Family & Relationships2 mins ago
Anaemia
17 Answers
Hi
I have, at long last been refered to a haemotologist as I have been anaemic on and off for years. This time however, despite high dosages of iron, my levels are still low (only a littel bit). I had a TIBC and that showed normal.
I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience, if so what was the outcome?
cheers
I have, at long last been refered to a haemotologist as I have been anaemic on and off for years. This time however, despite high dosages of iron, my levels are still low (only a littel bit). I had a TIBC and that showed normal.
I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience, if so what was the outcome?
cheers
Answers
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One would hope that the cause has been identified for your IDA, especially if you have clinical symptoms of anaemia, such as being tired all the time, or feeling out of breath etc. In essence, IDA is caused by;
1. Insufficient iron intake ( ruled out in your case if you have been taking supplementary iron)
2. Long term bleeding condition - Long or very heavy menstrual periods, bleeding fibroids in the uterus, a bleeding ulcer or colonic polyp. Long term blood loss is sometimes associated with long term use of non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, or pain relief medication such as aspirin.
3. Hereditary dysfunction of the red blood cells, such as B- Thalassaemia, Sickle Cell anaemia, etc
The TIBC being normal really just illustrates that your body has the capacity to transport a sufficiency of iron, so the anaemia it isnt a metabolic or hereditary misfunction of transferrin or the liver where it is produced.
4. Absorbtion of Iron. The regulation and uptake of iron from the gut into the blood stream is still not fully understood - impaired gastic acid production can for instance reduce iron uptake, and certainly from what you have described to date I would think the problem might lie in this area.
I would be concerned, were I in your shoes, to establish the underlying reason for the anaemia as a priority, so that can be addressed , as soon as possible.
1. Insufficient iron intake ( ruled out in your case if you have been taking supplementary iron)
2. Long term bleeding condition - Long or very heavy menstrual periods, bleeding fibroids in the uterus, a bleeding ulcer or colonic polyp. Long term blood loss is sometimes associated with long term use of non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, or pain relief medication such as aspirin.
3. Hereditary dysfunction of the red blood cells, such as B- Thalassaemia, Sickle Cell anaemia, etc
The TIBC being normal really just illustrates that your body has the capacity to transport a sufficiency of iron, so the anaemia it isnt a metabolic or hereditary misfunction of transferrin or the liver where it is produced.
4. Absorbtion of Iron. The regulation and uptake of iron from the gut into the blood stream is still not fully understood - impaired gastic acid production can for instance reduce iron uptake, and certainly from what you have described to date I would think the problem might lie in this area.
I would be concerned, were I in your shoes, to establish the underlying reason for the anaemia as a priority, so that can be addressed , as soon as possible.
Knowledgable?...LOL not really although lazygun has given you quite an errudite and accurate account. I cannot see that Gilbrert.s Disease would lower your Hb, and really it doesn't sound as though you have Crohns Disease and certainly not Coeliac Disease. Stop worrying and as lazygun says "get it sorted"
I was going to suggest something gastric related.
You say they've ruled out Crohns but could be something similar causing malabsorbtion and possible bleeds from ulcers etc...
Did they just do blood tests re Crohns, esp if you mum has it eg ESR, CRP, ANA etc... have they not done a camera up or down to check you out that way?
I'd still keep something gastro in mind. Do you have any gastro symptoms? If not, unlikely, but worth a question.
You say they've ruled out Crohns but could be something similar causing malabsorbtion and possible bleeds from ulcers etc...
Did they just do blood tests re Crohns, esp if you mum has it eg ESR, CRP, ANA etc... have they not done a camera up or down to check you out that way?
I'd still keep something gastro in mind. Do you have any gastro symptoms? If not, unlikely, but worth a question.
Jenna -yes they only did the one blood test and my mum had years of problems before they diagnosed crohns, when she was about 45 (she's not your typical crohns sufferer either - she says she's the only overweight person shes seen with crohns, much too her annoyance, lol).
Bednobs - there was talk of further inestigations but my doc said , that would be avoided if poss, as its not nice. Bet that was a shock for you, how did they "fix" the problem?
Bednobs - there was talk of further inestigations but my doc said , that would be avoided if poss, as its not nice. Bet that was a shock for you, how did they "fix" the problem?
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