rheumatoid & anemia

[Bonemeal]

hi all i wonderd if any one has pernicious anemia whith rheumatoid
this is due to the body being unable to absorb vit b12 from food..
requiring b12 injections for life. i had 6 injections 1 every 2 weeks then
1 a month.. allso i need 5mg folic acid daily.. it was discoverd on blood test
for perephial neuropathy.. it took over 2 yrs of complaining to get tested..
i have now suffered nerve damage and have high blood pressure..
original symptoms were burning tingling in lips shins hands.. bp went up
then lose of feeling extreme fatique.. and raging tinnitus.. i am feeling
a little better now.. i have had the rheumatoid 15yrs and was told i have bad
ra and i have to live whith it :( if no one listens keep complaining..

Bonemeal :cool:

[addiew23]

I don't have anemia currently because I'm pregnant and taking daily prenatal vitamins. Prior to my pregnancy I was anemic. I'm not sure if it's related to the RA though. I plan on continuing the prenatals after this pregnancy though so it doesn't happen again.

[DaisyGirl]

I am suffering from anemia as well. My doctor has started me on the B12 shots. They are far more unpleasant than the Methotrexate shots I give myself. In addition to the B12 I have to take 325mg of Iron daily as well. My situation is a little different though, I've battled anemia all of my life. My mother has as well. We have recently discovered that my mother has Thalassemia. In normal blood tests, it looks just like anemia, but in fact it has more to do with the hemoglobins not maturing to adult hemoglobins and staying fetal hemoglobins. My family doctor has recently run tests on me to see if I have Thalassemia as well, since it is inherited genetically. If you have had a history of Anemia most of your life, you may want to have this blood test done.

[julie]

I had aneamia after a major flare a while ago , i am currently doing ok but i was so tired it was unbelievable ! I would just drop off asleep even when i had a visitors i would just nod off i felt a bit embarressed to say the least .

[mozart]

When I was young, I was anemic. It was due to lack of sleep and I was really stressed out with all these school works. I would eat iron rich food and take iron tablets that would make me fall asleep. However, I don't have RA. I just wonder, would if affect your RA if you have anemia?

[vlada]

I had an anemia but it was the complication after the flu. I was in the very bad conditions because the hemoglobin of my blood was very low. I had felt an incredible weakness. In the end of the ends I had to agree to the splenectomy. But the last one really helped me a lot and I feel much better today.

[Mockingbird]

I never knew that B12 was related to anemia, but I suppose it makes sense, I read that lack of B12 changes the way that your intestines can absorb nutrients. Can' say I am happy to hear the shots are unpleasant, right now I am on supplements if that don't work the shots are next YIKES!

[naturelover]

It is medically proven that people with RA develop Anemia because of iron deficiency due to gastrointestinal blood loss. Also I have studied that Anemia gets developed because of deficiency of iron strength in one's body. So, if one is feeling very nervous and giddiness, and are undergoing treatment for RA, they should take double care.

[DaisyGirl]

Recently I found out that I indeed have Thalassemia, (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassemia )not anemia. It presents medically just like anemia, and often doctors never know that's not it unless you have a specific blood test done to find it. I have all of the same symptoms of anemia, especially the fatigue, but it is not due, in my case to an iron deficiency. This condition genetic and can be passed down from generation to generation. If you have a family history of anemia, consider asking your doctor to test for Thalassemia. You may be taking iron or other medicines you don't need, and you along with your doctor may find other treatments that work better. In some cases blood transfusions are required. I am lucky that I do not have to take them, as I don't have that severe of a form of the disease. Remember, your doctor isn't all knowing. Help him or her treat you.

Best wishes,
Daisy Girl