Guest guest Posted July 10, 2003 Report Share Posted July 10, 2003 In a message dated 7/9/03 11:05:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time, writes: Anyway - bloodwork doesn't show any evidence of an infection - too early on urine culture to have results, but figure it's fine. The odd thing he found though was that my hemoglobin was 9.0. I tend to run low-normal like 11.8 - and when I went to Dallas, it was a little lower than that (last time it was checked) - if I remember right it was about 10.8. It was enough that the Dr. mentioned it. I've heard iron supplements are contraindicated for mito patients. My question is - what might cause that - could it be related to the fever - and does anyone know what an appropriate treatment for it might be. I do eat the right things to have a normal daily intake of iron (I even like spinach!) So....Help!!! Anne, My hgb usually runs around 12, too. However, when I get infections or fevers it will drop quite a bit sometimes, depending on how long the fever lasts and how high it goes. When I had the flu a few years ago, I had a fever of 101-103 for several days and my hgb dropped from 12 to 8 in 4 days and I almost needed a blood transfusion. My hgb also drops when I need iron. Have you had your ferritin and iron levels checked along with transferrin levels? Ferritin is the stored form of iron and often gives a more accurate picture of iron levels than just the iron levels alone do. My only caution though, with your fevers and getting a ferritin checked, is that ferritin is an acute phase reactant, which means that if you have any type of infection at all it could LOOK normal, even if your ferritin is really low. Even the flu can do this to it. I receive all of my nutrition intravenously so when my iron levels drop, I need to get iron IV as well. I was concerned about iron being contraindicated in mito as well, but was told that as long as you need it and your levels of iron are low, then it's okay. When your iron levels are normal and you keep filling your iron stores with more and more iron, then it can cause a problem in mito patients. I recently had a huge iron infusion IV about 3 months ago and had a hgb of 9.3 when I needed the iron. I just had my hgb rechecked a few weeks ago and it jumped up to 13.0 which is a record high for me. It usually never hits 13, so I guess the iron infusion really worked! Malisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 10, 2003 Report Share Posted July 10, 2003 Thanks Malisa for your feedback. I'm collecting them all - maybe my Dr. will have a better idea of what to do. He has ordered a hemoccult test (oh joy!) looking for internal bleeding - which I doubt would be positive - but then - you never know. So far...the fever continues. If I " lay low " it stays in the 99-100.5 range. If I try to be active - back up to 103 - guess I'm supposed to lay low right now. Bummer! Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 11, 2003 Report Share Posted July 11, 2003 -Hi Anne, Just my further input. What my doc is going by right now is my serum ferritin, which is at a low of 7, and he is treating me based on this, Celia -- In , " annetramposh " <annetramposh@h...> wrote: > Thanks Malisa for your feedback. I'm collecting them all - maybe my > Dr. will have a better idea of what to do. He has ordered a hemoccult > test (oh joy!) looking for internal bleeding - which I doubt would be > positive - but then - you never know. So far...the fever continues. > If I " lay low " it stays in the 99-100.5 range. If I try to be active - > back up to 103 - guess I'm supposed to lay low right now. Bummer! > Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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