Iron Infusions & Iron Supplements Question

Hey everyone Okay, so I "pumped iron" all day yesterday.    And now my blood is super buff and I'm all that and a bag of high protein soy chips.    I would prefer not to have to have regular iron infusions and to just increase my iron supplements to "hold" my levels.   I was taking supplements before, and that obviously didn't work; so my logical brain is thinking - well, take more.  No problem.  I can do that.  I have Vitalady's Tender Iron and can do that.  I have read in more than one place, hematologists telling patients after iron infusions not to take iron supplements after an infusion - why is that?  If I hope to hold my iron levels up, I'm going to have to take supplements, right?  If I don't want to keep doing infusions.   Is there some reason why they say not to take supplements after an infusion? Do the supplements not work after an infusion for some reason I'm not aware of?  Also, after an infusion - is there some point shortly thereafter that you have blood drawn to check to see if the infusion worked to get your iron levels back to normal?  Thanks everyone.  I think that's all the questions I can think of at the moment. 

You'll need to ask your hematologist when to take the supplements.  I assume they dissuade you from taking them right after an infusion so you don't end up with iron toxicity.  You can get too much iron. I do the Tender Iron.  I chew them with a Vitamin C.  Used to take Vitron C tablets and my iron was dropping so I switched.  They jumped up very nicely with the Tender Iron.  I do 8 tablets a day (200 mg of elemental iron). Good luck! Kathy

Thanks Kathy.  My PCP is handling my infusions - so I'm not seeing a hematologist.  Makes sense on the getting too much iron, just wasn't sure as to how long to wait before taking supplements again. 

I have my iron panel every three months after my infusions.   I have had three IV infusions of InFeD since my RNY. (5yrs ago) I had tried just about every oral iron and combination of them.  I was taking five pills a day. (2 different types)   Nothing bumped my numbers up. My Hematologist (when I was finally referred) says that I am not able to absorb enough iron orally.  She said not to bother with it anymore. I am looking at IV infusions every 6-8 months.  I can live with that.  This last one has held up nicely since May.  I have my energy back and am able to function again.  ALWAYS keep copies of your labs and watch for changes.  Important numbers are Ferritin and Hemoglobin.

Traci I am not sure why they are telling you. Not to take iron after a iron infusion. The only reason way I say that is . Since april. I have dealing with low iron. To the point that it drop so low that I needed three units of blood. And it still did not come up. So my pcp sent me to . A hemoligists (SP) where he told me to take my regular iron along with vit c and to wait for at least a few hours before. I told any of my other vits and pills. I needed to take. Yes over a period of time. I had my labs drawn every week once a week. Before they could give me a iron infusion. To make sure that the iron was working. Yes during that time I was getting one iron infusion three times a week for two months. And have gone back ever six weeks to have my labs drawn and to see if the iron level is dropping or holding it own. yes some time it will drop a little and then the next time it back up . My iron is still low but it is not in the danger area so they will watch my labs and wait to see if and when it drops down to the low 20's again. I wish you the best of luck and that every thing turns out okay with you. take care Taichi

Ask him why.

I'm thinking that they always think we are not ABLE to absorb iron, but on yahoo grads, I've known many to keep taking their orals and eventually get off needles (shots or infusions). It takes awhile to find YOUR special combo.

I take 12 Tenders + C and labs have been fabulous ("fine" is not good enough for me!). My husband takes the 12 Tenders + 2 poly + C and his levels are the same as mine. Go figure. He has to take twice as much as I do in mg, and 2 different kinds.

After my Total iron infustion (InFeD) my hematologist said not to take any oral iron at all!  First he said that you can't mix the two. He also said any oral iron hasn't worked by now, so it isn't worth trying anymore. I took massive iron for 5 months before my infusion and my levels continued to decline.  I had my infusion, and he had me take folic acid pills for 30 days, and made an appointment to have my levels checked 4 weeks after the infusion and my hemoglobin had gone from 9 to 13 in that 4 weeks.  That was in April, and now it's November and my hemoglobin is at 14.3.   It has continued to rise and I haven't taken any oral iron.  He orders blood work every three months now. If it starts to drop again, he will probably give me another infusion.  So far, so good.