Re: IV Iron

[Guest guest]

When I needed a transfusion after my myo, I asked the doctor why I

couldn't just receive iron intravenously (I was a little nervous

about getting someone else's blood)

He indicated that it was rarely done anymore; that there were risks

involved. I don't remember what the risks were.

-Mindy

> Has anyone here had iron by IV to treat severe anemia with low

> ferritin (iron) reserves?

>

> I had iron injections many years ago, and they were not pleasant.

> However, I'm told that there have been many improvements in the way

> iron is given now, via IV.

>

> If anyone has had the IV iron, what was your experience? Pain

while

> the iron was being given? Bruising (not from insertion of the IV

> needle, but from the iron itself)? How many treatments did you

> require?

>

> Thanks for your input.

[Guest guest]

I had 5 or 6 intravenous iron infusions last Spring to treat my

anemia before surgery, as I had a month's wait for my resection

and my numbers were too low for my gyn. I saw a hematologist,

who ordered the infusions, which were administered at the

hospital he was affiliated with. It was not Procrit, which he

thought inappropriate. I don't know exactly the compound that

was used.

The infusions were given in the oncology wing of the hospital, so

I was sitting with patients who were receiving chemo for various

cancers. Emotionally it is good to be aware that this will be a

possibility; it was especially hard to see very young people

requiring such treatment. But the facility was bright, airy and

peaceful and the staff were wonderful and quite cheerful and

made it a place of positive energy, which made all the difference

for everyone there.

A saline line was placed in my hand, after about 20 minutes of

saline a bag of iron (looks like blood, but darker) was connected

and administered. I had no ill effects, and started to feel better

within a week, depsite the doctor's prediction that it would be

about 10 days before I felt anything. I was finally able to walk up a

hill without gasping for breath. No pain from the initial IV

placement - it's like having blood drawn. Every now and then I'd

have a little bruise but it meant nothing. I was so happy to feel

better! My ferritin was 12 when I started and 188 just before I had

a period a week before surgery. My ferritin dropped to 99 after the

period (I was a heavy bleeder), but I doubt it will ever be that high

again anyway. It's around 35-40 now and I feel fine.

I am so glad that this treatment was available as I would not

have been able to bring my levels up without it. I did see a

hematologist earlier who wanted to admit me to a hospital

overnight for the infusion, which turned out to be excessively

cautious, imo. I think that a doctors' reaction to iron infusions can

vary widely - some percieve it as dangerous, while others do not,

but in my case I lucked out with the 2nd hematologist who

recognized the urgency of my situation and provided the means

to treat it. It was covered by my insurance so I didn't even have a

copay.

It worked for me, and fast, and I recommend it. There's another

woman who used to post here in my city who also had the same

treatment, at a different hospital; she was on Lupron for 3

months pre-surgery but needed her counts raised. Her IV iron

treatment went without a glitch and it helped her enormously.

Hope this helps-

Jan