Iron Infusions needed after all!!

I had a follow up with my hemotolgists today. After taking mega doses of iron my iron is up a little, but not enough. I had a bump up in ferritin about 2 months after the extra doses and have maintained it, but it has not gone up any more in the last 6 months. My iron saturation has dipped. Hemacrit and hemaglobin are stable.

I'm scheduled for 8 iron infusions starting on January 5. I'm going to be able to have the infusions at hospital where I work instead of going up the road to the bigger hospital.

Is there any benefit to doing at the end of the day versus the beginning of the day? Or I should I just have them where it suits my schedule.

How long does it take to go in? I know it may depend on which kind of medicine I get.

Any words of wisdon...

Thanks
Belinda

Don't have an answer or any idea even, but wanted to wish you luck and hope things get better for you....I get my iron retest soon...last time (4 months ago)  it was too high on supps alone!  Oops. Had to drop my dose...Which reminds me I forgot my iron today!  sheesh!

Good luck and hope the infusions make you feel better!
Anita 

Thank you for your kind words.

I'm mostly stressing the unknown, but I have gathered some info from the nurses who will be administering the infusions.

I'm not looking forwrd to the process, but am curious to see how I will feel after the infusions.

Thanks again

Belinda

I have had the multiple infusions, and I had them in the afternoon.  This was no other reason than being thoughtful to my work situation.  It took me about 2.5 hours, at each session.  I had the first (entire dose at once) and the second in the same manner; however, I had a reaction, so my doctor switched me to the 8 sessions.  The IV Lab was always busy with chemo patients, so much of the time was waiting for the dose of meds to ensure that you don't (hopefully) have any reaction to the upcoming iron.  Make sense?  I hope so.   The infusions helped me.  I have always been anemic.  My Ferritin stores do not hold my iron.  Good luck to you, and bring a good book to your session!

I work at the hospital where I will be having the infusions. So that will help. But I have a schedule of out patients I see myself. So I will have to sort this out.

I work at a small hospital and the infusions are done at out patient surgery. I don't think chemo is done there.

After talking with the nurses today I have discovered that the first 4 will take an hour to run in and the next 4 will take 30 minutes. Of course there will be the prep time and observation to ensure I don't have a reaction.

Thanks for your words of wisdom.

Belinda

I've had my iron infusions at all hours of the day.  Mainly just to work around my schedule.  I found a hemotologist closer to my job so now I try to go during my lunch hour.  I'm not sure what medine they will be administering but I do ferritin.  The actual infusion is less than an hour but with the waiting and all, I'm usually in and out in about 1 1/2 hours if I don't  have to do lab work.

Melissa

Thanks for the suggestion about lunch. That never even crossed my mind. I will ask if I can do that.

I think the medicine is ferricyte. I will have to look at my order again. I left it at work.

How long did it take to feel better? I wouldn't consider myself run down, but not overly tired. I'm one of those who doesn't realize how bad I feel until I fell better. I'm curious to see what that will be like.

Thanks again

Belinda

I meant to say the medicine they use is ferrlicit.  Anyway, it took about 2 or 3 weeks before I noticed an improvement.  I was like that too.  I never noticed how tired I was until I got my energy back.  The last time it got low I could hardly do anything without feeling run down.  It couldn't go up fast enough I thought.  It really depends how low your iron as to how fast it will go up.  I just got done with a 6 week series of infusions but the plan from here on out is do try to do it monthly.  My doctor will monitor my levels to see if we can keep it at a somewhat normal level with a monthly maintenance dose.  That would be so much better than having to do it every week.  The one time it got really low I had to go twice a week wich was a hassle with work and all.  I don't mind as long as it keeps me feeling better.

Melissa

I'm getting the same medicine "ferrlicit".

I have to go for 8 doses in a row. I can do it over the weekend or skip the weekend. It's my choice. I'm lucky I can do it at work. The nurse said we can try to salvage the IV site from day to day.

I will get labs done 6 weeks after the infusions and see the hemotologist. He seemed to think I would need them every 6 months.

It's interesting the different opinions and ways the docs have of doing things. He tried me extra iron supplements tion for 8 months before ordering the infusions.

I'm am used to the way I feel. But if I really think about it; I do realize I am more tried than I  was a year ago.

I'm looking forward to seeng the difference.

Thanks again!!

Belinda

On the topic of iron supplementation, I have a question.  There is a lot of evidence that iron supplementation is associated with increased cancer and heart disease risks.  I took iron for the few weeks after surgery, but I haven't taken it since.  I understand the decreased absorption of nutrients after RNY, but I have never tended to be anemic, and if my hemoglobin and hematocrit are stable, I don't see the purpose of taking it.  Belinda, why is your doctor ordering iron infusions if your H & H is stable?