Anyone have Iron infustion?

I've always been low on iron and oral forms of iron worked.  Now that I'm 2.5 yrs post VSG, I've grown intolerate of oral iron (pill and food form).  So I have to do an iron infusion now.  Just looking for input?  Did you feel bad afterward?  Looks like I'll have the slow drip that will take most of the day.

I have had infusions, and will probably have them again. I didn't feel any different during or after, and they certainly didn't take all day- they were a couple of hours at most.

They usually tell you to schedule 6 hours or so but in reality, 4 is usually enough for me ... This method also seems to be the best for sustained levels too!

I have been having them annually for several years and they do nothing but IMPROVE the way I feel - I hope it goes the same way for you!

Having now reached menopause, I'm really hoping that they become an infrequent necessity or even unnecessary (has to be some good reason for going through the rest of the PITA symptoms) - we'll see ...

Hello,

I had the iron infusion in 1990. The nurse told me that a very slow drip was required or damage to the the veins was likely. The drip took about 9 hrs.  Towards the 7 hr mark I grew impatient and the nurse did a faster drip, but warned me that I might be in pain for a few days.

How right she was...pain was terrible!!!!  I couldn't even wear a lightweight cotton blouse...my skin felt on fire 

I only had the IV drip once...but I do get iron, folic acid and vit B shots every month. I will never again go for an iron infusion.

 With the VSG, you're not malabsorbing anything, so have you tried modifying your diet to include more red meats too?

For infusions, I've not had one, but those I know of who did, they felt better very fast.  Aside from setting some time aside, I've heard no complaints.

it is strange that you arent' absborbing iron with the sleeve.  I think it might just be you are taking the wrong iron and taking it the way, plus not enough.

If you have a stomach after surgery without a lot of acid, being on a PPI is a major reason will cause you to not absorb any irons with ferrous in the names.  there are 2 really good irons out there that everyone should try before going the infusion route especially someone with a sleeve - infusions have risks - I stopped breathing


tender irons from vitalady.com are carbonyl iron and they have the necessary vitamin C in them - taking iron without vitamin C is another reason to not absorb it.  the tender irons are 60mg each and have 400mg of vitamin C - they are easy on your stomach, nonconstipating and easily absorbed.  People take anywhere from 1 - 5 at a time and if your levels are low enough to need an infusion then you would probably need to take atleast 3 or 4 at a time.  You also can't take it within 2 hours of any calcium or thyroid medication.  If you go on the antibiotics cipro or levaquin, you have to wait 6 hours.

If this doesn't help enough, you can get proferrin = it works great but very expensive - tenders are cheap.  You need to break the proferrin in half and take anywhere from 2-3 at  a time and not with the tenders and also not with calcium.

Some people need a combination of the 2 but I tend to think if you have never tried the tenders, they will work for you.  I thought I couldnt' absorb iron either and it was because I was taking ferrous irons, as soon as I switched to tenders - my iron and ferritin went right up,not needing infusions which is good since I am allergic to them and would need to be hospitalized for several days

Thank you for posting a reply to this other persons post.  I am now anemic and going to have to figure out how to get calcium, iron and thyroid meds all in.  What a pain it is to have to wait several hours between pills.  I always forget to take the afternoon or evening pills.

Will have to check out the vitalady site. My daughter is having the same issues only hers are worse than mine.

This info helped alot.  Will get right on it.  Thanks again