Anyone else have low blood iron (anemia) with PMR?

carolk, Thanks for explaining! Aperient isn't a word that I've heard over here, but it's definitely in the dictionary! So, I am learning.... Did your iron stores and hematocrit get back to normal? Were you able to discontinue the iron supplements then?

If I didn't have PMR and weren't on prednisone, the absorption probably wouldn't be an issue (Because I wouldn't need to take acid blockers or PPI's which prevent absorption of iron). Of course, I'd still be taking calcium supplements which can affect absorption.

I guess I am lucky that I actually like prunes! LOL.

Take care,

freesia

yes my hb went back to normal and i have never been low since but mine was caused by gynae problems ,many years ago it took months to get it back to normal levals absorbtion of iron is a problem wether you take stomach protectors or not because the liver dislikes it so oral meds have to accessed by reg blood tests and alternative routes found if not working ie infusions or injections ,thank god you like prunes all is well with the world carolk

I think this discussion is funny (sorry freesia - not the reason for it, I promise!) as if I have to take iron the LAST problem I have is being bunged up! When I was expecting my second baby (in Germany) they kept an eye on your iron levels rather than just handing out preventative iron tablets as they do in the UK. At one appointment I was told I might need iron the next time - when I went back it had gone up again and I was asked what I had done. I told them I had been more selective about my glass of wine, choosing red ones from iron-containing terroir instead of white! (It wasn't a no-no to drink wine during pregnancy in those days). However - even that is enough to give me the runs ;-) - I dreaded the thought of tablets :-(

BTW - is it infusions of iron or blood transfusions they mean? That is a common way of upping haemoglobin quickly. Do you remember freesia - it was one of the things I mentioned originally when you posted on the other forum? I also said they needed to look at all the different reasons that might be the cause of your low Hb - sounds like they finally are but I would have expected it to be done far sooner and definitely if it just wasn't increasing. Ah well - better late than never!

And sorry I haven't pitched in before - this forum is being a bit selective about what it shows me at times.

If you want numbers though - it's the other UK forum you want ;-)

Eileen

Hi Eileen and carolk,

carolk, I didn't know that the body didn't like oral iron supplements no matter what stomach protection,etc, we were taking. That is interesting. I'm glad you recovered from the low Hb.

Good to see you here, Eileen. The conversation has started to get humorous, what a subject : )

You're lucky not to have the problem most of us have with iron supplements. : ) No prunes for you! LOL

It occurred to me that red wine might be a good source of iron! I'm leery of starting to drink alcohol because of my GERD problems, though. What is a "terroir" in red wines? Sounds like French for something having to do with "earth" (terre) but I don't know.

The haematologist definitely said "infusions" so I assumed she meant iron infusions and not blood transfusions, but I could be wrong.

Yes, I am glad to finally be dealing with this. I feel like it should have happened much sooner, but better late than never, as you say. It does seem like the haematologist is looking into every possibility as to what is causing it, so that is good.

I like this site because it alerts me via email if someone responds to my posts! I miss the little emoticons to insert into the text, though, and I guess there's no way to edit anything here, either (?). Eileen, when you say the other uk site is better for numbers, do you mean the arthritis/PMR forum where they show how many people have viewed and responded? Then there's the other site, I call it the blue site because it's all in blue--I get lost at that site.

Good health everyone, that's a wish--

freesia

Terroir - yes, the French term that covers everything about where the vines grow, in the valley, up the hill, type of soil, direction towards the sun - the lot .

What iron tablets can do to my gut doesn't bear description (emoticon needed :-( ) so we won't go there! I do however like prunes very much as a snack and they have NO effect in that direction ;-)

Beware - although you know someone has responded to your thread it doesn't, at the moment, tell you that a new thread has been started so it is easy to miss something interesting.

However - I am delighted to report that by the early part of March several things on this site will be sorted - including emoticons :-) I have that on very good authority :-)

The blue site is probably the one we're on about. Yes it is big and confusing initially (cos it is seriously popular and active) but once you get the hang it is easier than what we have here at the moment. You start with the main index and and click on the last post to get to the latest post in any group of threads. Then if you click on the subheading name having read the post a list comes up of all the threads under that subheading showing new posts. There are other ways of doing it - but practise makes perfect. One lady thought the Chit Chat Cafe was the only heading for ages!

Eileen

Hi Eileen,

Interesting about the terroir. I wish I was off pred, I'd have a glass of red wine from an iron-rich terroir. GERD didn't bother me before pred, and one glass can't hurt!

I'm sorry about your bad reaction to iron supplements! Everyone's metabolism and body is so unique....we're like snowflakes. It sounds like iron deficiency is not something you have to worry about, though.

I went to the main site again and noticed that there have been some interesting subjects posted --you are right, a person could miss those if only paying attention to one's own posts. I'm going back to catch up on those later.

I'm going to follow your directions at the "blue site" because I know there is a lot of good information there. That's funny about the lady who thought the Chit Chat Cafe was the only heading! LOL. But I can see how that could happen. : )

freesia

Yes - you need to click onto the subheading bit to get the list of threads up for the main heading - if you don't do that you don't notice other posts since you were last there on other threads that were earlier than the "latest post" so it is easy to miss stuff. (Did that make sense?) You get the hang eventually though and it is usually a bit faster than this is at present ;-)

Eileen

On the other forum, I have it opening directly on to the Index Page and I then click on "View latest posts" at the top right hand side.

Shirley

That's what my doctor tells me.  He prescribed 325 mg of Ferrous Sulfate three times a day.  Sounds like an awful lot to me.  He had prescribed a stool softner BEFORE I knew about these iron tabs and I couldn't figure out why.  From reading these posts, I guess these iron tabs promote constipation.   Reading from the paperwork that came with the tabs from Walgreen, side effects besides constipation include diarrhea, nausea, cramps, pan, upset, vomiting, loss of appetite.  Wow.  Reading on says to call dr immediately if blacck stools, blood in stool, etc., etc.  I really wondering if I'm just asking for more trouble with these tabs.

Hi, I was diagnosed with PMR recently.  However, I was also told my iron level was very low.  I had not been taking Prednisone at that time, so I really couldn't blame the medication for the low iron level.  I am looking into the Prednisone connectionk because I certainly don't want my iron level to get lower (I was recently put on Iron tablets). Can you keep in touch with me.  Robin