low recent bleed very unlikely.
he did say it was to be a routine f2f appointment!
I saw my GP on Monday - wouldn't normally go on a Monday but I had run out of a medication. Left home at 10,15am, picked up the suitcase of drugs at 12,15 at my pharmacy in this village - the GP practice is a 10min drive, visited the bakery while up there, read a few chapters of my book and had a F2F appt. That is quite long enough a wait ...
At last Low Carbs!
Feeling low
Low carbs
Low Potassium
Keto/low carb?
