Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Are you Anaemic and have As

Greetings All,

I just had a thought about the connection between being Anaemic and having AS does these two things go hand in hand?

I know that uncontrolled inflamation in the spine,joints and gut can lead to constant internal bleeding scaring of tissues and calcification of joints.

Can this be one of the reasons of being Anaemic?

What do you think?

I think that internal bleeding is usually caused by the drugs used to treat AS. I know that after 30 years on various pain drugs. I had a bleeding problem. My blood had reached a point of being to thin. I had to quit taking fish oil vit C any thing that could effect thinning the blood--- Any time you are loosing blood you can become anemic. Good luck-- I now try and eat foods that contain vit K.

When I was anaemic it wasn't AS, it was coeliac disease (another autoimmune condition). Once the coeliac was dealt with there have been no more problems with anaemia.

I am currently anaemic and looking back at my bloods which I managed to acquire my iron levels etc have been on a slow decline for the past 1 to 2 years but still not that far below the 'normal' range. I go to see a gastroenterologist beginning Feb. So maybe gut related like AS but not necessarily related to AS. We shall see it would be nice if my additional aches and pains are down to iron as I was sailing along fine on no starch until about the same time my iron levels started to drop.

Yes, anemia is a not uncommon companion to AS, or so I've been told by several doctors along the way (I say companion as opposed to side effect because I think that is a more accurate description).

In my case, I am 51 and have severe. AS, which I've had since I was 18. I have had anemia almost that entire time as well. For many years, my hemoglobin was regularly between 8 and 10, but these days it has risen a bit and settled in between 10 and 12. I do not have any internal bleeding, I am just naturally anemic. I've been told that this type of anemia does not respond to iron supplements out other treatments, and that does seem to be true, as nothing I've taken has ever raised my hemoglobin.

Every case I'd different, of course, but that's been my experience. Good luck.

Brad

I am anemic/AS also Dr hasn't mentioned a link but continues to advise me to take supplements.