Long time no see--iron infusion question...

waitinggame
on 1/5/12 12:23 pm - Bowie, MD

Hello! Boy, it's been a while since I've shown my face here. Did some plastic surgery and have been living over on that board for a few months.

Anyway, I was told today I need an iron infusion. Ferritin: 4, Hemoglobin: 8.9, Hematocrit: 27.3...and lots of other low numbers I can't remember.

My two friends get iron infusions that take 4 hours or so and they are done. This doctor (whom I've lost confidence in because of a mix up of my bloodwork with another patient's) is recommending something called Ferrlicit that supposedly will be done in a series of 10, once per day starting with a 4 hour infusions going down incrementally each day until they are only an hour. First, it sounds damn expensive! Secondly, how is it that one infusion is only 4 hours and one is 10 days? Anyone have a clue? I took Proferrin 4x a day religiously for many months and my numbers were better than they are now, but not by much. The decrease is due to the plastic surgery, but again, even with the proferrin on board prior to my plastics my #'s weren't great.

Thanks for any information you may have to offer regarding treatment optionsand/or cost.

Thanks!

Denise

Check out my blog--menumealplanning.com. Tales of making meal planning managable, family fodder, and everything else under the sun.

RNY 2/3/09, LBL/BL w/Augmentation 9/16/11
Start weight: 335 Current weight: 185 Goal weight: Whatever the hell I can maintain without driving myself insane!

*6.5 lost preop

Ladytazz
on 1/5/12 2:42 pm

My Ferritin was 7 and I had an infusion. It didn't seem like it took 4 hours but it was a while. I only had one and my levels have been good since, nearly 2 years. Of course I still take iron.
I would see about the one time infusion. I don't see the point of having 10 infusions unless there is some big advantage to it.

WLS 10/28/2002 Revision 7/23/2010

High Weight (2002) 240 Revision Weight (2010) 220 Current Weight 115.

Citizen Kim
on 1/5/12 10:45 pm - Castle Rock, CO

RNY on 07/27/04

The ones over a period of time (supposedly) have less chance of allergic reaction. Personally I see a big Ker Ching! for the doctor (with 10 co-pays at least).

I have the one over four hours and get it done every 12-18 months. The first time I was given a test dose and then had to wait 20 minutes before they infused the rest - subsequent times it's a straight on infusion.

Proud Feminist, Atheist, LGBT friend, and Democratic Socialist

waitinggame
on 1/6/12 1:21 am - Bowie, MD

I'm with you about the Ker Ching!!! They gave me the allergy line too. I'm sure there is something to it, but I'd be interested to see the bottom line for the 4-hour one time shot vs. the 10x deal.

Thanks for the info! Crossing my fingers I'm a candidate for the one time 4 hour deal. Got my dvd player and iphone ready to roll!

Check out my blog--menumealplanning.com. Tales of making meal planning managable, family fodder, and everything else under the sun.

RNY 2/3/09, LBL/BL w/Augmentation 9/16/11
Start weight: 335 Current weight: 185 Goal weight: Whatever the hell I can maintain without driving myself insane!

*6.5 lost preop

Brittany M.
on 1/5/12 11:40 pm

RNY on 02/28/08

Hmmmm...interesting. I just finished a series of 8 Ferrlicit infustions in November. I had them once a week for 8 weeks! My starting numbers were very similar to yours, just a little lower (Ferritin 2, Hemoglobin 8.4). They're back to normal now, thank god.

This was my first iron infusion experience and I just blindly followed my doctor's suggestion. Luckily, my insurance covered everything and I did not have to pay a dime out of pocket. But he recommends Ferrlicit infusions because of the lower risk of reactions. I had no idea there were others that I would only need once! Grrrr... I suppose I can't complain though. It was really like my once a week spa getaway! I never get time to myself, so I got to take a few hours off of work, lie back, read a magazine under a warm blanket and relax!

Anyway, good luck to you! If you'd rather just do it once, talk to your doctor about it. See if he/she can give you a good reason why the Ferrlicit is a better option for you. If not, ask for what you want. And in the future, I'll know to look for other options when/if my iron tanks again!

waitinggame
on 1/6/12 1:27 am - Bowie, MD

Do you mind teling me how long they took you each time? The doctor that made a mistake with my blood work told me the first would be 4 hours then down to 2 then an hour each every day for 10 days (not weekends). The new hematologist said they would NEVER do 10 in a row. 1-2 per week max. So glad I didn't follow blindly this time, but so often we patient's do because we assume they are the professionals. It is scary to think what could have happened if I stayed with them.

I agree it will be a nice break!! And to feel normal again--I can't even imagine!

Thanks!!

Check out my blog--menumealplanning.com. Tales of making meal planning managable, family fodder, and everything else under the sun.

RNY 2/3/09, LBL/BL w/Augmentation 9/16/11
Start weight: 335 Current weight: 185 Goal weight: Whatever the hell I can maintain without driving myself insane!

*6.5 lost preop

Brittany M.
on 1/6/12 3:10 am

RNY on 02/28/08

The actual infusion time was 2 hours the first time (they gave me a small test dose over the first hour, and then the bigger dose over the second hour), and 1 hour each time after that. It always took a lot longer, though, because they had a hard time getting the IV started almost every time.

My doctor said it was possible to do it 8 days in a row, but he preferred to do it once or twice a week. I would always feel a little different (just extra tired and not quite right, like I couldn't concentrate) after the infusions so I was happy to only go once a week. It took quite a while to feel any positive effects from the infusions, though. I really only felt mildly less exhausted at my last session, but now that it's been a month and a half since my last one, I feel completely back to normal. I was also struggling with a B12 deficiency that wasn't discovered until near the end of my series of infusions anyway, so that was also making me feel tired and weak.

I'm glad you found another hematologist! I would definitely not want to go through infusions 10 days in a row.

waitinggame
on 1/6/12 7:01 am - Bowie, MD

Thanks for the information. I know the list of side effects from an infusion is long and scary. I hope I feel okay after. I've been having difficulty concentrating for a while now--just thought I was distracted and overly busy. My friends that have had infusions that were big ice chewers when they were severely anemic stopped chewing ice almost immediately after the infusion. Wonder if it was psychosematic? My B12 is actually off the charts, so that is one thing I won't have to worry about.

Glad you are feeling better. Hope to be joining you soon!!!

Thanks and have a great weekend!

Check out my blog--menumealplanning.com. Tales of making meal planning managable, family fodder, and everything else under the sun.

RNY 2/3/09, LBL/BL w/Augmentation 9/16/11
Start weight: 335 Current weight: 185 Goal weight: Whatever the hell I can maintain without driving myself insane!

*6.5 lost preop

Long time no see--iron infusion question...

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Long time no see--iron infusion question...