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ANEMIA!

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/7/2009 10:32 PM (GMT -6)
I am just curious what you guys all do for anemia. I have done it all and NOTHING works, so I thought hey ask you all on the forum.
Any advice and opinions would be great. I just want to know really what each of you do.... and what HAS worked!

Thanks so much: LOVEPINK
Posted 4/8/2009 3:11 AM (GMT -6)
Hi I suffered with anaemia was given iron tablets that just went through my system i was then given iron syrup which is great as it absorbes quicker into the body after being on it for 2 weeks my blood count went from 7.7 to13.8 the taste is ok too. I have recently started drinking a bottle of guiness now and again with blackcurrant juice added as its quite bitter but it is suppose to be good for you if you are anaemic.Thats really all i've done  im sure the others may have somemore suggestions hope you an get it sorted let us know how you get on take care Bev x
Posted 4/8/2009 7:35 AM (GMT -6)
I suffer with anemia because of my diet (no longer eat red meat) and my GI will give me Iron Infusions when my stores get too low. Works pretty good for me, about 3 weeks later I really felt it. I also get B12 shots every 2 weeks. Good luck!
Posted 4/8/2009 8:13 AM (GMT -6)
I've been anemic for the last 6 years, the regular iron tablets don't work for me. My new G.I. gave me Proferrin - it's a heme iron polypeptide, relatively new I believe. It actually feels like it's working this time. Have you tried that? Might be something to look into if you don't want the infusions or they haven't worked. People have had a lot of success with them from what I read, but there isn't a lot because it looks like they are a fairly new thing. Only downside for me is that my insurance doesn't cover it (I live in Canada) so it costs me about $80 a month.
Posted 4/8/2009 8:40 AM (GMT -6)
Valerie, I'm in Canada too. Where do you get Proferrin from, do you need a prescription?
Posted 4/8/2009 4:01 PM (GMT -6)
I'm not sure if you need a prescription or not, my doctor gave me one but on their website it says that it's available without a prescription, and it's a canadian website. I would try going to your pharmacy and asking them if they can just give it to you, and at worst, I'm sure you'd have no trouble getting a prescription for it. I take 1 pill 3 times a day, and you don't need to take it with orange juice. I'd be curious to see if other people have similar results to me, I'm really liking it so far!

Here is the website for anyone who is curious:

http://www.proferrin.ca
Posted 4/8/2009 4:14 PM (GMT -6)
I have been battling with anemia for 3 years now. Am now on iron pill Repliva 24/7 which along with Entocort EC seems to be working. I try to eat a diet high in iron also. My Hgb had gotten down to 6.3 in 2006 now is 12.3.
Posted 4/8/2009 8:32 PM (GMT -6)

Valerie3 said...
I'm not sure if you need a prescription or not, my doctor gave me one but on their website it says that it's available without a prescription, and it's a canadian website. I would try going to your pharmacy and asking them if they can just give it to you, and at worst, I'm sure you'd have no trouble getting a prescription for it. I take 1 pill 3 times a day, and you don't need to take it with orange juice. I'd be curious to see if other people have similar results to me, I'm really liking it so far!

Here is the website for anyone who is curious:

http://www.proferrin.ca

No side effects? My gut is VERY sensitive to iron...
Posted 4/8/2009 8:56 PM (GMT -6)
Mine is pretty sensitive too, I'm not sure compared to yours though. I haven't had any whatsoever. I haven't been having as many BMs as usual but I wouldn't call it constipation either, and iron usually constipates me. Might be worth a shot, but I would feel bad if you reacted badly to it! lol.
Posted 4/8/2009 9:03 PM (GMT -6)
I've been anemic for years and take liquid iron and it does help...take it after meals..it is easier on the guts.  I also take multi vitamin and mineral supplement that comes in a gel capsul, so it is easier to absorb.  good luck!
Posted 4/8/2009 10:26 PM (GMT -6)
I love my iron shots with B12 once a month. I feel so much better it's amazing!!! Iron pills hurt all the way thru.
Posted 4/10/2009 9:42 AM (GMT -6)
wow this anemia is a common thing for all of us.

I get iron shots weekly and had a blood transfusion in Dec. My Hgb was 87. Had a colonoscopy on Wednesday and he found 2 oozing bloody spots, put clips on them, so hopefully that ends my problem. However, after hearing all the anemia problems here, I highly doubt it.
Posted 4/10/2009 4:16 PM (GMT -6)
Great! Thanks for some of your responses.

