Anemic

Hi all, maybe someone out there can help me, I'm 12 years out and just found out that I'm very anemic, I was put on 325mg of iron, and I have an appointment with a hematologist next week. What are some of the things I should take into account when I see the Dr?  I've been reading that the OTC iron isn't very effective.

Thanks!

Iron serum 39 

B12 439

Folate 46 

Ferritin  2.4

Hemoglobin 9.5

Hematocrit   30.4

MCV    69.9

MCH   21.8

MCHC 31.1

RDW   17.6

TSH 1.65

First those numbers would be alarming from my lab, but your lab results will show what is normal for your lab.  If your ferritin is really 2.4 and normal is 13-150 you will be given iron infusions.  But look at your test results and see what is normal for your lab.

Thanks for replying! 

My PCP said my numbers were very low, according to the results, normal ferritin range is between 11-307.

Insist on iron infusions. With ferritin that low, it will take you 20 years to get it up with oral iron supplements.

look at the label on your iron. The number that is most important is "Elemental Iron." Yours is going to be 65 mg of elemental iron. The rest of the 325 mg is other crap. Crap that will constipate the hell out of you as well. Ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, or ferrous anything will do that. Look for carbonyl iron or heme iron to take after you get infusions. they will be 100% elemental iron, and won't constipate or cause stomach upset. The carbonyl will likely be much cheaper than the heme iron.

What Grim and White Dove said!  You'll likely need iron transfusions.  You must be dragging tail with iron that low!

When you see the Doc I'd ask what he/she recommends you do after the transfusions to keep your numbers up.  Also your B12 seems low to me - I like mine even high for energy and a sense of well being.

Did you have a complete lab work up?  With such low numbers I'd want to see everything so that you can work with your Doc to adjust your supplements over time.  I have found that I need to adjust things as I go along and I am a newbie compared to you.

Hope you feel better soon.

I'd like to reiterate what Ashley said about having COMPLETE labwork done. 12 years is a long time since surgery, and if your ferritin is that low, I'd bet money something else is.

They seldom check most things, like copper, selenium, Vitamin K. But you should insist. Some things can be dangerous, cause permanent damage, or death. A full set of labs with all the vitamins and minerals is 14 or 15 vials of blood. If they don't take that many, they aren't testing everything.

Not sure how you function with those numbers... IMO - you need iron infusions and B12 shot... Like yesterday. 

Ask to be referred to hematologist... Run there - don't walk... Cry if you have to..beg for iron.. . with those numbers - depression, low energy, shortness of breath.... Ouch... 

My ferritin was 2 when I realized I wasn't just tired from life ;) 

Ask your Hematologist about www.injectafer.com LOL that sounded like a commercial (I swear no kick back) 

2 - 30 minute bags of iron, 1 week apart. Repeat test in 3 months. 2 more bags and I've been good for over a year.

For some of us despite an iron rich diet and religiously taking oral iron it doesn't stick. 

But yeah you will need infusions and the ones above I mentioned are the latest greatest.

Hope your Dr gets your #'s in the black soon.

~Shelly

Thanks everyone! It takes a bit to get going in the morning, and now that I did some research on anemia, a lot of what's going on makes sense - thumping in my ears, heart rate, concentration, shortness of breath, dizziness, it doesn't help that I normally have low blood pressure as it is.

I was a year or so behind on my labs. I was going to find out what I should add besides the usual tests, but it just slipped my mind. I never had a (big) problem like this before. I'm in the process of catching up with everything I let slide, all of the usual checkups etc.

I was given the standard 325 iron, (but I plan on looking into that other kind), its only been a week but I try to take the iron an hour after or 2 hours before I eat, and I take it with a chewable C, a chewable D3 at dinner, and a B12 during the day when I remember to take it.