Question:
Hemoglobin 8.6, How bad off am I?

Due to a trip to the ER this week for stomach flu it was determined that my Hemoglobin is 8.6 and Hematocrit is 30. I was told I was one step from needing a transfusion. My PCP has put me on the following regimen: 6 carbonyl iron per day (300mg total), 1 prenatal plus additional folic acid to total 2400mcg, 2 2cc B-12 injections a month (previously was just 1). I am a proximal RNY revised from a failed VBG in 5/00. My question is for anyone who may have had similar lab values. Were you placed on a regimen similar to this? If so, how long before you stopped feeling like you were gonna die? My next bloodwork is August 30 but I am praying I will start to feel better before then. I was warned it is totally treatable but it would be a long haul back. I'm just trying to get a feel for HOW long? Please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] or answer here on the board. The e-mail in my profile is currently inactive and I just don't have the energy to change it right now. Please no bashing as I truly don't think I could take it right now. I would appreciate any and all experiences with acute anemia. Thanks in advance. Hugs, Kellye    — Kellye C. (posted on July 22, 2002)

July 22, 2002
Are you sure those iron are 50mg each, not 50mg per pair? If they're in a bottle, it's by the pair. If they're in a blister pack, they could be 50mg each. Vit C? How much protein supps are you getting in, since that pulls everything back up. There is one OTC iron that is 150mg per pill. (this is not to be confused with fe sulfate which is 325mg iron SALTS, but more like 65mg elemental). Is your calcium also way down?
   — vitalady

July 22, 2002
Hi, my last hematocrit was 31. It has not been that low since pre surgery when I had pneumonia. Then it went down to 26. My MD put me on 325 mg of ferrous gluconate and switched me from a chewable vitamin to another with more folate in it. I also take sub-lingual B12. I go in tomorrow for my next set of labs and I really hope there is an improvement. Even though I feel like I have low energy, I feel so much better with 123 pounds gone that there is really no comparison. At one time post-op, my hematocrit was high enough so that I could donate platelets at the blood bank. I am hoping to get back to that level (38). Best of luck to you and I hope you are feeling better soon.
   — Julia O.

July 23, 2002
Just a baseline answer to your question, as a nurse, I see most doctors waiting until the Hemoglobin drops below 8 and then they will transfuse, but it all depends on the circumstances and how the person feels, some people tolerate a lower blood count a little better than others.
   — Cory F.

July 23, 2002
I am the original poster. Michelle you were dead on about the potency of the iron. I checked and sure enough it was 50 mg for 2 pills so I was taking half of what he wanted me to take. I'm going out to get some chewable vit c to take with my new iron. He put me on Slow Fe as of today which has iron salts equal to 50mg elemental iron per pill. I'm still taking 6 pills. Haven't been doing protein supps because I can't find one I really like. I have some Designer Protein vanilla. I guess it's time to start getting creative with it. I think I'm already starting to feel slightly better. I still get exhausted very easily but it seems that the recovery period between spells is a little shorter. I'm hoping that the new iron will help speed it up some. Thanks to all who answered me both in private and on here.
   — Kellye C.

July 24, 2002
Kellye, I too am anemic.(pre-op though. Date is 8/6/02). My surgeon sent me to a hemotolgist- my hgb was 10.4. He prescribed 2 slow-fe's a day each taken with 500 mg of vit c.to help with absorption. One at Breakfast and 1 at dinner.Also, some information from a nutritionist I know...Don't drink caffeine at the same time. It slows absorption. So even with meals avoid caffeinated drinks so you can absorb the iron that occurs naturally in food as well. If you have cast iron pots use them too. That helps....
   — Metsfan91

July 24, 2002
Kellye, my hematocrit is NEVER above 9.3 since surgery. It's the best that I have had so far. I was transfused at 4.3 when I ended up in the hospital. I now have iron infusions once a month but it's been 2 years and the iron still is only at 9.3. I am NOT trying to scare you as I think that I must have a very unique problem but you asked and I thought I would write and tell you about this. BTW, I don't absorb iron by mouth for some reason.
   — Barbara H.