appt with Hematologist Monday!! EXCITED

So i had 6 iron infusions last year because my iron had dropped soo low.  Now 1 year later it has dropped again.  IT dropped from 19-12 in 1 month.

i have increased the iron.  not had the lightheadedness the last week

It has been like pulling teeth but finally got the referral to hematologist.  i live 1 hour and 45 min away from surgeons office.

I went for my 2 year appt and they said you need to have infusions. called infusion center in Asheville. i have to have a referral from a dr affiliated with hospital. had to call back to surgeons office and get them to talk to my primary care dr to get referral.  finally it was done yesterday.

luckily they had a cancelation on Monday and i was able to get in to see dr.  i have all of my labs in a notebook and the order for the infusions.

its bad when you get excited about iron infusions

Tamara

Hi Tam,

What is it like to get iron infusions? What is the procedure and how long does it take?  Thanks, Jane

its really not bad.  they just put a iv in your arm and you set in a chair while they go in.  i had a little tv and they also have magazines . most of the time i sleep

Tamara

The infusions you had (iron sucrose or ferric gluconate) don't seem to have longevity and I know a couple of vets who seem to get quite ill during them.   Perhaps you could discuss alternatives to sustain your iron stores longer than a year ...

I have the one off infusions of iron dextran (4 hours) and I get no sickness, feel better in a couple of days and it seems to last 18-24 months.  I've never had any adverse reactions at all.

Might be worth discussing

the order i have is for ferrlecit but when i go to hematologist he may order something different.  i am taking 120 elemental iron and my stomach is killing me and the iron levels are not rising.

Good luck!  The feeling after infusions is amazing. 

Tamara - 

Please keep me posted on how the appt goes and the solutions offered.     I keep getting low ferritin results (as low as 6) , and after increasing iron didn't help they put me on  fereheme iron infusions in May.     We tried venofer (which takes longer) but  I had a slight reaction to it (rash),  so they switched.   The fereheme works well -  but it's only lasting about 3 months before I drop again. 

After insurance - I still have to pay about $500 per treatment.   I spoke with my PCP... he's putting a pharmacy doctoral student on this as a project to find other alternatives.   I'm thinking if I'm going to need these for the rest of my life - I'm going to have to up my retirement planning (ha!) 

My surgeons office - and my previous health home,  just didn't think the low ferritin was a problem.    I switched primary care doctors.   I feel better. 

Jody