Iron Transfusions

i will be having one next week.  please answer a few questions. Is the transfusion process painful? Is whatever is going in your veins really cold? How long was if before you began to feel better? Any side effects? How long before another dose? Anything else I should know? Thanks so much for responding.  I cant wait to have some energy and feel better. Frankie

No, it's not painful once the needle is in and that depends on the technician that is inserting it - just like getting an IV.   It's not cold - room temp, I guess.  You start feeling better in a couple days.  No side effects.  Be sure your insurance will pay at the max.  In my case, they would have paid in full if I spent the night at the hospital but since it was done on outpatient, I ended up paying about $700.  It took 13-14 hours so I really should have been admitted.  Best Wishes, Colleen

wow!!! 13 or 14 hours?  thats insane.  my doc said itll take "a couple, few hours" and it would be outpatient.   others who have psoted have said 4-5 hours.  why so long for you?? thanks for responding, frankie

Frankie, I've never gotten IV iron but I wanted to respond because we give it where I work as an RN to our pregnant patients.  Because iron has the potential for an allergic reaction, it is best if it goes in slowly. In some places, depending on how much you're getting, it will take that long to infuse if they're being particularly careful. If someone has a history of allergies (in my case, I have weird allergies to vaccines and preservatives so if I ever got iron I'd want them to give it slowly) then it's best to give especially slowly. Believe me, it's much less hassle to sit longer than to get quite ill from an iron infusion.

thanks missvickie, my doc informed me bout possible allergic reactions.  i dont quite know the process or the type of infusion i will be receiving- i just want to get better.

Are you having an IV iron infusion?  My first one was 10 hours (1,200mgs of Infed).  My ferritin was depleted.  We did it over two days.  If it's your first time, or has been more than six months, they will do a one hour test dose.  They monitor you closely and watch for any side effects. The IV doesn't hurt.  The nurses were all wonderful in the Infusion center.  They have comfy recliners and individual  TV's for everyone.  They cover you with heated blankets, if you want.  My infusion center is also the chemo center.  It makes me appreciate that I am only low on iron.  My energy started to come back after about three weeks.  The dizziness stopped after a week.  I just felt better knowing that I had the iron in me.  I take plenty to do.  I take  my portable DVD player, DVD's magazines to read.  I always end up falling asleep.  Oh yeah, big tip, wear something that makes it easy to go to restroom with one hand.  I learned the hard way. I am five years post-op and have had three infusions.  I am now treated by a Hematologist for my low iron.  She orders an infusion whenever my ferritin drops below 100. Good luck.

allison, yeah, iron infusion- please excuse my ignorance.  yeah, this is my first one.

thanks for all the tips!!!

Allison, when I had my blood transfusion it was in the chemotherapy center at our hospital as well. I had a nice, private room (cubby, really) with my own bigass TV and cable, even! I'd worked the night before and was living with a hematocrit of 21% so I mostly slept through my transfusion but it was nice to be cared for so kindly. Just like in your case, the nurses were wonderful; as a nurse I really appreciate good nursing care, since it's what I try to give my patients. Best of luck with your continued attempts to get enough iron in. I was very close to needing IV iron but managed to bring mine up by changing the type of oral iron I was taking, and being sure to take it only with orange juice and never with anything else. I've given iron at work and it always concerns me the first time with a patient because you never know how they'll react. :( I"m glad you've done so well and that it's helped you so much! Take care, Vickie

It's been a couple years since my last one but I think I had 4-5 bags of blood during the transfusion.  It was a very slow process.  In outpatient - where I was - there was no tv or anything.  It was a very boring long stretch.  I think I am getting to the point where I might need another one as I am very quickly becoming very tired these days.  I am experiencing shortness of breath and I've got a headache all the time.  No problems with restless legs like I had last time though.  What are your symptoms?

Hi Frankie! I think others have answered most of your questions. The only "cold" is the flush they use in the IV after they get it in. The Benadryl they gave me was a little "stingy" but not awful.  It made me drowsy but I still got some work done. My infusion took 5 hours the first time and 4 the second (because they did the one hour allergy test the first time). I had an iron transfusion the week before last and one last Wednesday. The first one made me queasy for a couple of days - headachy and sick to my stomach. This past week, I felt great afterwards. I can't say that I feel like superwoman yet, but I don't feel like someone whooped me and left me for wounded like I have been. When you get your next dose will depend on your blood work, I think. I am having mine in four weeks and then we'll decide on the next step. Good luck!!! It sounds scarier than it is in reality Judi