just been told my blood count is low

lynnmick

Hi everyone,
i've been feeling rather low has of late. Keep on getting dizzy and light headed, along with all the other aches and pains associated with rheumatoid, so i went for a blood test to the GP has i was rather concerned has i hadn't had one since July 2011, anyway i had to go for a repeat blood test 2 weeks later , has they said my iron is low. They are now testing my B12 and folate and ferritin i was told by the practice nurse. Has yet i haven't been told how they plan to treat it, i was just wondering if anyone else has ever had this problem, i'm 48 years old and have never been anaemic in my life before, i hope they treat me quick cos i feel so tired and i've no interest in alot of things at the moment.
Look forward to hearing from you
Take care
Lynn x

stickywicket

Try not to worry. (Easier said than done, I know.) I get my bloods done regularly because I’m on meth. My iron levels did drop once. My consultant said RA itself can cause mild anaemia and so can the meds. A course of iron tablets soon sorted it out.

(If you have RA don't you have your bloods tested regularly too? You should do if you're on DMARDS.)

magenta

Hello Lynn,

I don't think I've spoken to you before so 'hello'

Years ago, I was told I had low vit B12 and was immediately prescibed hydroxycobalamin injections. I was on them for over a year and I noticed a difference right from the start. I've also had iron tablets (short course) for anaemia and again, noticed a difference-my energy improved and I felt much healthier. When will you get your results?

Magenta x

lynnmick

Hi there,
Thanks for getting back so quickly, i am taking a DMARD which is plaquenil, i take 2 a day, also i take naproxen but try not to take this if i can get away with it. When i last went to see my rheumy in Nov 2011, he didnt even send me for a blood test which i thought was unusual, so i haven't had a blood test for 10 months until now, and that was because i booked one myself, i am due to see him again next month.
I telephoned my GP today, and my blood results havent arrived back from the hospital as yet so i am phoning again on Wednesday.
Thanks again for talking to me as i do get a bit worried , and sometimes i feel frightened about my disease.

Thank you
Lynn x

stickywicket

If your disease is controlled by plaquenil and anti-inflamms you're doing pretty well. However, anyone taking plaquenil should have regular blood tests. You can have them at your GP's surgery or at the hospital but someone should be ensuring they take place. If that someone has to be you then make sure they happen.

You should also have an annual eye check on this med (Rheumatology normally arrange this) and I'd also question them about taking 2 tablets daily. It might be exactly what they intend but I was put on plaquenil and methotrexate together and it wasn't until 10 years later, when my rheumatologist retired and I got a new one, that I discovered it's normal to only stay on the two plaquenil daily for the first 6 months. After that, one is the normal dose. However, that might only apply when taking meth alongside it.

Let's know how you get on.

lynnmick

hi stickeywicket,
thanks for that, when i first went to see my rheumy in 2011 he put me on plaquenil 2 a day, i must admit i found a great difference on the fatigue side but the pain side remained mostly the same. When i next went to see him 4 months later he dropped them to 1 a day, and i felt awful, and felt like i was taking no medication at all, i then received some injections in my elbow neck and wrist which mostly helped and he upped the plaquenil to 2 a day that was in july 2011 and ive been on them ever since. I must admit that my pains are constant though on a daily basis in my affected joints, my elbow is stuck at an angle and has been like that for 2 years , my neck pain is tremendous and my wrist pain is getting worse and my knuckles and thumb are starting to become deformed so i really dont know whether or not the plaquenil is working, although my blood results apart from the anaemia are quite good, but obviously this doesnt reflect on whats happening to my joints. I 'm just wondering if you've ever heard of plaquenil making anyone anaemic before. Thanks for replying
Lynn xx

stickywicket

As I said, my rheumatologist told me that both RA, and the meds taken for it, can make people anaemic. Then, as now, I was taking both plaquenil and meth so the plaquenil could well have been responsible.

What does come over though is that, whatever you're taking doesn't seem to be holding the disease at bay too effectively right now so, if you haven't seen your rheumatologist since November, I think it's time to ring the helpline and have a chat with them re a quicker appointment or a steroid jab or something. I hope the other thing is just a blip but at least your GP is trying to sort it out. Let's know how you get on.

skezier

Hi Lynn,

My bloods show anaemia here an there and have done on and off for years. Mines always been treated by either tablets or B complex injections and tables.

Its sadly something that jst seems to happen from time to time and hopefully they will soon get you on some treatment.

After I started the mtx they also upped the folic acid to 10mls everyday except the day I do the mtx one. In my case they said that might help as well.

Hope you will soon get some treatment and feel a lot better. Cris x

dreamdaisy

I dip in and out of anaemia, I take a course of iron tablets and then all is well until the next time. DMARDs do not necessarily affect pain levels but especially so if you are not on something that is controlling the disease - it sounds to me as though the planq is not enough for you at the moment but I am not a doc! I hope you can get to see someone soon for a review, I think you may need one. RA can be a progressive disease and things do need to be adjusted from time to time. I wish you well. DD

fowls48

Hi Lynn


Sorry i cannot help as i'm am newly diagnosed but know how your feeling , if i had my way i would sit in front of the telly and vegetate .((((()))))xxx


karen.

lynnmick

thanks for all your replys everyone, i'm just a bit intrigued about the helpline that sticky has mentioned, as i didn't know there was one or is it just my hospital helpline, am i being a bit thick lol

lynn x

lynnmick

hi karen,

Thanks for replying, don't worry the people on here will put your mind at rest with any problems that you might have, have you got the RA type arthritis ? You dont sound very old to have health problems ( i'm going just by your name really )

Lynn x

dreamdaisy

There is a helpline here, the number is at the top of the page but I think your better bet is your rheumatology helpline. The AC helpine is not a 'medical' one as such but they are great to talk to when one is suffering from the outrageous slings and arrows of this disease. DD

lynnmick

thanx daisy xx

lynnmick

hi everyone

just thought i'd let you know that the GP's surgery phoned me today and said that my ferritin was the problem and they gave me enough iron tablets to last for 3 months at 2 a day. Then they are going to repeat the test in 3 months to see how things are. I feel alot better now knowing that i have the medication, i wanted to feel alot better for 23rd june has we are celebrating mine and my grand daughters birthday ( she is 3 and a little princess ) with a BBQ at our house and i'm really looking forward to having more energy for that. Hope that the weathers lovely though and its not rained off LOL.

Lynn x

stickywicket

Thanks for the update, Lynn. I’m glad it can be easily treated with iron meds.

I hope you both have good birthdays, a good BBQ and, dare I say it, good weather

Keep up with those blood tests now :roll: