Anemia and Irregular Heartbeat - Anemia Message Board

brooke@home · 04-28-2002, 06:03 PM

I have had an irregular heartbeat that was getting progressively worse until my doctor determined after bloodtests, that I am very anemic. I went on an iron supplement that also included B12 and folic acid. Finally the irregular heartbeat stopped after a few weeks. Is this a common symptom of anemia? I have noticed that recently some heart fluttering has returned and I am kind of discouraged. Could my body not be absorbing the iron? I have also had a history headaches for years.

Venus Envy · 05-02-2002, 09:35 AM

Brooke, I have chronic iron-deficiency anemia due to an inability to absorb iron. Also have an irregular heartbeat (PCVs), probably because of the anemia. I do know that the PCVs are worse when I'm fatigued or my iron counts are low. Because I don't absorb the iron from oral supplements, I have IV iron dextran infusions every few months or when my counts are out of whack. Has your doc done an iron absorption test? Have you seen a hematology oncologist (they see this sort of thing most often)? How about a cardiologist?

NancyH · 05-04-2002, 01:14 AM

iron and B-12 deficiency both can cause PVC's and most of the time it isn't anything to fret about as far as the Dr's are concerned. I wouldn't worry too much as PVC's are usually benign in origin, but if it still bothers you it probably would ease your mind if you had a cardiologist check it out.

brooke@home · 05-04-2002, 06:47 PM

Thanks Venus and Nancy. I got the latest bloodtest results which showed my iron absorption was up from 4 to 4.3%. My doctor said that normal is over 15%. This is after three months of iron/B12/folic acid supplements. Venus, how is an iron absorption test done? Is it a bloodtest? I will ask my doctor about referring me to a hematologist. She seems to think that in a premenipausal woman, my rbc and iron levels might indicate some gastrointestinal bleeding. Testing for that so far has been negative. I don't really want to go through a colinoscopy unless it is definitely indicated. And, wouldn't my iron level be significantly higher after the three months of supplements? The PVCs stopped after a month, but they have come back sporadically since then. I know the doctors don't seem too concerned by them but to me, they are just a reminder that something just isn't right with my body.

NancyH · 05-06-2002, 10:41 PM

Are you perimenopausal??? Is that what you were trying to say? My blood work started acting up about the time I was going into perimenopause and it created havoc for several years. Colonoscopy isn't so bad, the prep work you do at home is a pain in the rear but the test is nothing so don't fear it. Your RBC is pretty low I'd go through further testing.