Low Hemoglobin

[carriej22]

Well, this is a new one for me.

I went in yesterday and discovered I have low hemoglobin, pale cells, and she said something about iron but I can't for the life of me remember.

She has put me on a special diet, protein based, and going in a few weeks for a recheck.

Anyone else have these issues?

[mrtmeo]

My mom has low hemoglobin, hemocrit and rbc's from the disease, but she doesn't have pale cells.
Her iron is fine, but they still call it anemia.
I believe hers is due to some internal bleeding that they can't find.
When she was on 1 mg mofetil, it was going away, but she can't tolerate the 1mg everyday.

Did they do the iron panels?

[carriej22]

They did not. She added a bunch of stuff onto my bloodwork in a few weeks time, and in the mean time has me on a very protein oriented diet... Which normally isn't something I eat a lot of. Red meats, fish, eggs.

I'm kind of confused because upon googling this seems like it could be a somewhat pressing issue and she was just sort of brushing it off.

[mrtmeo]

They did not. She added a bunch of stuff onto my bloodwork in a few weeks time, and in the mean time has me on a very protein oriented diet... Which normally isn't something I eat a lot of. Red meats, fish, eggs.

I'm kind of confused because upon googling this seems like it could be a somewhat pressing issue and she was just sort of brushing it off.

Unfortunately, we humans can't survive without eating animals and animal products without some serious supplementation.
There is almost no b12 in vegan foods that is absorbable in the human body.
Do u supplement with b12?

The iron fortification in foods is of ferrite form (iron filings) and this is not the form the body can use.
Humans need the ferrous forms of iron, but there should be enuf in vegetables, such as spinach.
Folate is another item that might not be asorbed by those who have an MTHFR mutation.
This mutation is becoming very common and they usually supplement with L-Methylfolate.
MTHFR genetic defect - Stop the Thyroid Madness?

Eggs are very nutritious because it is a whole food that makes a whole chicken.
Butter is also, very nutritious when it comes from grassfed cows without antibiotics or hormones.

Do u have another dr that you could get a 2nd opinion?

[carriej22]

Oh don't get me wrong, I eat meat... Just not very much fish (not a fan) and red meat because here, beef is very expensive. We eat a lot of chicken and that sort of thing.

I do have a second doctor who I am waiting to call on Monday when he gets back. He would have seen these lab results and never said anything, so I'm not sure what to think of that.

[mrtmeo]

Oh don't get me wrong, I eat meat... Just not very much fish (not a fan) and red meat because here, beef is very expensive. We eat a lot of chicken and that sort of thing.

I do have a second doctor who I am waiting to call on Monday when he gets back. He would have seen these lab results and never said anything, so I'm not sure what to think of that.

You can call his office and ask questions and the nurse may get your answers for you and call back.
If you have a rheumy or nephrologist, they might tell you more.

[carriej22]

Thanks guys. I guess I will just wait and see what happens with the testing.

[mrtmeo]

Let us know how things go.

[Empty bucket]

Have you had Rituxan treatments? Maybe the cause of low IgG.kills the B cells right? My doctor is kinda thinking that's why mine is low. I had treatments yearly 09,10,11,&12. Had my IgG checked last year and it's 450-500. Either it's been that way for most of my life or the Rituxan could have caused it. Of course it was never checked until last year. The reason it was checked was because I could never shake the sinus problems no matter how good I felt other wise. Be interesting to see if those who received Rituxan have low IgG levels. I actually started a thread about this a while back but didn't get any response.
Maybe That I don't know what I'm taking about. That's definitely a possibility!

[mrtmeo]

Have you had Rituxan treatments? Maybe the cause of low IgG.kills the B cells right? My doctor is kinda thinking that's why mine is low. I had treatments yearly 09,10,11,&12. Had my IgG checked last year and it's 450-500. Either it's been that way for most of my life or the Rituxan could have caused it. Of course it was never checked until last year. The reason it was checked was because I could never shake the sinus problems no matter how good I felt other wise. Be interesting to see if those who received Rituxan have low IgG levels. I actually started a thread about this a while back but didn't get any response.
Maybe That I don't know what I'm taking about. That's definitely a possibility!

My mom's IgG levels are below normal and very low IgM which, I believe, is from the Rituxan, but she has MPA.
I have read that rituxan can lower igG, IgM and IgA levels.
IgA levels effect the mucosal secretions in the GI tract, respiratory and sinuses.
Selective IgA Deficiency | Immune Deficiency Foundation