[LadyLib]

Anemia - Ideas to Remedy?

by LadyLib on Sat Aug 24, 2013 1:33 am

My husband has a HgB number between 8.1-8.5. He is exhausted most days (low energy). They recently started him a shot every 2 weeks to help him get more energy. Are there any options that you have had from your doctors or "at home" remedies to help your energy level?

[Wayne K]

Re: Anemia - Ideas to Remedy?

by Wayne K on Sat Aug 24, 2013 1:01 pm

I have had the say problem since my diagnosis 4 years ago and it has improved since I've been in remission, but I still hover in and out of the low end. I tried everything I could find information on that sounded reasonable, but nothing helped other than the shots.
His is certainly low enough to be noticeable. Mine was 7 when I was first diagnosed and I could barely function if it required moving.

[LadyLib]

Re: Anemia - Ideas to Remedy?

by LadyLib on Sun Aug 25, 2013 9:39 pm

My husband has had a transfusion and also had a shot (DPO?). We hope that it can help him. I would think that with the improvement in light chains, the anemia would improve.

[NuffSaid]

Re: Anemia - Ideas to Remedy?

by NuffSaid on Tue Aug 27, 2013 12:37 pm

Anemia is a hallmark of cancer, so thinking there may be a home remedy is naive and sadly misplaced. The only way to improve anemia is by treatment - and even that can take a LONG LONG time. Searching this site will make clear, for example, that patients opting for transplants can take many months for red blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels to recover. Hemoglobin levels of 8-8.5 reflect a profound suppression of red blood cells - likely reflecting crowding out by cancer cells or by the havoc on signaling caused by cancer cell.

I have been there. Dexamethsone and Revlimid will reverse the anemia. Eating liver or a steak will not.