Question about Iron infusions..

For any of you who've had iron INFUSIONS.. I'm just curious if anyone can share this info on when theyre started for you all. Dr C my surgeon put me on Repliva 2 months ago and my most recent labs have shown that I'm still very anemic, actually the levels have dropped. They were done by my PCP and my allergy asthma doc not checking for the anemia but my WBC instead. Anyways lately I've been so fatigued. I'm sleeping 16-20 hours a day the past few days and the only reason I've been coherant today is because I've made myself stay busy out and about and not stayed at home. Anyways I don't know my total iron counts just my RBC and Hemaglobin/Hematocrit are pretty low. They've been lower before in the past but I'm just not feeling good. I have a call into my PCP to see if they will check my counts again since it's been over a week and from 3 weeks ago to last week they dropped but I don't know if I need to tell them up in Indy at my surgeons office bout it or just let it be how it is. My color was horrible today. I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize myself. I asked my mom and all why noone told me I looked like crap. *sigh* I'm sooo pale.

Anyways I got a call into my PCP this morning so I'm hoping he will check my total iron count and ferritin and then do another CBC to recheck my HGB and HCT.

I had iron infusions days before my band surgery. Basically, you show up and they first hook you up with some benedryl. This is to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction to the iron. Then when that bag is pumped (not dripped but pumped) into you and you get a bag a fluid. Then the iron. Are they doing a piggyback? That's blood with an iron pack or is it just the iron? Find out. Because if it's with the blood pack it can take awhile for you to get it all in. If you just have the benedryl and the iron you can be out in about an hour or two. Blood piggybacks can take up to 3+ hrs. Just pack yourself in some comfy clothes and bring a blanket - crash out and sleep through it. It makes the time go by faster.

Good Luck
Jodi

Thanks, Marta (Dr C's nurse) is talking like I may end up having to do this because I'm not absorbing my iron. My PCP mentioned it today too since the levels have been dropping but he rechecked my labs today and I will know something hopefully Monday. I've had 2 blood transfusions post op already so I'm hoping they will get these done in the near future. It will probally help with some of the dizzy stuff too.