Iron Transfusions - Getting Ferretin up..

hey gals ( and Andrea U, i would LOVE any wisdom too from you - I can tell you know lots of info...from reading recent posts.)

i am 17 wks pregnant.
since labs were done just at beginning of pregnancy, my ferretin was 2, and my hemoglobin was low also, and I was anemic.  The other numbers have all come up, but the Ferretin is 'slow' to come up..

Hemotologist #1 that I was seeing that started my iron transfusions  (venofer) had me taking 2 ferrose sulfate a day plus 2 iron transfusions in Sept and 2 in October...

Ferretin in that time has gone from 2...up to 6...up to 23...up to 31. and is now back to 23.

They seem 'not as concerned with getting me in to get more transfusions, and though I make my concerns known, they just tell me it will take time..

Should there be a greater sense of urgency b/c i'm pregnant,

ANY insight is appreciated..

next iron transfusion is friday..then another on monday.....I hate getting the transfusions!! :>

But will do what i need to get the numbers up.

Some doctors hesitate to give the infusions during pregnancy at all.  I've been tracking my ferritin during this pregnancy and they have dropped 88% and they still won't treat me because my hemoglobin is 12.3.  12.1 is where the normal range starts.  Here's my ferritin: June 79; Sept 49; Oct 37; Nov 9.  I will be getting labs drawn again next week and expect them to drop some more.

Your baby will really use up your iron stores in the second trimester.  I don't have any advice on getting your numbers up but wish you luck and wanted you to know that you are not alone.  I wish they'd let me get iron infusions before I deliver (I'm 33 weeks).

Jen

Yannow.  Shannon from OH has suggested I start a Preggo vite group.  Interest?  Or just here?

Anyway, ferritin is ALWAYS slow to go up.

Personally, I think docs should put more sense of urgency on ferritin than any of them do, but that's just me.  I sit here with a 7, and no one seems upset because I still have 7 more to go, and hey, my other numbers are "fine" (even though they are low end normal).  Personally, I'd rather be higher than 7, but no one else seems to care as much.

Personally, I'd drop the ferrous sulfate -- especially while pregnant.  That crap will constipate you to the end of the earth and it's bad enough while preggers.  There are some better choices -- fumarate, gluconate as salts, or Carbonyl are all available and better than that crap you're taking.

I'm doing a heme iron to try and bring my ferritin up since none of the chemical irons were working.

Andrea, I am battling my doc about this very thing. My Ferritin went from 21 in October to 9 this past friday.

But since my H&H are in the mormal range, nothing is being done until my Ferritin gets lower. I feel like a tired, weak mess, and will not be able to get infusions until the ferritin gets lower. It's sad when you secretly hope it drops a little just so I can get an Infusion, boost my numbers and feel better.

I can relate to what you are saying.  I was "excited" that my number was finally below normal thinking that they would finally treat me.  Now I have to wait for the hemoglobin to drop 0.3 points and then maybe I can get some help.  I hope you feel better soon. 

Yup.

I was taking 600mg of ionic iron and recently gave up., mixed with copper, zinc, and vite A to try and bring my numbers up.

I'm now trying a heme iron compound with nothing else to see, MAYBE if it will help.

Maybe?  Wanna follow my guinea pig-ism?  Here.  Keep an eye out for posts about it. 

Go for it Andrea! LOL

My hematologist is convinced that no oral iron helps me. We have tried everything under the sun. (well not that 50 dollar per month guines pig stuff) but everything else. IV iron is the only thing that ever helps. *sigh*

Andrea, not preggo here AND I have no malabsorbancy!!!

My ferritin is 5mls and my other numbers are very low normal (labs are not with me).  The day my blood was drawn, my doc gave me a Venofer infusion as I told him I was getting dizzy when I bent down- sometimes feeling like I was going to pass out.  I was getting sluggish and I noticed I was getting a bit winded.  I've had iron issues pre, pre, pre -op and he knows my history.

I've had a 2nd infusion since - a time frame of 2.5wks.  Now he is offering me the H1N1 - would you throw another infusion in the mix since I'll be in for a visit anyway?

I'm kind of sick of dealing with this, BUT I know I must get it right.  I do want to be pregnant  as soon as my cir****tance is right and  I want to be healthy as possible.

What would you do in my shoes now, and what iron plan would you follow to insure normal levels.  I've had lots of trouble taking any iron - even the carbonyl.  I bought the copper & zinc & vit A (bought not taking regularly except the A).  The first half of this year, I was on a GNC prenatal (sale :)!), the rest of the year and now I am on a GNC active women's formula.  I too take C, Vit D-2or3 (the one that absorbs), calcium, GNC Hair, Skin, & Nail formula (Biotin is main ingredient), & folic acid.

Thanks for your help.  And yes, what a beautiful service you'd be doing for preggo's if you started a vitamin forum or something of the like.

Best,
Leila

Well, the H1N1 isn't an infusion -- it's just a shot.  I took it cause I wanted to make sure that I didn't expose my kids to it.  They also got the first shot and will get the 2nd if I can find it.  And damnit, if I can find seasonal, they will get IT, too!

But if your levels blow, and you don't mind the infusions.. 

Iron is SOO hard for people -- carbonyl even makes me burp, and it's the easiest!  I'll tell you, the proferrin doesn't make me burp, or have any of the other side effects, so you might try it.. but maybe not the massive 3x a day dose like I'm doing.  It's a shot?  I know Walgreens sells a 12mg dose mixed with an ionic (poly?  I only saw it in passing -- I was picking up a script my Target was out of) so you could try it that way and see if you like it, or order it straight -- but it ain't cheap.  The nice thing about heme is that it can be taken with anything -- calcium, zinc, copper, coffee, whole grains, whatever.

My life really exploded on Sunday -- in a way I cannot talk about online right now, if ever.  We'll see if I can find some time to do it.  Shannon also thinks a regular group would help.  I dunno.

Andrea, I just hope everything is okay or going to be okay for you.

I was saying that since I was thinking to get the H1N1 vaccine during another docs visit that I might ask him to throw in another Venofer infusion - this would be the 3rd in 3.5 weeks .  I have 5 vials left.

I will get to trying the proferrin.  God knows I tried to hold that carbonyl - I hold taste and hold & taste metal for hours - it stays in my pouch and won't go down until finally I have to puke it up.

A, I'll say a general prayer for you & your family.

(((HUGS)))
Leila