As many of you have been reading, I've not been feeling well lately. The internist yesterday said my hemoglobin has dropped, which means I am now anemic. The last time it was checked was in the spring and the level was 13 point something-normal is 12-15. Mine is 8.
Everything I read says anemia can be caused by lack of iron or b vitamins, ruled out in my blood work. It can be caused by chronic auto-immune disease, such as the RA I have. It can be caused by bleeding too much, ie heavy periods-I piggy back bc pills, so no periods and when I do have them they are light. I do have gastritis and some bleeding in my vomit and diarrhea. However, one of the drugs I'm on, Imuran, can also cause hemolytic anemia.
I can't think straight but it seems most of these "ill" feelings started around the same time as I started the imuran. I started on a low dose and two weeks later, they doubled it. My RA is most definitely improving but I'm so sick, I can't stand it.
All my "ill" feelings are listed for side effects of the imuran, including the anemia. Headache, tired, jaundice, bruises, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weakness, swollen lymph nodes, chills, fever, dark colored urine (I thought I was just dehydrated) blood in stool, nausea, the list goes on.
The kicker is, I complained of all this to the new rheumy last week and she said it may be the imuran but NOT to stop it. She said I could go to one pill on odd days and two pills on even days, down from 2 pills a day. Its been a week now and no improvement. The internist yesterday also said not to stop it because the Ra would flare so bad and I've already so much joint damage.
I called the rheumys office Monday and she is out of town all week, thats why I went to the internist instead. My appt with the rheumy isn't until the 29th and I had to fight with the receptionist to get that as she doesn't have any appts until mid September.
The other issue is that the internist was concerned with the change in bowel habits, from complete C to so much D and there is blood it in occasionally. So, she scheduled me an appt with a gastro guy the day before I'm supposed to see the rheumy again. She thought I might have some bleeding in my gastro tract which could also cause the anemia but I really think its the imuran.
What do I do? I think the RA pain would be better than feeling so sick. I'm afraid driving because I'm so dizzy and have actually pulled over to barf while driving several times. I'm thinking about going against the medical people and stopping the imuran, at least for a week or two to see if I feel any less sick. I don't want a colonoscopy and endoscopy to rule out gastro bleeding if its all from the imuran. I'm so confused, I can't think straight as it is. Its just EVERYTHING I read says that this drug can cause all my symptoms but they still want me to take it??? Here's one of the short ones on the imuran http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/uh1166
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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