Iron Transfusions - Getting Ferretin up..
Kay -- there's so much confusion about the freakin H1N1 I wanted to be certain! You never know anymore!
I'd say it's going to depend on your levels, honestly. Those are the key indicators of what you need to do. But maybe the proferrin will help, I dunnow. Like I said, I'm guinea-pigging it myself. I am only going off studies I see myself (including something I see from the Iron Disorders Institute).
And thanks. I really need all the help I can get right now. I'll just say it's bad.
I'd say it's going to depend on your levels, honestly. Those are the key indicators of what you need to do. But maybe the proferrin will help, I dunnow. Like I said, I'm guinea-pigging it myself. I am only going off studies I see myself (including something I see from the Iron Disorders Institute).
And thanks. I really need all the help I can get right now. I'll just say it's bad.
Hi Andrea!
I know we've spoken labs before but here is my most recent one (taken about 2 weeks ago).
I know a lot of my numbers are in the crapper but I admit I am to blame (was only taking 1 prenatal a day but am now taking 2). However, my iron levels are still no good. I checked my other numbers compared to other websites and my H&H are low compared to those...but not to what my surgeons office listed. Can you help me decipher this and find a way to help these numbers. And are these numbers I need to press my doctors to do something about ASAP?
Btw..background. I have taken a crap load of different irons in the past 2.5 yrs to help these numbers...ferrous sulfate, glutamate (sp), liquid irons, carbonyl(sp), even prescription (repliva)...nada has done the trick.
Thanks in advance!
Simone
I know we've spoken labs before but here is my most recent one (taken about 2 weeks ago).
| Component | ReferenceRange | 11/23/2009 |
| WHITE BLOOD CELL | 4.5-11.0 x10 3/uL | 7.2 |
| RED BLOOD CELL | 3.70-5.50 x10 6/uL | 3.91 |
| HEMOGLOBIN | 11.7-15.0 G/DL | 12.1 |
| HEMATOCRIT | 34.0-47.0 % | 36.4 |
| MEAN CORP. VOLUME | 79.0-98.0 FL | 93.1 |
| MEAN CORP. HGB | 27.0-32.0 PG | 31.0 |
| MEAN CORP. HGB CONC. | 32.0-35.0 G/DL | 33.3 |
| RED DISTRIB. WIDTH | 11.5-15.0 % | 14.4 |
| PLATELET | 150-450 x10 3/uL | 180 |
| MEAN PLT VOLUME | 7.4-12.0 FL | 9.6 |
| IRON, SERUM | 50-200 MCG/DL | 36 (L) |
| TIBC | 250-400 MCG/DL | 219 (L) |
| TRANSFERRIN SAT | 15-50 % | 16 |
| FOLATE, SERUM | >6.60 NG/ML ng/ml | 13.00 |
| VITAMIN B12, SERUM | 180-914 pg/ml | 192 |
| FERRITIN | 15-150 NG/ML | 96 |
| VITAMIN D, 25 HYDROXY | NG/ML | 32.2 |
| PTH | 16-87 PG/ML | 50 |
I know a lot of my numbers are in the crapper but I admit I am to blame (was only taking 1 prenatal a day but am now taking 2). However, my iron levels are still no good. I checked my other numbers compared to other websites and my H&H are low compared to those...but not to what my surgeons office listed. Can you help me decipher this and find a way to help these numbers. And are these numbers I need to press my doctors to do something about ASAP?
Btw..background. I have taken a crap load of different irons in the past 2.5 yrs to help these numbers...ferrous sulfate, glutamate (sp), liquid irons, carbonyl(sp), even prescription (repliva)...nada has done the trick.
Thanks in advance!
Simone
In a world full of cheerios be a fruit loop!
260lbs.......148lbs........165lbs
Start........Current.......Goal
Goal met 11/23
Yeah, all of your irons suck. Even though most of them are in the "normal" range, they are low normal, and that's not really where we want to be since when they drop (and being pregnant, they WILL drop) you'll kill your stores.
And also, before I forget, your B12 sucks -- what are you taking for that? And your PTH is getting too high for my liking.. probably because your D is a bit low. Still "normal" -- but with that PTH it means your body is beginning to leech calcium from your bones to supply baby and heart with calcium. How much calcium and D are you taking?
Okay, iron.
How MUCH have you been taking? Taking it with C?
There's another possibility -- heme iron. There are some studies that show that it could absorb better.
And also, before I forget, your B12 sucks -- what are you taking for that? And your PTH is getting too high for my liking.. probably because your D is a bit low. Still "normal" -- but with that PTH it means your body is beginning to leech calcium from your bones to supply baby and heart with calcium. How much calcium and D are you taking?
Okay, iron.
How MUCH have you been taking? Taking it with C?
There's another possibility -- heme iron. There are some studies that show that it could absorb better.
Yes..my iron is in the crapper. But I keep getting told that my ferritin is fine so theres not much to worry about, I don't know but that sounds wrong to me.
My B12...nothing at the moment besides my prenatal, my surgeon said that he is going to write me a script to start getting injections monthly. But I am not sure how that works since I haven't recieved the script yet (I think he wants to wait until my next draw because he uped my prenatal). I am taking about 1200 mg of calcium a day and 1500 mg of calcium.
Iron, now I am taking a liquid one called Natrol Liquid iron as suggested by my nut. I take it with my prenatal. It has 100 mg C, 1 mg thiamin, 13 mg niacin, 2 mg b-6, 3mcg b-12, and 15 mg as iron amino acid chelate per serving (81% daily percentage)..2 servings taken a day.
