Low Haemoglobin And Iron

[237SJ]

Is it worth giving iron supplements to someone who is suffering from the symptoms of low haemoglobin or does it not make any difference?

[jourdain2]

I would have thought that it would be worth trying it. Suggest you wait until a medic appears! Seriously, when I had my hip replacement in May my haemoglobin level was so strong that I did not have to take any iron pills beforehand. After the op., I was given iron pills - but after 4 days had to refuse them because they were giving me black diarrhoea. They obviously thought that they were necessary to boost the iron levels.

[bednobs]

it really depends what's causing hte anaemia, as it's not always iron defciency

[pixie373]

It does depend on the cause. What are the symptoms? And how old is the person- it may not even be anaemia.

[237SJ]

Low haemoglobin caused by the bone marrow being displaced by metastic breast cancer. So there isn`t the marrow there to make the haemoglobin. I wondered if additional iron might help being that the diet isn`t that good and is not rich in iron.

[pixie373]

Ah. Won't do any harm. Probably worth a blood test though.

[jourdain2]

You definitely need an answer with some medical background, but, given that the diet isn't iron-rich, a better diet and some supplements should help a bit.

[237SJ]

I did think it wouldn`t do any harm - every little helps and I did ask the registrar Oncologist but she nodded whilst looking at me a bit vaguely (her English isn`t too good!)

[pixie373]

Vitamin B12 might help too

[woofgang]

if the person is going to take an iron supplement, then be careful that it doesn't cause constipation.

[jourdain2]

Good thinking pixie.

[237SJ]

I think that`s the least of her problems, Woofgang. She is just very, very tired and they give a blood transfusion when the haemoglobin gets below '90'. Last test was 93 so borderline for a transfusion so I was wondering if there was anything else I could do to try to help before the next blood test which isn`t until 10th Feb.

[237SJ]

Pixie - I thought I might get this which includes B12 http://www.vitabiotics.com/shop/?productid=54&;gclid=CMvXpa-CsMMCFWjItAodcF0A6A I know it`s not going to make a huge difference in the scheme of things but I can`t think of anything else to help.

[pixie373]

Yes- that seems to have it all. Liquid form is a bit gentler on the stomach, too.

[bednobs]

she'll have to weigh up any side effects of taking the tablets over what if any benefit they are giving her. Perhaps it might be an idea to let her blood levels get low, so she can have the transfusion, rather than letting her levels hang around at aound the

[pixie373]

Not necessarily...one of our clients had the infusions as well as liquid iron to keep the levels stable.

[woofgang]

237SJ, My husband had iron supplementation and transfusions towards the end of his life. believe me, when you are unwell and frail, constipation really doesn't help.

[Sqad]

\\\\Is it worth giving iron supplements to someone who is suffering from the symptoms of low haemoglobin or does it not make any difference?\\\

Big question:

I assume it is a member of your family whose medical history is familiar to me. I agree with the post of bednobs 20.54. Iron by mouth would be more trouble than it is worth and i would wait for transfusion.

if I am wrong and it is a general question, then I would also agree with bednob's answer of 20.32.

[237SJ]

Thanks for the answers. Yes Sqad, it`s my Mum. I did give her my bottle of vitamin pills but she hasn`t taken them so I was thinking that if there is low haemoglobin hurtling around the system then there will be low iron as well. The strange thing is she doesn`t suffer from the classic symptoms of anaemia - she has no shortness of breath or dizzyness so maybe there is something else going on.

[Sqad]

237....I know your concern, but if it were my mother......I would leave well alone. If she is symptomless, then how can iron supplements improve this?

We do know that there is mischief in her bone marrow.....mischief that only transfusion can help.

[237SJ]

She`s not really symptomless though - she`s very tired and just wants to nap all the time. I guess I will have to leave well alone but it`s quite hard to not try to help.