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Sudden onset iron deficiency

Posted , 3 users are following.

kate06315
kate06315

I've just heard from my GPS surgery that my most recent blood test shows I have virtually no iron!!! As I have several autoimmune diseases including autoimmune hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, SLE (lupus), Raynauds, Sjorgens, acquired autoimmune hypothyroidism) , I'm rather afraid that this could be pernicious anaemia or hemolytic anaemia, as I've never had a low iron level until now. I was taken off methotrexate due to respiratory problems (side effect) and am on prednisalone 25mg/day. Does anyone have any experience of sudden iron deficiency please? Thanks

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • danny16391
    danny16391 kate06315

    Posted

    My wife developed low iron,and our gp gave her iron pills for almost 2 years,but after seeing her consultant and going through all her blood tests,he discovered that the cause of the low iron was a side issue of her RA,he told my wife it would do her as much good if she threw her iron pills down the toilet.
    • kate06315
      kate06315 danny16391

      Posted

      Thanks for that info Danny, perhaps it's to do with my RA then...I've been worrying myself sick that I've developed yet another autoimmune disease so your post has helped, thank you 😀
  • jean95279
    jean95279 kate06315

    Posted

    Hi Kate, So sorry to hear of all your troubles. Like you I have some autoimmune conditions. I was found to be low in iron and had to be hospitalised and had a blood transfusion because of haemolytic anaemia. It was all pretty scary but thankfully the steroids sorted it out. I got off the steroids after 6 months or so but it did come back. I had another course of steroids and it stopped again and I started a gluten free diet. Although the hospital dismiss the diet as a curiosity the haemolytic anaemia has stayed away for roughly 18 months now, thank goodness!

    I wish you all the very best with this and hope that this inforamtion is reassuring for you.

    • kate06315
      kate06315 jean95279

      Posted

      Hi Jean

      Thank you so much for posting your comment. I do find it very reassuring and I'm grateful to you for the information ...it's scary when new symptoms or test results show up; I've become accustomed to my various conditions, and I'm very well attuned to any changes no matter how small, so anything different makes me very anxious indeed. I suppose it's because there have been 3 or 4 times when my family have been warned to prepare for the worst, luckily I must have someone watching over me because I'm still here 😀 but even though I'm an optimist by nature I do sometimes fear my luck will run out. It's comforting to hear from another person who understands how I feel - I'm wondering if I should try a gluten free diet as an experiment - is it complicated? Thanks and I really hope your health improves as time goes by xxx

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