IRON after GI bleed

First time poster.
History: confirmed HCV '98, Geno-1A, treatment '99 Interferon/Ribavirin, treatment '02 Pegasys/Ribavirin, biopsy '98 0/2, last biopsy '03 grade 2/3, does not drink or smoke, type-2 diabetes. OH! Current treatment status non-responder.

Major bleed from grade 3 varices last week.

Hemoglobin/hematcrit pre-event 14.4/.44. Reduced to 9.2/27 during bleed which put me in ICU. Out of hospital working to build hemo numbers back up. Eating iron and taking 65mg in AM. DR. advised me to take 65mg iron twice daily to build back hemo. Am a little weary of this as I have tried to avoid any iron for past 9 years.

Has any of you had similar condition and any advice? How long should iron build back take so I can stop taking it? Is more better or just quicker?

[WillPower]

I always have sympathy when a post is not answered.  I rushed the read on this, but most people say avoid iron if you are hcv positive!  I would get a second opinion.  My doctors told me to avoid all iron foods at all cost.  I do not know your situation well enough to comment.  Al

[somuchmore]

Yes.

I to have have avoided any iron since positive HCV test.

Now the doctor tells me to take significant amounts for 30 days to build my hemo back up.

Perhaps I'll get other input.

Thank you for yours.

Being a first time poster I was thinking no one would respond to my post.

[NYgirl]

HOnestly this sounded like such a serious post I was afraid to put anything thinking someone else would come along with some good knowledge.

My doctor also told me to avoid Iron under all costs because it encourages viral replication.

Unfortunately this sounds like a doctor question to me.  We are all patients and not doctors in here.

I wish you the BEST.

[somuchmore]

Thanks and I understand.

FYI I have been reviewing this forum for a while but had not posted to it. However, last week was a real new beginning for me (my life was saved in ER/ICU) and so I thought I would begin to contribute to this forum. I'm 9 into treatments and likely 35 years with virus.

Prior to last week's bleed I thought I was heading into VX-950 Prove 3 for non-responders or HCV-796 phase II trail as part of non-responders (74qty) arm.

Oh well life changes often with this stuff. I do not know yet how this event will effect my status as study groups are concerned.

I think I'll go ahead with my doctors advice and up the dose to 65mg twice per day.

Again thanks

[Willy50]

Here is my 2 cents worth.  I'm no doctor and have no medical credentials.  

My understanding is that IT"S ALL REALATIVE.  Many heppers have iron that is too high, but not all.  I usually tell people to get tested when they get their ferratin and total iron binding when they get their LFT's just to get a baseline.  At that point your doctor can decide; do I need iron or to I need to watch my iron?

PREmenopausal women with HCV may have low iron.  POSTmenopausal women tend to catch up with men with iron stores.  So much of it depends on diet, lifestyle and genetics.

Excess iron can have a number of number of detrimental effects, not only in symptoms but also in physical damage to the body, some of which can become permanent.

The question is...... where do you stand AFTER your bleed?  If you are low on iron you very well may need the iron supplement to recover and to heal.  I presume your doctor has a handle on it but it is a perfect time to ask them a few questions about it.

One other provison...... when on rescue drugs while treating you NEED access to that iron so your body can make use of the drug. Low iron stores equal diminished response (or so I've heard).  It's no time to try to "diet" to get your iron stores down.

Therefore..... if it was a bleed that diminished your iron stores to below recommended levels the advice looks good to me.  Iron is very necessary in our diet.  We need only really fear it in excess.

best,
Willy