I have no iron in my body.......

I found out today while at my Oncology appointment that my blood work for August shows I have no iron in my blood. Zilch nothing.  I have to go to Stonecrest for 6 hours on Monday to be hooked up by IV and given Iron.  They think I have a bleeder somewhere as every month my iron has been great until this last time.  The Dr. explained that is why my blood pressure is running so high, and why my sugar keeps acting up.  Basically he said my body is shutting down from the lack of iron.  After I get this done on Monday, all my Dr.'s are going to be doing their thing to find where I'm losing  blood to cause me to loose all my iron.  No wonder I am so tired, but can't sleep, my legs are cramped, my heart keeps doing butterflies and palpatations, and my head keeps spinning.  HMMM

I showed them my food list of what I eat which is meat and greens, strawberries, beets, but they said it wasn't from not eating the right things.  Even at the campsite a Veteran brings me fresh veggies straight from the farm to make sure I eat right.  This is an every Tuesday delivery.  Having trouble conscentrating tonight.  Heart is jumping around. 

The Dr. didn't go into what all is involved except to bring my lunch as I would be hooked up for  6  hours to an IV.  I have to see my heart Dr. just before that.  He will be starting some of his tests as mom just had 2 heart attacks and they found another blockage.   She has Congestive Heart Failure, I have congestive heart Disease.  I am to not get stressed out and to rest over the weekend, as they don't want me to end up having a heart attack.  My chemo that I was on 4 years ago that kept depleting my potassium has really done a lot of damage to my heart muscles.  Now with this problem and my blood pressure going sky high, he's worried that more damage has been done.  I know I am tired of it.  But I have great Dr.'s and a God looking out for me.  I have faith they will get me thru this.

Just wanted to update you regarding what was happening.

Love

I'm sorry things are so difficult for you right now. I hope they are able to get your iron levels up soon. Good luck with the infusion.
Karen

Thanks Karen.  I found out all this stems from the type of leukemia I have and the chemo pills I have to take.  Such is life in the fast lanes.  My body doesn't absorb regular iron supplements .  Basically it is  just another part of staying young I guess.  LOL  God is taking care of me.  I read up on all this today and what all they will be doing.  I also talked with my best friend whose dad had to go thru it and she reassured me.  Piece of cake.  Just keep me in your prayers.

Kathy

I guess you're probably having your iron infusion today.    It takes a pretty long time, but it's not a bad ordeal.   Theyd on't need a big vein or anything, and they (usually, you know - nothing is 100%) premedicate you with steroids and benadryl IV to avoid any kind of allergic reaction.   So it's a pretty sleepy, relaxing thing.

You've been through so much, this won't be an impressive thing for you, I'm sure.

Lots of RNYers and DSers need the iron infusions.   Iron from the food and supplements you swallow is mostly absorbed in your duodenum.   A  DSer's duodenum is split in half, and the RNYer's is removed from the food/swallowed supplements stream altogether, so there is a lot more business for the iron infusion people now-a-days,      I'm sure the other meds you're on and your history makes that even more true for you.

Good luck with everything!

Dennie