Still Anemic

[cremer]

After my triple heart bypass about 7 weeks ago I was anemic and given iron tablets, I've since been retested twice and I'm still anemic.

Could this be Sjogrens related as in my body isn't making red blood cells as it should?

How long does it take your body to remake red blood cells?

My WBC has always been on the low side as well?

Mick

[anita]

Anemia with Sjogren's is quite common.  How anemic are you talking? 

I get periodic ferrlecit infusions to keep my levels up.  You should have your ferritin checked also to see if your iron stores are low.

[cremer]

The last one was 9.5 and if I remember right the normal level of hemoglobin is 13-17.

[anita]

I'm sorry but it's kind of scary to think you've have heart surgery with certain post-op visits as well...and no one has addressed this.  oral iron takes forever to bring levels up...especially if your stores are low (ferritin).  I would have your GP address this if the cardio won't. 

[sage]

Hi cremer: All the best in bringing your hemoglobin back up.  Was it ok before the surgery?  They may have figured it was from loss of blood during surgery?  Can a nutritionist also offer some advice on foods that help improve the count - I was thinking a VERY lean, juicy small black angus steak might be allowed with some dark leafy greens    Or maybe a pomegranate. 

I have heard of low vitamin B12 happening in sjogren's syndrome from lack of stomach intrinsic factor but I think that is a different hemoglobin blood test.

I wish you well 

[dbab]

Hi cremer,  Oral supplements do take a long time as anita says.  I'm currently going through the lengthy process.  Since my hemocrit and hemoglobin are low but not in dangerous levels and its mostly my iron storage ferratin that is ridicously low they are just staying with the high iron pills for me now but had it been my iron serum they would have jump started it with iron shots.  Have they said anything about this for you?

[Carolina]

Hi Cremer,

I've been anemic since starting in 2005.   No reason ever found.   Lots of test, no apparent blood loss.

My doctor kept thinking that after I took iron supplements and my anemia got better that I could STOP the supplements.

Nope.

The anemia always comes back.  So I just take iron twice a day, every day.   As long as there isn't an identifiable reason, it is called idiopathic anemia.

I have idiopathic anemia, neuropathy, and sicca.  And IC, I sure thought I would be sero positive for Sjogren's by now, but nooooooo.

I have NO Autoimmune conditions identified through blood work.   I do have Sicca (dry dry dry) and Interstitial Cystitis, and Neuropathy in my feet and legs.

When I did lots of research I found that anemia is a frequent co-condition of autoimmune syndromes, in very high percentages.

But perhaps your surgery also triggered something.  Who knows?

Just another thing to monitor.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/red-blood-cells.html

"The production rate of red blood cells per day is approximately 200 billion."

Sooo, how was the bypass?   People seem to recover, but it looks like a horror show to me!   My doctor told me in 1999 that he would "do the angioplasties with stents now, and save the bypass for later".   That still freaks me out, to think I'll wind up with a bypass.

I guess I should be grateful they are possible, that and knee replacements, which the orthopedist recently told me would be my next 'engagement' with him down the road.

Sigh.

I HATE falling apart like this.  What's the alternative?   oh well

Keep us posted on your anemia.

Hugs

Elaine

[cremer]

Elaine the bypass was easy compared to the three angioplasties I had before. I seemed to recover pretty quick and have never had any pains since except for the sternum knitting back together.

I'm at Rehab now and find it's really helping with my fitness. I start back to work this monday on a phased light duty return.

I was never anemic before the bypass surgery and as far as I know did not loose lots of blood during the surgery.

I'm not feeling tired or anything so maybe it's not affecting me to much.

I'm seeing my surgeon this Thursday the first time since the bypass so will ask him about the anemia.

My GP doesn't seem that bothered and said it's low but not really low and Iron supplements should bring it up to normal. Hence the 6 week gap and 2 retests.

I'll let you know how i get on.

[Carolina]

Well Cremer, I have to believe you!   

But it surely seems brutal compared to the angioplasties.  But you are the expert.  Sometimes it is amazing how things actually work out.

I had my angioplasties over a three day period, two entries, one on Tuesday, and one on Thursday.  I was so stunned by all of it that is was sort of like a bad dream.   I had no idea I had a heart problem, and I didn't have a heart attack (thank goodness). 

Plus I had a major reconstructive hysterectomy and bladder tack four months before the angioplasties, then shoulder surgery two months before the angioplasties, surgery to remove the bladder tack which was abscessed,  two months after the angioplasties, and then surgery to put the bladder tack BACK four months after that.

Six times into surgery in 10 months.   So it was all a blur really.  Plus working full time in between.   Fortunately I was able to retire then, just to recover emotionally and physically.

you're back at work?  amazing.   Sjogren's AND heart by pass.   I'm in awe.

Thanks for posting again.

Hugs

Elaine

[sage]

cremer: congratulations on going back to light work - I hope you will feel much better every day.

The raynaud's I had in my hands has improved since I had open heart surgery which is amazing considering we have had a lot of snow this year in this part of Oregon.

Elaine: that was an awful lot to go through in a short period of time

[cremer]

Elaine you have been through so much I think a great big pat on the back is in order.

All my angioplasties went through both groins and for some reason the nurses had a problem stopping the blood flow after the operation, I was bruised completely, imagine the area of where a pair of boxer shorts sit on your body, I was black all over that area and it hurt to walk for weeks after.

The bypass on the other hand was OK, I was walking within days and felt really good.

If and when you need your bypass, don't worry yourself, think positive and you will get through it.

[irish]

Just thought I would jump in here and fill in some gaps. First of all, if you are a woman your hemaglobin should be 12-14 ---or at least in the USA. Also, it takes a really, really long time to get that hemaglobin back up. A couple of months is not enough time to get too excited.

However, you should ask your doc about taking vitamin C with your iron tabs as they help with the absorption of the med. Also, taking calcium really close to the dosing time of iron pills will prevent absorption. Be aware that many times docs settle for the iron pills because they are not as ready to give blood transfusions as they were years ago. They figure that it is better to get your hemoglobin up with foods and iron tabs.

One thing you can do is eat cold cereal that has iron in it. The cereal "Total" has 100 percent of your daily need in one serving. I have low ferritin levels much of the time and it one point it was down to 6 and my hemoglobin was 9.6 also. I was put on the iron tabs a couple of times a day with the vitamin C and it took many months to get my iron level back up.

You most likely are having problems with iron because of surgury and because of the autoimmune stress on your body from the surgury. Talk to your doc about this. You will have to keep your lifestyle down to a dull roar when your energy level is low but eventually I would think things will return to normal. It may take longer because of the chronic autoimmune disease.

If you just feel like you are getting no place with this get a referral to a hematologist who can assess your condition and make recommendations. Good luck.  Irish

[cremer]

Great advice and many thanks Irish