Newly Diagnosed Need Help Understanding

langeleyes · 08-02-2008, 06:26 PM

After years of getting progressively more sick, my doc finally sent me to a hematologist. My blood work came back as follows: My iron count was 5, they said it should be 13. My red blood cell capacity is at a 4% and they said it should be between 20-55%, and my B-12 is 169, they said it should not be any lower than 180. After all these years (3) of complaining to my doc of not feeling well, I'm not to confident with a hematologist telling me what to do. My doc told me it was stress, then sent me to the hemo doc. I have been experiencing fatigue to where I just can't move my body, severe leg cramps, feeling like I'm passing out, dizziness, pale skin, my nails have always been very long, now they are short and brittle and I don't bite them-they've been long since I was 12, I'm now 42. My hair doesn't grow, it breaks off and I'm loosing it. I tried different shampoos, brushes, you name it, to no avail. I get confused sometimes for no reason. I swell horribly in the face, stomach and legs. I watch the salt, and doc ruled out anything with the kidneys. The other day, my heart was missing beats, so I coughed to get it back on track and then it started racing like heck. Doc checked my heart and said it was fine. Are all these things related to the anemia?

Just how bad is my anemia? The doc wants me to take 3 pills a day that are 325 mg each-is that normal to take that much. The back of multi-vitamins show 18mg in a vitamin. I'm confused and not too sure about this stuff.

langeleyes · 08-02-2008, 06:30 PM

It is actually my iron binding capacity that is 4% and should be between 20-55%. I wrote the wrong wording down.

ChristineVA · 08-02-2008, 06:45 PM

So, you are both B12 and iron deficient. No wonder you feel so bad.

Yes, all of your bad feelings stem from both deficiencies.

The amount of iron you are prescribed is normal for someone with iron as low as yours. Just a word of caution: I would not try to take 3 of these tablets in one day right off the bat. Take one a day for a week, then add the second tablet in for week 2, then so on. Ferrous sulphate can wreak havoc on the GI system and you don't want to take too much too soon.

The next step is determining why you have these deficiencies. They are not normal and are not a disease but a symptom of some other disease. For iron deficiency, you either are losing too much blood through your menstrual cycle, or you are bleeding from the GI tract. The next issue would be that you have a malabsorption disease such as celiac. High doses of PPIs (Nexium/Prilosec) can also impair absorption.

B12 is a separate issue and is not caused by blood loss. It is either due to a condition called pernicious anemia where your body lacks intrinsic factor to absorb B12, or again, celiac disease, or poor diet.

Besides treating yourself for the deficiencies, you need to figure out why you have them. It is important.

langeleyes · 08-03-2008, 10:39 AM

I take 40 mg of Nexium a day. My menstrual cycle is not that heavy. Could the Nexium have caused the iron deficiency? What can I expect from taking the iron pills? Any severe reactions, as in allergic reaction? I am scared to death to take meds and it took me a long time just to take the Nexium. As far as bleeding from the GI tract, doubtful. No blood in stools at all.

ChristineVA · 08-03-2008, 11:21 AM

Yes, the Nexium *can* impair some of your absorption. It should not impair all of it though.

Also, I did not have any blood in my stools either (I took the 3 day fecal occult test and it was negative); however, when I had the upper GI scope, there was bleeding in the stomach. Go figure.

I understand about worrying about reactions. I react to everything. In fact, when I took Feosol, I got a HUGE welt on my chest as I am allergic to one of the additives. I do fine with Flinstones Chewalbles for children (with iron) and I take another brand that I get at the health food store that has very little extra ingredients. You should not be allergic to the iron itself (although I'm sure it's not impossible). You could have problems with the binders. Just find one that has minimal additives. Most "drugstore" brands will be full of stuff.