4 Week Update

 This is kind of off topic----how often do you do infusions? What is your hemoglobin? Are you a menstruating woman? (I know, personal)

I had a big anemia problem and had a few infusions, about 1 year apart. I would get admitted in to the hospital for 24 hours and get a HUGE dose of iron. I ended up having a hysterectomy because I just had the heaviest periods which didn't help with malabsorbing iron.

So, I had my last huge infusion in May 2009. I had my last hemoglobin test in October and it was 14.2! WOWOWO!!!! I think since I am not menstruating, it really helps!

I was just curious what your hemoglobin is and if you are still having periods?

Thanks!

I know this questions wasn't directed at me but I do infusions monthly.  The actual infusion from IV stick to end is about an hour.  I had a major reaction to infed so I now get ferrlicit which has to be given in smaller doses. When my iron stores get really low, then I do them weekly for a month and then back to my regular schedule.  I don't think my hemoglobin has ever been more than 11 since I had WLS.  My dr wants me to consider doing an ablation but I haven't really decided yet.  There was someone on the DS board who had the ablation and she still had periods and ended up getting a hysterectomy to help with her iron issues. 

I don't think so.  I'm really surprised that he would wait till you were at the surgery center to do it.  That is something you need to know at least 2 weeks or more ahead of time so if it is low, you can work on getting it up pronto!  If your doctor was that confident that he thought you didn't need to get tested until October, you'll  probably be fine.  I think I'd do cartwheels if I ever saw 14!  That's great!

I've had problems with low iron since well before my GBS.  Even with GBS, it wasn't low enough to be an issue with surgery.  It was when I was doing all the pre-admission testing for a hysterectomy 2 years ago that they flat out called it anemia.  Back then I was given prescription iron and that was fine for then.

Now with any surgery I always tell them I'm anemic and am tested to be safe.  For my knee reconstruction, it wasn't an issue because there was very little blood loss.  For ps, it's bloody.  Eating a ton of iron rich food prior to my first surgery in addition to my regular daily iron supplement got me to a hemocrit level of 40 which was fine for the first one.  After surgery my hemocrit dropped to 30, a little more than they expected it to so to be on the safe side, he wanted me to have the infusions.

He ordered 4 infusions at 200 mg each.  The first one took about an hour; however since I had no reactions, the one I had yesterday they could run faster and it took about 30 minutes.  But she had a hard time sticking me so my time there was maybe about 40 minutes.  I got a smaller dose because my levels weren't horribly low.  

I don't know if this is going to be a long term thing because all of my other levels are great.  They said they'll monitor me for a couple months out from the surgery and see how I'm managing my iron.

Oh, I did have a hysterectomy (still have my ovaries though) because of a huge fibroid. 

I think I answered everything...let me know if I haven't.

 Thank you for taking the time to respond, you did answer everything! 

I also had a hysterectomy but left my ovaries. I love not having a period because now my iron problems are better. 

Have a great day! Are you getting excited for the surgery??

You know, at my first annual after my spaying, my gyno asked me if I liked not having a period... I looked at him with a confused look and said "YES!"  No worries about wearing too light of a color, massive, unpredictable bleeding, doubling over with cramps, and no more buying tampons and pads. 

I am very excited for the surgery. 

Glad to hear everything is going great for you!

Thanks everyone!