Has anyon ehere had problems with iron deficiency anemia? For the past yera or so I've been very anemic. I've had all the GI tests and I have no active bleeding,etc. I'm on iron every day but my blood counts don't ever seem to get higher. I have an appt. with my rheumatologist in a couple of weeks to see if htere is some type of absorption problem. Anyone have anemia? TIA. :)

Hi, Shamrock. I was anemic for some years, the B-12 kind. Also had headaches, hair loss, weight loss, severe irritable bowel, spastic bladder, nonscarring arm/torso rashes, joint pain, fatigue, etc. When I was finally Dx'ed with the SCLE form of lupus (that's the one associated with anti-Ro antibodies) & started Plaquenil, the anemia cleared fairly quickly.

I didn't have active bleeding either---had the awful GI tests repeatedly. (ugh).

Good luck with your rheumie appt. And I hope you check in here again soon. Best wishes, Vee

I am also Iron deficient but I haven't bothered with the tests. I am also B12 deficient and take iron pills and B12 shots monthly.

I think I'm going to ask my rheumatologist to check my B12 level and see if it isn't some type of absorption issue. I eat well and take the iron but I'm still anemic for some reason. Last time I saw him he was going to check for occult bleeding with the stool card and forgot to give it to me. I can't imagine that I'd be bleeding internally someplace and not know about it! Especially after having the endoscopies and colonoscopies. I have a non-lupus friend who is going through the exact same thing. Now her doctor wants her to have the test where you swallow the little video capsule to check for occult bleeding. Oh well,I guess they'll figure me out sooner or later! :)

I have had non-organthreatening lupus for years with a positive ANA. Just recently had my first negative ANA and now I have iron deficiency anemia. Any thoughts on if the lupus may still be active due to the anemia? All tests (colon etc. were good), no bleeding.

I had autoimmune hemolytic anemia last year and had to have an Iv iron treatment, through my hemotologist. Just one treatment and now my last cbc said I am only slightly anemic.

I just saw a hematologist last week and my Hct was only 24.1 with Hgb 7.0. He wouldn't let me leave the hospital without giving me the IV iron. I now have to go every Monday for the next 10 weeks to get a bag because the anemia is so bad. They think I don't absorb enough of the oral kind I was taking because my bone marrow is a bit supressed from Prednisone and Methotrexate treatment for the lupus. It's not bad. It goes in over a half hour and I haven't had any bad reactions to it.(knock on wood!). I'm the only one in there that isn't receiving chemotherapy and I thank God for that! The nurse told me today it'll take at least 6 bags of it to even start feeling better because my iron stores were almost 0. Hopefully this will take care of the problem. I have great doctors so I know I'm in good hands no matter what. I've never had the Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia that can go with lupus. I'm glad to know that others get the anemia as well.