Anemia

[lauralee77]

Have any of you experienced anemia with your lupus? The doctor at the hospital thinks it was the prednisone increase (from 10 mg - 40 mg a day) that caused bleeding in my stomach, like an ulcer or something. The anemia got so bad that I had to have blood transfusion. It's over a week later now and I am doing okay, but still weak and I get dizzy when I walk around sometimes. Thankfully I have color in my skintone now. I was a chalky white color before I had the transfusion. I see my rhuematologist in one week. Just wondered if anyone out there had experienced anemia and if so, how bad was it and what kind of anemia was it?

[halfpintfl]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wavey.gif Hi, I called mine a flare, but looking back, it was both. The meds that we
are on effect each one of us differently. And mine got me so sick to my stomach,
that I couldn't eat, got sick at even the mention of food. Then after a few weeks of
this, yes, I guess I did become enemic. I went down to 89 pounds. Went to the Rheumy,
he was bumfuzzeled, told hubby to take me home, and start me drinking "Ensure", to
build me back up. It did work, it just didn't work overnight. But it was my meds. They
just wern't for me, and he had to find one that he tthought was the culprit, and change it
for another. He did, it worked. I hope this helps some. If there is anything else that
I can help with, just PM me. good luck, and eat something, stressed spelled backwards
is desserts!!!!!

Be well and keep posting.
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[Lily]

((((((((lauralee))))))))

A bleeding stomach ulcer woud be the most likely culprit in your case and it should improve as the ulcer heals.

I'm sure your Rheumy will run some blood tests to try and determine exactly whats going on and whether there are other things contributing. There are many causes of anemia and different severities with us. But it seems pretty logical if you had a bleeding ulcer and had to have a transfusion that it may turn out to be the cause.

Good luck with your appointment, you have a lot to discuss with the Rheumy, dont forget to take a list with you.

love
Lily

[lauralee77]

Teri,
I am now taking iron pills as well. They are supplements made for people who are iron-deficient. I am also eating alot better (thanks to that darned prednisone i've consumed too much Easter candy) now that i'm not in the hospital and also trying to eat iron-rich foods. I was on depo-provera for months and now i need to go get another shot. It's one less thing to worry about when you don't have to deal with that time of the month.
I didn't know iron was so good for the old ticker, either.
Lily, thanks for the reminder. I will take a list of questions to the doctor this time. I am going to be fully prepared!
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[Lily]

Hi lauralee,

Have they established you have an iron deficiency? If you had heavy periods as well as your current problems then maybe you have two different types of anemia going on here. Its not uncommon which is why its best to raise this with your Rheumy, make him aware of whats gone on whilst you were in hospital and inform him of everything you are taking, that includes iron supplements and the depo provera . . Some find Depo is of great benefit if its the only thing that will help heavy periods, but it should always be ok'd by your Rheumy because it is a hormonal treatment and may cause problems in some of us.

If you have iron deficiency anemia then taking iron is one way to fix that, but I would get it checked every now and then because excess iron in your system can also be bad and cause problems.

Teri if anemia is really severe then it can affect our hearts - that should improve once the anemia is under control, perhaps thats what your doc meant.

love
Lily

[lauralee77]

I had a very rapid heartbeat with my anemia. I am taking beta blockers now as well as the iron.