borderline anemia

[Jonndad]

Hello everyone.  I am in the 4th stage of kidney disease and feeling really rundown and tired.  Hardly can make it up the three flights of stairs to our apartment anymore.  The Dr. says I am "borderline" anemic and my iron is right "in the middle".  Could this be causing fatigue and that washed out feeling?  Thank you, John

[jbeany]

Oh, most definitely!

And just what is "borderline"?  Get real numbers, and get some comparison to some test results from a couple of years ago.  Everyone has a different level for normal, so you may be farther below YOUR normal than the doc's "borderline" covers.  If you are seeing a neph, he may be thinking of the "normal" he keeps his dialysis patients at, which is 12 or lower.  That's fine for those at risk of clotting, and because Medicare insists upon that level, but if you aren't on D yet, then your normal level should be closer to 14.  In my experience, docs pay little attention to the difference in how you feel even a point or two higher on the scale - and there is a VERY noticeable difference between 10 and 12.

Are you on iron?  If not, get started.  Better high normal if you are already having problems.

There's also epo or erythropoietin.  It is the hormone kidneys make that tell bone marrow to make red blood cells.  Mine quit making adequate levels of it a decade before I needed to start dialysis, and I started taking artificial epo - brand names Procrit or Arenesp - back then.  It's a shot in a small needle, and you can learn to give it to yourself.

[Jonndad]

The only numbers I know are 305 for the red blood cell count and 56 for the iron.  I guess that is a different scale or something.  Do they make sense to you?  Thank you, John

[jbeany]

The 11's and 12's I was talking about are the hemoglobin count.  RBC or red blood cell count is a different, but related number.  The labs I have stuck on my fridge right now show my red cell count at 459, with a hemoglobin of 13.4, just for reference.  (It's actually 4.59, but that's just a difference in units, not results.)  I'm female, and men tend to have higher hemoglobin naturally.  Just comparing RBC's - I'd say it's time to start asking for some meds!

[alexnikol]

Jonndad for borderline anemia eat beets, lemons, apples and pickles...
I have the same problem and this is  my naturopath recommended. I always knew to eat beets but the other 3, wasnt aware of. that will help you

[paris]

Not pickles!  They are full of salt.  That is what the pickling process is! Salt is NOT good for kidney patients.  Look at a renal diet before adding new foods to your  diet.     Iron rich foods will help raise you level; also cooking in an cast iron pan. 

Before transplant, my hemoglobin count was around 9, with epo and iron infusions.  Now, post it is always at 10 with no shots and infusions.  I can tell a huge difference.    My sister tells everyone she is so anemic and cold and tired.  Her hemoglobin is over 11 - never lower.  She needs to know what you feel like at 7 or 8!!

[Jean]

Gosh Paris, I cant imagine a hemoglobin of 7. Mine is at 10.4 and most of the time I am exhausted. I sure do miss the old me!!!