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Lichen sclerosis - biopsy

Posted , 7 users are following.

elizab62
elizab62

Got the result of my biopsy today and I def have lichen schlorosis . Also got results of blood testsand my thyroid result came back normal however my iron is below normal. Find this unusual because I don't hav the usual symptoms of fatigue etc.  has anyone else suffered from low iron after diagnosis and if so what was your treatment.  

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • sheila49099
    sheila49099 elizab62

    Posted

    Hi Elizabeth

    I was diagnosed about 31 years ago with LS

     

    bout 1 and 1/2 years ago my dr said I had low iron .....eat more meat

    Last January I had my thyroid removed .  I don't know what the answers

    are.

    The itch is basically no more but neither are my lady parts.

    • elizab62
      elizab62 sheila49099

      Posted

      I'm the same Sheila. I don't have itch anymore either but have noticed a difference in a month regarding my lady parts. Don't think there is much i can do about that.  The dermatologist said the colour i.e pale skin would prob not go back to normal either.  
  • hanny32508
    hanny32508 elizab62

    Posted

    Hi Elizabeth,

    Not so great to have LS.  However, you have found a good group at Patient UK.  Many people here are most willing to give you support.  There is lots of sharing and good info.  I encourage you to browse through the various topics.

    I have also a thyroid condition with my LS.   I've had low iron, but not any more now.  I go for B12 shots once a month.  

    Hope this helps.

    • elizab62
      elizab62 hanny32508

      Posted

      This site is great. Have used it before when I was first diagnosed and everyone was very helpful.  It's so reassuring to know other people have the same thing and the tips etc are great. Thanks for replying
  • Holiday_girl
    Holiday_girl elizab62

    Posted

    Hi elizab62

    i also suffer with low iron but have done since I was a child now 70 so try to tell doctor I don't need anything he has given up trying to give me different pills. Have to take thyroid tablets for past year but after suffering the dreaded itch for 12 years was diagnosed with LS beginning of the year. Yesterday had to see gyni for check up and she was really pleased with everything said all looked good don't have to go back for another 6 months.

    • elizab62
      elizab62 Holiday_girl

      Posted

      That's great news that you don't have to go back for 6 months . Hope you keep improving. Thanks for replying to me.
  • suzanne00
    suzanne00 elizab62

    Posted

    Hi Elizabeth--Sorry to hear that you have LS. Glad your thyroid apparently is normal. Do you have any thyroid symptoms that you were concerned about?  Low iron isn't too uncommon.  Lots of people need to eat more meat (esp. red meat) or otherwise supplement to keep their iron levels up.  If you are already doing all of that and still have low iron, then it may be time to investigate why, including for example whether there is blood loss affecting your iron levels, or celiac disease (an autoimmune gluten intolerance) which can also keep iron from being properly absorbed, among other reasons for low iron.  Did you doctor give you any recommendations about your low iron levels?  --Suzanne 
    • elizab62
      elizab62 suzanne00

      Posted

      Hi Suzanne. It was the dermatologist at hospital who confirmed my low iron. I have been referred back to gp for treatment but can't get appt for 2weeks. Just bought some iron tablets from health shop.
    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 elizab62

      Posted

      Hi Elizabeth--I'm glad that you will be getting a follow-up on this low iron issue in the coming weeks.  Hope the iron tablets help!  --Suzanne
    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 elizab62

      Posted

      Hi Elizabeth--I'm glad that you will be getting a follow-up on this low iron issue in the coming weeks.  Hope the iron tablets help!  --Suzanne
  • suedm
    suedm elizab62

    Posted

    Hi Elizab are you still mensturating? that can be a cause of low red cells - low iron- check your diet and increase the vegetables that improve the iron intake. Liver and pate  based on liver - if you are not a vegetarian - is a good dietary source of iron as well.  Any leakage of blood - in your stool - it would look black and tarry - do you have piles, or in your urine?. You may not be absorbing iron - How low it is - was the doctor concerned - what was their comment?

    You can buy iron tablets - but they will constipate you after taking them for a while Ask your practice nurse for advice - she will have access to your notes and will see what the medics have said about the condition Good luck

    • elizab62
      elizab62 suedm

      Posted

      Hi suedm. I am 52 and my gp said in July she thought it was LS. I have been really lucky because only 2 months later I hav been referred to and seen a dermatologist who started me on dermovate etc she took a biopsy and blood tests and yesterday I was told I def hav LS and my bloods were normal except for my iron which is just below the bottom end of normal.  I haven't had a period since feb 2011 and I don't have blood in my urine or stools.  I am being referred back to my gp for treatment regarding the iron. My itching etc has stopped which us great.  Feel like a bit of a whinge because compared to some people on this site I hav been very lucky with diagnosis and treatment etc.  thanks for replying to me.
  • Katepoet
    Katepoet elizab62

    Posted

    Calcium citrate taken with each meal can work miracles! It absorbs the oxalic acid in our food and thus we are less likly to break out in LS. In addition, consider going low oxalate on diet. For me, these 2 things put it into remission over a year ago.
    • elizab62
      elizab62 Katepoet

      Posted

      Thanks kate. Don't want to appear ignorant but what is oxalate. As I'm new to all of this I would give anything a try. Could you let me know where I can find more info about this .
    • suzanne00
      suzanne00 Katepoet

      Posted

      Hi Kate--Thanks for the reminder about oxalates.  Just read more about it and am sure that I must have a problem with them due to my symptoms and all of the antibiotics that I've had in my life.  Looks like a probiotic supplement is in development that will replace the missing gut bacteria that we need to digest it--oxalobacter formigenes.  Do you know when it's due out?  I should go on the diet, but I'm not sure how, given that I have to eat a severely restricted diet due to food allergies and food sensitivities already.  Geez, green tea and broccoli. There's A LOT of healthy foods that I eat which are high in oxalates. This certainly may be the missing key for me with a lot of ongoing health problems, but aside from a fecal transplant, not sure how to treat because I don't think that I can eat even less.  What's been your experience with oxalates? Suzanne
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