Iron Infusion??????

Wow Naomi, I went to the hospital on yesterday and it was bad for me.  I was given Tylenol (pills), ibuprofen(IV) and a steroid(IV), prior to the iron.  I was to receive one liter of iron.  So, I was not relaxed as much as they wanted me to be so I received another dose of ibuprofen(IV) prior to the iron. I was suppose to be started very slow, I believe she said at 200(?). I was told there could be some side effects/reactions. Well, within 2 mins, I started to ask the nurse if my back(lower back) was suppose to be hurting, before she could answer, my entire body was in pain, I could not move!!!!! I was getting (what it felt like to me) was shocking pains all over my body, my head started to hurt, I could not talk, except to mood/scream.  My husband was asking me what hurts, I could not say anything, He demanded that the nurse STOP the drip, I could not tell the nurse, and she seemed to be as scared as I was.  So, about, 20 mins later,(I was still under the ibuprofen), the nurse came back after talking to my Hematologist, and wanted to give me a different pain med, to try the iron again.  I was willing, I am tired of this weakness.  My husband was pissed that I would even allow them to try it again, He was like baby, you didn't see yourself, you were shaking really hard, your eyes were rolling back in your head, and your blood pressure shot up to 178/104.  There is no way you are trying this again, he instructed the nurse to discharge me!  So I am going to have to come up with something else, I will increase my diet with iron rich foods, and pick up that SS tonic.  I have an appointment on next Tuesday, hopefully, that will give me time to see if the diet change help. 

I am not sure why I am anemic.  Some of the things that are going on with me are heavy/long menstruation (10) days. My diet has been focused more on proteins, I will have to balance it to eat high protein/iron foods.  Lots of exercise without proper diet can cause low iron.  I am guilty of all of these.

Please share your experience with me.  Did you have any of the same problems? Thanks

I had to get iron infusions.  I was bleeding a LOT every month.  Since I got my fibroids treated I haven't had any more problems with being anemic.

So Blessed, I have an appointment on tomorrow to see my Gynecologist. Thanks

My hematologist told me to take Vitamin C with my iron capsules to increase absorption.

I will have to add that to my list of daily meds.  Thanks

Wow sorry to hear that you went through that I can relate, I asked them to stop mine too, I had labored breathing and I felt like I was going to faint, it took me about a couple hours for me to feel nomal again....I have always been on the anemic side too, what helped me was Vitron-C the it is a high potent iron pill, and it cured my anemia I get them at any pharmacy, it has about 200 mg of iron and a lot of vitamin C and the vitamin C help absorps the iron a lot better...good luck hope you feel better.

I will have to look for this Vitron-C today.  Thanks.

Sorry to hear about you problems with the iron infusions. I started my iron infusion on yesterday. My other option was blood transfusion (had too many of those and not too keen on geting other folks blood), or iron shots which are painful and can leave huge dark spots.

For the iron infusions, I am scheduled to go once a week for the next 8 weeks. Everything went fine with me. They started me with 1 pint, gave me a b-12 shot, took blood and after an hour I was sent on my way with appts for the next 8 weeks. I have always been anemic due to my heavy menstrual cycles. The lowest my hemoglobin has been is a 6. On the day of my RNY, my hemoglobin was a 9. Currently my hemoglobin is a 10.4, however I am not absorbing the iron pills. I take (4) 325mg feosol per day. My iron saturation is a 6 and the range is 15-55. My iron serum is 23 and the range is 35-155.

I actually feel a slight improvement after having the iron infusion. My eyes usually feel realy tired and strained and I always feel like I just want to lay down and sleep but today my eyes and body feel pretty good. I am actually looking forward to the next few weeks of iron infusions to really start feeling good.

Make sure you get your iron deficiency treated becuase iron deficiency can have a really bad effect on your body, mind, memory, eyes and overall well being.

Heavenly, I am glad you had a good experience with your infusion.  I have started eating more foods high in iron and continuing to take my iron pills(325mg x3).  I am still feeling weak, I see my hematologist next week, I hope she has a plan.  I am looking and feeling tire.  I am still getting my workout in but, only min exercise(2 miles). This too shall pass!  Thanks