Iron Infusion Experience?
Can you please share your experience? How low does your iron get before infusion? How often do you go? How soon do you start to feel alive again? I know JoJo and TriciaM have been through it. Any advice or tips to keep busy during the 5 hrs?
TIA,
TIA,
Jo
DS:9 yrs old / DD:5 yrs old / DS: 1 yr old
I had an infusion in March of 07. It took about 6 hours. I sat in the recovery area in the hospital and read a book the whole time. They brought me lunch and checked on me every so often. My iron 9 month early was low enough to require a blood transfusion but after the first bag my veins collapsed. I tried to bring it up for 9 months but the pills did nothing. When I had the infusion I was 8.9 or 8.1, I can't remember. 3 months later my iron was at a 13 so the infusion really held up well. May of 07 my ferritin is a 1 but my iron is still up there at 10.3 I think it was. If these new iron pills don't work, I will need another infusion again I am sure.
By the way. Lapeer hospital when I had it billed my insurance $4700 for it. I was TICKED OFF that they would charge that much.
By the way. Lapeer hospital when I had it billed my insurance $4700 for it. I was TICKED OFF that they would charge that much.
I took my laptop with me and packed snacks. They provided lunch for me, but it was ass so I would recommend bringing lunch if you are going to be there that long.
I have terrible veins so I never made it through any of my infusions with just one IV poke. I never got away with less than 3 sticks.
Since I had all infusions when I was pregnant (series of 3 with the twins and series of 3 with cricket) I never felt normal after any of them. I'm guessing because I have been pregnant. I will say that I felt like I had been hit by a truck that day and the next after the infusions.
I have terrible veins so I never made it through any of my infusions with just one IV poke. I never got away with less than 3 sticks.
Since I had all infusions when I was pregnant (series of 3 with the twins and series of 3 with cricket) I never felt normal after any of them. I'm guessing because I have been pregnant. I will say that I felt like I had been hit by a truck that day and the next after the infusions.
I don't even belong on this forum but I saw the question and I just had 3 rounds of Iron infusions last winter. I did it at 8 in the morning after I got off work so I slept in the chair for 3 hours. Pretty relaxing actually.
My Iron got down to 47 and I requested the infusions because I knew they would make a huge difference - I noticed it the next day! I'm running about 65 right now so I figure I'll be about due in the winter again.
My Iron got down to 47 and I requested the infusions because I knew they would make a huge difference - I noticed it the next day! I'm running about 65 right now so I figure I'll be about due in the winter again.
NO man or woman is worth your tears... and the one who IS,
won't make you cry!!
Lap RNY 5/21/08 Pre-op - 222 / Current - 137 / Goal -135 
I feel like an IV Iron Infusion pro! LOL
I get them quite often. There a different types of iron treatments. Sounds like you are doing a one time dose?
The first time, they will probably give you a little, maybe even benadryl to make sure you have no allergic reaction. Then you pretty much sit there will it drips. It can be a long day. They cant ever get a good running IV in my arm, so they put it in my hand. So my hand hurts and gets sore because the veins in your hand are smaller.
I did the 5 hour infusions weekly for about 10 weeks one time.
The last session of iron I did, he tried a different kind the took 45 minutes, once a week for 8 weeks.
All mine were done at the cancer center where my hematologist's office is. They had TV's but I mostly talked to poeple....LOL. Most of the other patients there were getting chemo, so we all seemed to chit chat about life...etc.
I can say that I never feel great after them. I don't feel like I ever get energy back. But my iron gets up enough to stop the treatments. Then usually, about 3-4 months later, I have to do them again.
It's not bad. Just more of a hassle than anything.
As far as how low my iron is? It depends on what my hemoglobin and hematocrit numbers are too. He asses all of them to decide if I just need iron, or if I need a blood transfusion. (Which I have had 3 times so far)
Keeping busy? Like I said, I would chit cha****ch TV or sleep! LOL
I get them quite often. There a different types of iron treatments. Sounds like you are doing a one time dose?
The first time, they will probably give you a little, maybe even benadryl to make sure you have no allergic reaction. Then you pretty much sit there will it drips. It can be a long day. They cant ever get a good running IV in my arm, so they put it in my hand. So my hand hurts and gets sore because the veins in your hand are smaller.
I did the 5 hour infusions weekly for about 10 weeks one time.
The last session of iron I did, he tried a different kind the took 45 minutes, once a week for 8 weeks.
All mine were done at the cancer center where my hematologist's office is. They had TV's but I mostly talked to poeple....LOL. Most of the other patients there were getting chemo, so we all seemed to chit chat about life...etc.
I can say that I never feel great after them. I don't feel like I ever get energy back. But my iron gets up enough to stop the treatments. Then usually, about 3-4 months later, I have to do them again.
It's not bad. Just more of a hassle than anything.
As far as how low my iron is? It depends on what my hemoglobin and hematocrit numbers are too. He asses all of them to decide if I just need iron, or if I need a blood transfusion. (Which I have had 3 times so far)
Keeping busy? Like I said, I would chit cha****ch TV or sleep! LOL
When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila & salt and give me a call!
I had to have 5 sessions pre-pregnancy. Each lasted 4 1/2 hours. The first 45 min (I think) were a test dose and then Benadryl. I never had a reaction and I felt the Benadryl right away - I got very woozy! The last 4 hours were no big deal, napped, snacked, read, brought my laptop, etc. 5 hours after my infusion every single joint in my body screamed with horrible pain... I had to just do nothing - maybe soak in a bath. The next morning it was all gone.
I started feeling better (I get restless leg when my iron and b-12 are low so I know right away) by the 2nd infusion. I never realized how bad I was until I was all done and was able to rejoin the human race! :)
I'll find out Monday if I need more infusions on Monday - but since I'm pregnant my hematologist told me that the iron they infuse you with during pregnancy is different and 5 doses normally would be equal to 12 during pregnancy - I'm thinking she said it's much less potent. She explained to me why I can’t hold/keep iron and it’s because of the gastric bypass – I’ve just accepted that every 12-18 months I’ll have to get infusions for the rest of my life and I look at it as a little vacation from the house, hubby, and kids. Enjoy the quiet. I was in a room with mostly chemo patients and I got so much out of talking with them – I love their love of life even though they are facing a life threatening disease. Great experience for me.
~Kim
I started feeling better (I get restless leg when my iron and b-12 are low so I know right away) by the 2nd infusion. I never realized how bad I was until I was all done and was able to rejoin the human race! :)
I'll find out Monday if I need more infusions on Monday - but since I'm pregnant my hematologist told me that the iron they infuse you with during pregnancy is different and 5 doses normally would be equal to 12 during pregnancy - I'm thinking she said it's much less potent. She explained to me why I can’t hold/keep iron and it’s because of the gastric bypass – I’ve just accepted that every 12-18 months I’ll have to get infusions for the rest of my life and I look at it as a little vacation from the house, hubby, and kids. Enjoy the quiet. I was in a room with mostly chemo patients and I got so much out of talking with them – I love their love of life even though they are facing a life threatening disease. Great experience for me.
~Kim
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