Lupus Support Group
Lupus is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system cannot distinguish between threats (like viruses and bacteria), and healthy cells and tissue. As a result, the body produces antibodies that inflict cell damage, most commonly targeting joints, skin, kidneys and the nervous system. Join the group and find support for coping with lupus.
The doctor's think I have anemia now. Do any of you lupies have anemia? They're testing my iron stores in a week, which i'm hoping its that because the next option is hemolytic anemia which scares me a lot. I don't want another diagnosis. I have been a vegetarian for a couple years so i'm hoping that's causing it. The idea that the autoimmune disease is attacking my red blood cells and enlarging my heart and giving me heart palpitations scares the crap out of me.
You might try asking for supplements (prescription) to help with the anemia if they haven't done that already.
That usually does the trick for me.
In the following study researchers found a high incidence of anemia and low vitamin B12 in lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.The researchers concluded that the incidences of anemia and decreased vitamin B12 levels were high in these three groups of patients.
Anemia, serum vitamin B12, and folic acid in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Segal, R., Y. Baumoehl, O. Elkayam, D. Levartovsky, I. Litinsky, D. Paran, I. Wigler, B. Habot , A. Leibovitz, B.A. Sela, D. Caspi. 2004. Rheumatol Int. 2004 Jan;24(1):14-9. Epub 2003 Apr 29.
Although anemia is frequent in inflammatory rheumatic diseases, data regarding vitamin B12 status is scarce. The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence and nature of B12 and folic acid (FA) deficiencies in a cohort of rheumatic patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)The incidence of anemia was high: 49%, 46%, and 35%, in RA, SLE, and PsA, respectively. Low levels of serum B12 were also frequent (24%), with almost similar occurrence in the three disease groupsThe incidences of anemia and decreased serum B12 levels were high in these three groups of rheumatic patients
There is alot of good scientific information available on lupus on this site here on DS and some good diet advice.
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/curing-autoimmune-and-mimics-gaining-health