Question:
Iron tranfusions, infusions, injections??
For those of you who have had the iron injection or infusion or transfusion will you please explain what they are like, how they are done and what side effects if any did you have. How long did it take for your levels to rise to normal or just above? I take ferrous gluconate, 4 pills a day and levels are consistently between 8 and 9 with 12 being the begining of normal. I need a better way to get my iron up. I need some info about other methods of iron delivery to pass along to my doc. Any links would be welcome. — mary ann T. (posted on June 2, 2004)
June 2, 2004
i had low iron also. the pills dont work as they arent absorbed easily.
chloraphyll liguid or tablets are an excellent choice. you can get this at
the health food store.you will feel better and have more engery in a few
days and you can see the results in your blood work in a little as a week
although your dr might wait a little longer to repeat the test.all the
best. Tracey
— traceybubbles
June 2, 2004
Have your doctor check your B12. It wasnt until my doctor had me take B12
shots TWICE a month, instead of the normal once a month that my Iron
levels went back up to normal.
— star .
June 2, 2004
Original poster here- my B-12 is good, I get an injection every month. My
iron and B-12 are checked every month before I get the b-12 shot.
— mary ann T.
June 2, 2004
Original poster here- my B-12 is good, I get an injection every month. My
iron and B-12 are checked every month before I get the b-12 shot.
— mary ann T.
June 2, 2004
I had to have about 9 iron infusions over a couple months period because it
got so low. They basiclly put my in my own private room with a TV and bed.
I was hooked up to a IV,(The worse part in my opinion.) It takes a few
hours to get it through you and your levels show up within a couple days. I
have to get them once a year now since surgery because I dont absorb iron
now for some reason.Hope you have good insurance,its expensive! About 1400
dollars for each infusion where I live.
— Vel K.
June 2, 2004
Maryann,
I was treated in Dec/Jan for anemia with small dose iron infusions for 36
days. When I started my hemoglobin level was an 8.0, total iron 11, and my
ferrtin level was a 5. After 1 week my hemoglobin shot up to a 10.8 and
continued to climb. I had tried oral iron of various types an none seemed
to work. I saw my hematologist about a week ago and even though my
hemoglobin was only an 11.9 all of my other levels were in a normal range.
You should ask your doctor to check your iron and ferritin levels the next
time you get blood work done. You may need to see a hematologist. If this
comes about ask for the infusions not iron shots. I hear that they can be
down right barbaric
— Pamela B.
June 2, 2004
My dad has had TRANSfusions, borrowing someone else's blood. Some of my
friends have had INfusions, an IV. Injections are usually given in the
glut and leave a big brown stain, UNLESS they are Z-tracked and then, no
stain. Fe gluconate is ok on paper, but I've not seen it be all that
effective. I'm guessing the dose is about 28mg (elemental) per pill? There
are a couple of irons that I see more consistent results with, not
irritating, etc. Fe sulfate is not well absorbed at all and can make you
miserable, coming and going, if you catch my drift. Iron is always taken
with C, never with dairy, caffeine or whole grains. At least an hour away
from any other vites, minerals or meds. The ones I prefer are
polysacharide iron (150mg elemental) or carbonyl (25mg elemental). Now,
you're saying, who wants 25mg, when you can have 150mg? The carbonyl seems
to be very well absorbed and we see people get off infusions/shots by using
the combo of the two OR adding the carbonyl to a good Rx iron, for example,
Chromagen Forte.
— vitalady
June 2, 2004
I had two transfusions lasting hours several weeks apart. No stains as it
goes into vein if they do correctly. It was just a matter of days after the
second iv that the ice crunching totally stopped.
— lessofme170
June 3, 2004
Hi Mary Ann,
I have had chronic anemia for years. Last October, it finally was bad
enough for them to do something about it. I was on injectable iron for a
few months with no real improvement. In January, I started receiving IV
iron once a week for 6 weeks. My iron levels are now in the norm. They
recheck once a month and told me I will only need to receive more IV iron
if they start to drop again. I was so tired of the injectible that when I
started the IV iron it was an amazing relief to not need to give myself
shots daily. The process is relatively simple. It's done at a
hematologist's office. Takes about an hour depending on the type and dose.
The hematologist will determine the best treatment for you. I was on a
message board for anemia for awhile, and this seems to be the norm. Please
contact me with any more detailed questions. Do not put this off! I began
having heart palpitations and other problems before they determinned it was
the anemia causing it. Don't put your health at risk!
— RunTink
June 3, 2004
I was anemic for years until I started taking amino acids which is what
bodybuilders take so they can get enough protein to build muscle when
working out at the gym. I was doing that to help my metabolism by adding
lean body weight. The next blood test my Doctor said I dont know what you
are doing but keep it up. You can but it at health food stores where they
have protein powders.
— Kristi S.
June 3, 2004
— Shelly R.
June 4, 2004
I have been having iron iv infusions for a bit over a month now, I have had
2 so far, 2 weeks apart i am do for the next one this week. This is how it
went for me , well the process of the infusion
1. They gave me phengran thru an iv
2. They gave me a test dose of iron in iv to see if i had any reactions,
they wait 30 minutes to see if i do
3. I had no reactions so they started the infusion.
It took 4 hours for the process. I sleep thru it because of the phenegran.
My anemia is slowly getting better.
I do feel very achy body wise the day following the infusion. This is
normal for most. I suggest you see a hemotologist and have him take a look
at your records and your levels he/she is trained specifically in this. I
was told from mine i do not absorb iron thru pills thus making me anemic.
My energy level has come up ALOT since i started the infusions. I no
longer crave ice at all, it is weird it just STOPPED one day lol. The last
infusion i had i did get phlebitis in my arm. It is basically swelling of
the veins, the veins got hard and it hurts but i am putting heat on it a
few times a day, waiting for it to go away. There is no infection so that
is good. What causes the phlebitis is ... our blood goes two different
ways in our veins, when they put the iv in and started the iron it made it
so it couldn't go two ways only one, thus forcing the veins to swell.. i
think i am explaining it right...ok enough rambling...the iv iron infusions
have been working great. honestly see a hemotologist...
Kristi Ky @ goal
302 to 118
— tinalivesay
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