Pretty Common? Really?

 I am 10 months out.  As of today I have lost 103 pounds since my heaviest weight.  I have gained 3 pounds!  UGH!  I am in a total stall.  I am only 8 pounds from goal and just can't seem to break the 150 mark.  I just put up a new pic on my page, so if you want to see what I looked like on Friday Feb 24th....it's there.  I look thin, but still not at goal.

I look thin, I guess I even look good but I feel terrible.  I have pretty much since surgery.  Some days worse then others.  Where is this energy that everyone says they have.  There have even been days that I sort of pass out, like time goes by and I don't remember it

I have been getting blood work done and my CBC is VERY VERY low.  I take iron like it's candy, chewable, liquid....you name it.  I take it alone, with only C.  

I went to the Hemotolgist yesterday.  He looked at my blood under the slide and made these noises that were not good.  Then he asked me "How are you feeling" So I told him cold ALL THE TIME, like cold that is just wrong, tired, weak, head aches, dizzy.  He then said....It's no wonder, you are totally iron deficient.  So my body will not take iron and my hemogolobin has gone from 12.7 at the pre labs of surgery to 10.1 as of yesterday.

Starting Monday I am going to have all the blood removed from my body and infused with iron.  This process will take 3 to 4 hours.  I have to have it done every week to start until my levels return to 12.  I am a teacher, so now i have to miss school every money for who knows how long.

He said this was pretty common?  I have never seen a post from anyone that they are have infusions.  Is anyone having infusions?  If so, tell me about it?  Please.

 I haven't had the surgery yet but I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you have to deal with this. My gma had dyalisis for years and she would go at the crack of dawn so she had the rest of the day. Maybe you could do. Odd hour so you miss only a hour or two of class. Not sure how you will feel after BUT if it is infusing you with iron and nutrients you might be ready to run a marathon!

Common to post-ops? I don't know about that. But I do know this is pretty darn serious. No wonder you are feeling so tired! Anemia can suck the life out of you.

I hope you get some answers and feel better soon.

I just started iron infusions last week... and I already feel a world of difference in my energy level... the first time I felt like I was just giving liquid crack... lol but it is worth the jittery feeling I got... My ferritin level thats recommended to be over 40 is 10... but I am not having all my blood removed they are just giving me IV iron infusion... I'm not sure the difference but hopefully it will work for you... Good luck!

btw... I was a little anemic before RYN but never to the level I am now... the extreme coldness, zero energy, and bruising with the slightest bump... it stinks... but I'm told by many that the infusions really help... lets hope so :)

I do think it is at least somewhat common for post-ops.  My HGB was down to 7.  It's now back to 12.5.   I've been through a round of 8 infusions, and will probably need more as my ferritin level is way too low again despite taking plenty of oral iron supplements.  I've seen plenty of other posts about people who have been through infusions too, so you're not alone!

I'm leaving in 5 minutes for a follow-up visit with my hematologist.  If you have questions, I'm happy to answer them when I get back. 

I know anemia sucks.  I struggled for years with no energy.  It was awful.  I, too, kept reading the posts from all the people about how much energy they had post-op and was like, really?  Where's mine?  I'm finally getting it back now, and I don't plan to go back to where I was!  Once you've been anemic, you really need to monitor yourself closely to avoid going back.

I have mine in an oncologist's office too - your first will take longer because you will have to have a test dose to make sure you are not allergic - you get a bolus, wait 20 minutes and then if all ok, they start the drip!

My last one took 4 hours but I was having trouble with the venflon (needle) - it's infinitely better than having to go back 5 or 6 times (with all THOSE co-pays!) and it seems to have better results in terms of how long it lasts than the shorter ones!

Take a good book or your laptop and good luck!  You'll be absolutely fine!  Let us know how you get on!

I wrote this - how on earth has it been posted on someone else's account?  That's weird

I've been having them annually for years and they are fairly common in this community. I think you may have misunderstood the process though - nobody will be removing your blood, you will just have an iron solution infused - it's very simple and painless.

I have lived my entire adult life with a haemoglobin in the 10's (chronic anaemia) and I have other autoimmune blood problems - but my ferritin (iron stores) were undetectable at <2 this summer which put me at danger of heart problems! Thankfully my infusion put me back to normal numbers and I feel great.

 They told me it was going to take 3 to 4 hours and it is in a chemotherapy office so maybe that is why I misunderstood.  I get it now, but is it really going to take 3 to 4 hours?

Are you having an infusion or transfusion?  Iron infusions are "fairly" common, seems more common as we become longer post-op lately.  Some people just don't absorb iron well enough to do without infusions.

I had 5 days of infusions late July - early August and can tell you I felt MARVELOUS after for quiet some time.  I do feel less energetic now and suspect I'll be facing infusions again soon.

My PCP ordered my infusions. I had it at the local hospital but will request seeing a hemotologist if needed again for cost reasons.  I had the Venefor IV push which is done very quickly, about 15 minutes from start to finish and Venefor has less side affects although it IS more costly.