My B12...nothing at the moment besides my prenatal, my surgeon said that he is going to write me a script to start getting injections monthly. But I am not sure how that works since I haven't recieved the script yet (I think he wants to wait until my next draw because he uped my prenatal). I am taking about 1200 mg of calcium a day and 1500 mg of calcium.
Iron, now I am taking a liquid one called Natrol Liquid iron as suggested by my nut. I take it with my prenatal. It has 100 mg C, 1 mg thiamin, 13 mg niacin, 2 mg b-6, 3mcg b-12, and 15 mg as iron amino acid chelate per serving (81% daily percentage)..2 servings taken a day.
In a world full of cheerios be a fruit loop!
260lbs.......148lbs........165lbs
Start........Current.......Goal
Goal met 11/23
Sorry, I'm just now getting the notification for this.
Trust me -- I get the same speech -- "As long as your ferritin is fine, then you'll be alirght" which I don't agree with -- because that ferritin will continue to drop as long as your other levels continue to suck. You have to get those numbers up to snuff to keep your ferritin happy.
An AA chelate iron? Um. Okay.
Have you thought about going heme? Studies, including independant from the iron disorders institute look promising.
I'm doing a heme trial myself.. you can read about it here.
Trust me -- I get the same speech -- "As long as your ferritin is fine, then you'll be alirght" which I don't agree with -- because that ferritin will continue to drop as long as your other levels continue to suck. You have to get those numbers up to snuff to keep your ferritin happy.
An AA chelate iron? Um. Okay.
Have you thought about going heme? Studies, including independant from the iron disorders institute look promising.
I'm doing a heme trial myself.. you can read about it here.
Yes that is what I worry about. That they are not giving it enough concern and won't until it is a legit problem...why should I wait until then if we can prevent it?
AA chelate iron? Is this a useless form of iron? Have I been wasting time taking this?
And heme...yes I have read your blog about it but I still feel like I don't get it enough. What makes this one so different? Where can I find it? How much does it cost? And the most important thing..does it cause constipation? I have been lucky to avoid this so far and would hate to bring it on myself.
I am also going to see a new OB on Monday and I am going to bring her those labs and ask her what we can do to get those numbers up. I would rather be proactive rather than retroactive.
AA chelate iron? Is this a useless form of iron? Have I been wasting time taking this?
And heme...yes I have read your blog about it but I still feel like I don't get it enough. What makes this one so different? Where can I find it? How much does it cost? And the most important thing..does it cause constipation? I have been lucky to avoid this so far and would hate to bring it on myself.
I am also going to see a new OB on Monday and I am going to bring her those labs and ask her what we can do to get those numbers up. I would rather be proactive rather than retroactive.
In a world full of cheerios be a fruit loop!
260lbs.......148lbs........165lbs
Start........Current.......Goal
Goal met 11/23
There are serious question about the chelates. SOme say yes, many say no. I don't trust what I've seen *so far* -- so I won't say yes or no *yet*.
Heme won't constipate. It won't interfere with calcium except in high doses (chemical is at 300mg, heme is at 600mg -- so you can take with a normal calcium dose -- no more 2hr intervals). Heme works completely differently.
Yes, it's more pricey, but that's because it's not as widely available and not as easily attainable. The other is basically iron fillings that have been dissolved and reconstituted -- and iron fillings are cheap.
Heme won't constipate. It won't interfere with calcium except in high doses (chemical is at 300mg, heme is at 600mg -- so you can take with a normal calcium dose -- no more 2hr intervals). Heme works completely differently.
Yes, it's more pricey, but that's because it's not as widely available and not as easily attainable. The other is basically iron fillings that have been dissolved and reconstituted -- and iron fillings are cheap.
Sounds good. Where can I get it and at what dose do you suugest.
Of course I will run this buy my OB on monday just so she knows before I try anything new...and maybe she can draw my labs again so if I try it we can have an accurate starting point.
Of course I will run this buy my OB on monday just so she knows before I try anything new...and maybe she can draw my labs again so if I try it we can have an accurate starting point.
In a world full of cheerios be a fruit loop!
260lbs.......148lbs........165lbs
Start........Current.......Goal
Goal met 11/23
Bifera is available at CVS and Walgreens at least. Go to their website for a $2 coupon. It's heme AND a poly-iron saccharide blend (so while it may constipate SOMEwhat, it's not as bad as traditional irons, and probably will do you more good than that AA chelate crap you're taking).
There's also straight Proferrin, which some pharmacies may carry, but is more of an online-only thing. It's more expensive, but it's straight heme, stronger heme, not a mixture of chemical iron. That's what I'm taking -- 1) because I didn't know of Bifera when I started it and 2) I've been on 600mgs of chemical iron and it's not stuck YET so I don't think the Bifera would work well for me either.
There's also straight Proferrin, which some pharmacies may carry, but is more of an online-only thing. It's more expensive, but it's straight heme, stronger heme, not a mixture of chemical iron. That's what I'm taking -- 1) because I didn't know of Bifera when I started it and 2) I've been on 600mgs of chemical iron and it's not stuck YET so I don't think the Bifera would work well for me either.
(deactivated member)
on 12/8/09 7:30 am - Long Island, NY
on 12/8/09 7:30 am - Long Island, NY
I was anemic because of surgery also. I was getting transfusions once a week for 8 weeks. Then they did one every month. Once they foound out I was pregnant my Dr. stopped all transfusions. They said my iron level is a tiny bit low (I went today) but that is normal with pregnancy. I have to call on Friday with the more detailed results and then if they are still low then start and OTC iron supplement.
It will take a little time with the infusions to get the iron up. It took me about 3 infusions.
It will take a little time with the infusions to get the iron up. It took me about 3 infusions.
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