anemia a side affect??

devillete
devillete Member Posts: 14
edited 6. May 2010, 11:43 in Living with Arthritis archive
hi all,
since being diagnosed with osteoarthritis last yr i've had ALOT of anemia (quite bad too) and now my gp just gives me iron and folic acid without telling me why, unexpected add on with my normal prescription.
just stumbled across a page that says it is assosciated with arthritis and the meds etc, anyone have any experience with this? just feel like crying now, gp made out it was me that was causing the anemia and i should improve my diet but i've never had it before apart from in pregnancy.

kate

Comments

  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Helllo,
    I don't know what type of arthritis you have but I have read that it can be associated with some types, but I'm no medic! :shock: I'm so sorry for you that your GP has brushed you aside, but I'm sure some one on here who has experience of the problems of anemia will come along soon and give you their experience!

    The only thing that I do know, is that vegitariens have to be very careful to get their full quota of iron from the diet, but thats nothing to do with arthritis and vegies certainly can manage to live with happily with the correct amount of iron, if they make sure they get a mixture of foods, the same as all of us, really.

    Do you have a rhuemmy nurse you could talk to or even, if your doctor is blamming your diet, deitian, excuse the speellling, my heads gone for a walk, I thinK :lol:
    Lots of love Sue

    PS welcome to the site! I've just realised your new on here and I'm so glad you've found us!!! :)
  • devillete
    devillete Member Posts: 14
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    hi sue, i have osteo in my hands and possibly back!
    the only person i see is my gp, he has refered me to bone dr for mri scans but been waiting since last oct, he hasnt refered me to anyone else just says he can treat it with lodine and kapake for the pain (not alot of kapake at the)
    since april last yr i thought the anemia was my fault, when he found that out i was close to blood transfusion it was that bad and was on iron and folic acid for about 6 mths, now he is prescribing it again but i thought it must of been a mistake cos i've had no other blood tests since then. have been feeling bad lately and wondering if i'm anemic again :roll:
  • cthornley
    cthornley Member Posts: 627
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    devillete wrote:
    hi all,
    since being diagnosed with osteoarthritis last yr i've had ALOT of anemia (quite bad too) and now my gp just gives me iron and folic acid without telling me why, unexpected add on with my normal prescription.
    just stumbled across a page that says it is assosciated with arthritis and the meds etc, anyone have any experience with this? just feel like crying now, gp made out it was me that was causing the anemia and i should improve my diet but i've never had it before apart from in pregnancy.

    kate

    Hi Kate, sorry that this seems to be adding to your troubles. I have RA so I can't answer for sure in your case but these are a few things that come to mind immediately.
    Your Dr should be supportive and explain exactly the nature of what they are prescribing and why – this is their job although as we all know some are better at it than others and even the good ones have off days sometimes. :roll: However Dr’s should always discuss with you adding drugs to your prescription and explain it to you. Do not be afraid to call them on this or ask for an explanation. I am a well known Dr bully lol but this has taken many years of practice and I know it can be difficult especially if you are not confident in what you are asking.
    I know that with some of the RA drugs – generally the DMARD type put you in line for anaemia as they depress your foliate levels when they dampen down your immune system – this is why you take extra folic acid with them but I’m not sure why this would be a side effect of OA drugs as I presume they work slightly differently
    Being ill & in pain will generally wear you down and make you more susceptible due to many reasons – including loss of appetite due to pain, fatigue, lack of sleep etc and this could just tip you over the balance without even realising.
    Your dr is right to mention your diet as you may need to boost it a little at the moment to see you through this – although I’m guessing they could have been more helpful rather than accusatory on this.
    Hope this helps a bit & you get sorted
    Chrissie
    :D
  • wibberley
    wibberley Member Posts: 421
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I don't know what age you are but it's very common among women of menstruating age.

    Also, I do think there is a link between anemia (sp?) and arthritis and the drugs used to treat it.

    I'm on ferrous sulphate for life now - breastfed 3 kids, was veggie for 10 years, heavy monthlies and arthritis make it unlikely that I'd ever have decent iron levels even with a decent diet!

    Lois x
  • devillete
    devillete Member Posts: 14
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    i'm 27 with 4 young children, youngest 18mths and oldest 8. i was also veggie for 10yrs before i had my oldest.
    i didnt know fatigue etc were part of this! seems like theres alot my dr hasnt told me.
    might have to go kick some gp ****

    thanks girls
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Kate,

    I am sorry your feeling like crying and sending a ((( ))) first. It can be a side effect of some of the drugs and can indicate some absorption problems...... I your digestive tract working ok?

    I think your gp could be dong a lot more for you..... can you see a different one in the practice? I think you should start if you can by finding out why you are getting anemic and for that you need a referral as its obvious the gp either doesn't know or is not too bothered but who would you go to I don't know... differently a different gp! I think ask for a blood test to.

    Dig in and ask why is this happening and can they send you to someone who can explain it (would it be cardiovascular? I can't remember, sorry). I think you also need an referral to the ortho (fracture clinic normally) and see someone a bit more clued up..... but please see a different gp! Another ((( ))) Cris x
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Kate

    Your gp is wrong to accuse you of becoming anaemic. I am so sorry you have a totally unsympathetic gp who will not refer you either. (from reading your other postings).

    Many vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters suffer from the anaemia and vegetarians and vegans do not have any higher incidence of anemia than meat eaters do. Still, the most common cause of anemia is dietary deficiency and sometimes vegetarians, like anyone else, eat diets too high in starchy or processed foods and too low in fruits and vegetables. When the cause of anemia is a dietary deficiency, whether in iron, B-12 or folate, increasing fruits and vegetables in the diet will help.

    By the way, you do not mention in any of your postings that your gp has prescribed anti inflammatory or painkillers for you. Both can help immensely with pain and discomfort. Unfortunately cocodamols in the higher strengths do cause constipation.

    Without being anaemic, one gets tired with Osteo Arthritis. You may well be getting a treble whammy of tiredness if are anaemic too. I do feel very sorry that you are not getting the help you should be. After all you help along with us all to keep these people in a job.

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    All sorts of things cause anaemia and it's easy to fix. Iron tablets are the usual first resort of docs - they are effective tho it may take time and they can cause constipation. ( If that occurs the doc can supply Movicol or Docusate to move things along) Diet-wise there are many options to boost iron levels, water cress and broccoli spring to mind, so do pilchards (or am I confusing those with good stuff to prevent osteporosis? Can't remember). Everyone recommends red meat but I think that's over-rated, probably because I'm not over-fond of it!

    Four children under the age of 8? OA to boot? Still menstruating? No wonder you're anaemic. Swallow the iron tabs and folic acid (good for boosting many aspects of the gentle sex), make any adjustments to your diet that you think will help, and see what happens. Do you have regular blood tests? I have PA and take many things so my bloods are checked fortnightly/monthly. I was on iron tablets for six months and everything's ok on that front now. Good luck with it all. Dreamdaisy
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi again Kate,

    I agree, you should be monitored with this anaemia, with regular blood tests. If I am right, 11.6 is the magical number, but the higher the better. I was a little under, after an operation but nothing too bad. I am trying to eat lots of fish but if you are veggie you may not eat fish..... Eggs, cheese and milk are good to eat if you are anaemic.

    I wish you well with that,

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • bailey27
    bailey27 Member Posts: 689
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi
    When going for the usual blood tests after taking sulpha I was told I was anaemic after first test, they monitored it for a bit and then told me i needed to take iron supplements. I take ferrous sulphate / fumerate (depending on which is cheapest for the chemist i guess).

    If you are veggie then brocolli has a lot of iron.