ferrous sulfate iron

[screaming48]

I am now on iron pills, dr said I was not a good candidate for blood transfusion as my anemia is drug induced. My hgb is at 8.2 and aside from a couple of times where it went to 9  hgb has stayed in low 8s. I am on procrit three times a week 0.5 ml (5000 units) and have been on it for a couple of months now. wbc 2.4 and rbc 2.83 mcv 105 everything else is low except my kidney function which is running high and my thyroid med just was raised. I move very very slowly and legs ache especially when I push the clutch in my car, I would kill for an automatic right now. Anyway I chased a rabbit, is there anyone else on iron ferrous sulfate and how long did it take you to feel better? Thanks everyone!

[BigDaddy_59]

Yes, like CoWriter said, find a Dr. that really knows what is going on (like a Hepatologist) and they should do a FULL workup including TIBC (total iron binding capacity). Hopefully they know the difference between hemolytic anemia and iron deficiency anemia...

Too much iron can be a really bad thing for your liver, especially if it is already compromised.

Chris

[Dee1956]

thanks so much for the post, it all helps me learn, going for blood work for week 16 next week I sure hope I am still und
wishing you all the best

[screaming48]

we have one liver doc in this town, I would have to travel to dallas and ft worth to see someone else, I don't do Dallas. I don't think I could drive that far anyway. My riba has been reduced as well.
cowriter I had those thoughts myself and just kind of shook my head when the nurse told me I couldn't have one. I will go to the er though if it gets much worse.
Thanks billy for the encouragement, I know you have had a hell of a time as well with the hgb.
Ellen I havent fainted yet, but I have to be really careful how fast I try to move bless your heart I bet that was scary to faint like that.
Linda my iron was very high when I first started tx and it did take a nosedive I really felt weird about that.
pcds I am nervous about taking the iron he wants me to take it twice a day and I don't normally not follow doctor orders but this stuff causes major constipation and I had a problem with that at the beginning of tx, I do not want to go through that again so I think I will keep it to one a day and see what happens since I am also still taking procrit.
Thank you yodennis I like that explanation makes sense.
\
Thanks guys for chiming in, really appreciate you all.

[CoWriter]

Think about it....many of the people on this forum had the exact same anemia as you and they got transfusions.

Co

[CoWriter]

Procrit doesn't work if you don't have enough iron reserves.  He should have done a test to see if your iron is low.  Then prescribe the iron only if needed.

I don't think your doctor knows how to dose Procrit.  If he's truly giving you 5,000 units per injection then the dose is too low.  The usual dose is 40,000 units ....and the dose is supposed to be titrated according to the hemoglobin results.  In other words, since your anemia hasn't improved in two months, he should have increased the dose.  

Transfusions can be given for drug induced anemia.  I would find somebody who has more experience treating.  

Co

[yodennis]

The reason Iron was ordered "in conjunction" with the Procrit is it potentiates the intended effect of the Procrit. In this sense it is a purposeful and time limited decision- usually done in conjunction with a Ribovarin reduction. d

[ellenc670]

I had a blood transfusion (2 units).. My doctor called me when she got the results from my blood test and told me to go to the hospital in emergency. I felt weak also. I also fainted. The doctor told me this is very common on thse drugs..

Also I was told never to take iron not even cook in an iron pan. It is bad for the liver.

[working dog]

i feel bad for you...low 8s are a drag...without riba reduction its tough to bring it up the hgb...even with a transfusion it may not stay up ..mine didn't...i got up to low 9s for a little bit but then back down into the 8s...mostly low 8s...before transfusion i was in the 6s....my iron through tx was always fine...in fact most of my blood work wasn't too bad except the hgb...i couldn't believe how i felt...hang in there...billy

[tiredturkey19564]

I was taking ferrous iron and was tested. I was over the high limit 2 times. My doc said to stop taking it, very bad for liver. The anemia we have now is in our bone marrow and nothing can be done. My hgb is 9 now and I am not on anything yet. I'm on vic  and into my 24th week. I get my VL checked next week. Hang in there !

Linda

[pcds]

One day, on a week end I could'nt stand for more then  a few minutes.  I called the on call hep and told him I needed to go to the ED and get a transfusion.  My HGB was 8.0.  My docs don't favor transfusion only because it could harbor the next new virus blood isn't being tested for.  HGB of 8.2. It is what it is.  Drug induced or not.  If you showed up in the ED with your HGB they would likely transfuse.  I too was on procrit 2x week at one point.  Now I'm on it more weekly.  But I'm no longer on 3 tx just riba and peg which helps.

If your iron is OK as was mine, I wouldn't take iron supplements.  It doesn't make sense.

[suezeeque]

I really hope that someone can explain to me the recommendation to take iron.  The same recommendation was made to me and after having bloodwork done at my regular doctor, I saw that my iron level was perfectly normal.

If your hemoglobin is low, that means you don't have the cells present to carry the iron, no?  How can you load up on more iron if the cells to carry it aren't there?