Blood transfusion?

Happy holidays all :)

First the good news! I had my 6 month appointment recently and am down 98 pounds!

Now the bad news - my iron is terrible! I have a condition called thalassemia which means my red blood cells are too small and don't carry oxygen or iron efficiently. TWH added an extra iron test (serum iron) for me. Normal serum levels are 11-12, mine usually fall around 8. Well now they are...3!

Obviously this is a problem and the nurse said she would normally set me up for a transfusion right away but because of my condition we agreed I should see a hematologist first. So now I'm working on that - bit of a delay because of all the holiday stuff but I'm hoping after new years I can get the ball rolling.

Has anyone else struggled with iron this low? Does anyone else have thalassemia? 

There is a great page call Iron Maiden by a woman who works in health care and has had WLS

I had low iron and had to go for 3 iron infusions. 2 hours each time. I just brought a good book to read. Good luck. 

I have had issues the last 2 years and go for iron infusions every few months. Starting another round on Friday. Unfortunately we don't absorb iron well. Hopefully you wont have to wait too long

is an iron transfusion the same as a blood transfusion?

No it is not. Iron infusion is just iron. A blood transfusion is red blood cells. If your hemoglobin is low they will often transfuse PRBC (packed red blood cells). If ferritin low will transfuse iron. If abnormal red blood cells or rbc they would transfuse prbc or blood transfusion.

I would wait to see the hematologist since you have thalassemia.  Most of my family members have it and you can't take  iron like those without it.  My mom had it and she needed to a blood transfusion to get hers up but they insisted she see the hematologist first.

Sorry to hear about your iron issue.  Were all your other levels ok?

Congrats on the weight loss, well done!

Are you feeling the effects of the low iron ... tired, etc?

Sorry about the late reply!

I've always felt tired. I take a 3 hour nap almost every day. More like a 3 hour coma - I have my BF wake me up after 3 hours, there have been times when he's not home I've napped for 5. Lately the tiredness has gotten worse, simple things are causing me to get more tired (like vacuuming or doing the dishes).

My other levels were good, although they said my calcium needs ot be watched because it went down from last time but its still in the normal range.

I've been using patches for my vitamins but i think I am going to switch and order celebrate vitamins from the states 

Hi Wiccandove, which vitamin patches have you been using?  Have you been using the iron one?  The D3/Calcium one?  Do you think they aren't working for you?  I'm curious because I have just started using the patches.   My iron levels have always been an issue - and I'm still pre-surgery.     Thanks!!