Iv Iron Questions - Anemia Message Board

SleepyKitty · 09-13-2003, 06:31 AM

Some of you mentioned you are on IV Iron. For how long? Any side effects? Where do you have it done, how long does it take? How long till you feel it?

All my blood levels are low:
hemoglogin 10.9
hemocrit 33
mcv 71
mch 22.6
mchc 31.6

except:
rdw 18.4
platelet 500

I happen to have an MRI for a knee injury it showed bone marrow reconversion (???) so my doc says he wants me to have IV Iron. I am curious about it hope you dont mind sharing.

QuietStorm4000 · 09-13-2003, 01:29 PM

There's several other posts here concerning IV iron-I'd hate to do a repeat. It would take too long. There's a few different kinds, so each is administered over a different time period. I usually get IV Ferrlecit which is administered in sets of 8--1 per week for 8 weeks. Each IV takes about 2 hours to run. Timing is also differnt depending upon how quickly your body absorbs and uses this iron source. Mine varies greatly. I'm checked regularly by a hematologist and if my levels are low he'll tie me up in the backroom--no big deal. The staff keeps close watch to make sure I don't throw a reaction. I had a wicked reaction to another form of iron and the nurse had to yank me out of it. They also typically pre-medicate you to inhibit and hopefully prevent allergic reactions. I always get IV Benadryl and IV Solu-Medrol to tempers my body's desire to mutiny.
You'll have to discuss you options in detail with your doc AND your insurance co. IV iron is REALLY expensive and considered a LAST option for treating iron deficiencies. Good Luck!

reginamatthew · 09-16-2003, 10:07 AM

I just finished my dailey IV injections today. Mine was pretty simple I needed 40 cc's and could go daily, every other day, or weekly. I chose dailey and they left in the IV stent that way (less painful). I had no side effects and it was pretty painless just tiresome. I got about 6 cc's a day and had my iron tested. It went from 8 to 11 so not bad. I feel ok not alot diffrent but there are serveral changes I noticed. I now have to go once a month until I stop menustrating.

bjcan · 09-17-2003, 06:03 PM

I had iron IV for once a week for six week. After the first one I felt good. The second and third week disappointed me because I felt really weak. The rest of the treatments left me feeling very good.

I was having heavy menes and besides that I was also on blood thinners. I believe that this is what caused me to be anemic to the point that I had to have iron IV.

I have taken care of the heavy menses bleeding because I had the Thermo-choice procedure that either deceases the flow of blood or you don't notice that you are on your period. My hematologist wouldn't give me the iron until we took care of the bleeding first.

I also found that I lost weight during this six weeks. I think that the iron help to boost my metabolism.

Good luck and I hope you have more energy after the treatment. The treatment does take a few hours, but the meds that they give you prior to the treatment make you relax.

cararay · 09-18-2003, 02:19 AM

Hi, I am new to posting and wanted to ask you a few questions ,if you don't mind?

I have excessive uterine bleeding and became anemic enough to need a blood transfusion.

I am pretty sure that i will have to have the proceedure done called. Uterine Balloon Theropy (Ablation) and from what i read in the post before mine, that is what you had done.

could you tell me about it before i have it done? were you awake during the proceedure?

was it painfull?

Did it stop or slow down your bleeding?

How long does the proceedure take?

I would appreciate any feedback you can give me.

Thanks, Cara