Now on the IRON SHOTS: How often do you get them (and do you really think they help?). And are they painful? I mean a shot is a shot, BUT do they hurt more than usual shots? That is what I heard, so wanted to know. And what doctor gives them to you? GI, BLOOD or regular doctor? Thanks.

Also, I used to get iron infusions but have no veins left to even get blood w/out getting poked 8 times minimum AND I am not going to let them do that to me anymore... So I really can't do those anymore, BUT need to do something. If they doctors can't help my Crohn's @ all, I figure at least help my blood so I can have energy to go up and down the stairs. I have already had several blood transfusions...

Thanks, LOVEPINK
Posted 4/10/2009 4:39 PM (GMT -6)
Yes the shots really hurt. I had a series years ago and my butt hurt for months afterwards because of the scarring in the muscle tissue. And they didn't even help.
Posted 4/10/2009 4:48 PM (GMT -6)
So do other people feel this way about the IRON SHOTS? Input please... Thanks, LOVEPINK
Posted 4/10/2009 10:53 PM (GMT -6)
I've been struggling with anemia for a while now due to the crohns. my hemo is 6.9 right now. last august i was 5.2 and needed a blood transfusion. the iron pills kill my stomach. the pain in unbearable. my hemotologist wants to start iron infusions. anyone had them and how long do you need to be transfused and does it work? my anemia is bad. i'm tired, my heart races doing the simplest things like making the bed, and i have little black floaters in my eyes. also i feel like i'm floating in the clouds very dizzy and light headed. anybody else have similar symptoms?
Posted 4/10/2009 11:40 PM (GMT -6)
Yes, yes yes to all your symptoms! My Hgb had gotten down to 6.3 & I couldn't walk from bedroom to kitchen with getting SOB & light headed. Had 4 units of blood at that time. I haven't had the iron IV but it is something my GI doctor was talking about. My GP nor Hematologist never mentioned it. I now have found a walk in clinic where I can go & get CBC without doctor having to order it & is so much cheaper! i am monitoring my own results. But between Repliva & Entocort my Hgb is good. Keeping my fingers crossed!!
I haven't had any stomach problems with the Repliva.
Posted 4/12/2009 4:47 PM (GMT -6)
My shots are weekly, yes, my hips are so scarred and stained, it looks like some one beat me. My hips are tender to touch. The actual shot sometimes hurts, it depends on how your muscle reacts. Sometimes it feels like a charlie horse in my butt cheeks.
Posted 4/12/2009 7:14 PM (GMT -6)
Oh yes the staining, forgot about that!
Posted 4/13/2009 11:15 AM (GMT -6)

I became iron-anemic this time last year.  I was put on 3, 325mg ferrous sulfate tablets per day that tore my intestines up until my system got used to it a month later.  It took from April to November last year taking those pills for my Iron to go from 14 to 26.  Then I flared again and am now back down to 19, all the while still taking 3 of those dern pills a day.  Plus I take a multi-vitamin that has 100% of the daily value of Iron.

Iron-deficiency anemia kicks my butt.  I get so lethargic and I feel like someone is trying to force my eyelids closed. 

I'm curious about a couple of things:

*Where do you get LIQUID iron?

*What kinds of foods do you guys eat that have iron in them that DON'T mess with your intestines (I'm thinking baked potato with the skin, but the skin is so fiberous...)

Posted 4/13/2009 11:57 AM (GMT -6)
Beef, or chicken liver. Trying to get iron from vegetables is useless, especially for us.
Posted 4/13/2009 5:09 PM (GMT -6)
anyone have petichiae with their anemia? I just all of the sudden today had diffuse red pinpoint spots on my upper and inner thighs??? not a lot of them...but its new...my last cbc was normal...but my B12 is low...just started weekly shots for a month...then going monthly i think...

just curious...kinda freaked me out at first...its not bad...just another new thing!
Posted 4/13/2009 7:47 PM (GMT -6)
I do have some petichiae but I've never heard that this is associated with anemia.
Posted 4/13/2009 9:51 PM (GMT -6)
I get iron infusions. They are a lifesaver! I was never able to tolerate iron pills and my GI and hematologist have never mentioned iron shots. Doesn't sound like something I want though, LOL!
Posted 4/15/2009 5:57 PM (GMT -6)
While waiting for my sis-in-law at her doctors appt today, I leafed through the latest Family Circle magazine and found this tidbit of info:

Somebody said...
per Family Circle Food Director Regina Ragone, one of her R&D friends told her that Flintstones Plus Iron vitamins has as much iron as 4 cups of cooked spinach. And that she has had no stomach trouble with it as she had with taking iron supplements

So, there's something to maybe try?

www.familycircle-digital.com/familycircle/20090417/?pg=17
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