Guest guest Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Hi , It's good to hear from you. I believe that had IV iron during her early days of Sprycel (or at least considered having it), hopefully she'll see your message and respond, if not, you could always email her directly. I also struggle with low ferritin, in fact, your numbers look far better than mine. Mine have rarely ever gone over 20 and are usually in the 16-18 range but interestingly, my Hgb is usually normal (12- 13). Have you tried Ferrous Gluconate (a pill)? I was taking it at one point but didn't find that the side effects (constipation mainly) were worth the modest 5 point increase in my ferritin level so I stopped. Tracey > > Have not posted in awhile, but I do read the digest....I am at my > sisters and she has a sloooow computer! > > Has anyone had IV iron, to bring up their ferritin....and how did it go > for you? > > I am on Sprycel and have been using Procrit for low hgb....but now my > insurance (Humana Medicare Part D) wants me to have a higher ferritin > to cover the Procrit (mine is 33 and Carolyn at OHSU said it should be > 100......I am not a red meat eater x 10 years)....so she suggested that > I could do IV iron to bring it up. I was off Sprycel for 2 weeks and > when I restarted I got my initial side effects back, so I am not > wanting to do anything to make me feel any worse. > > Has anyone had any experience with this procedure? Thanks for any > information you can provide. > > C. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 , This past July I had an iron infusion due to low ferritin and RDW. It was 5 infusions M-W-F the first week and then M-W on the second week. The first one took about 3 hours but the others only took about an hour. They run the first bag slower to make sure you don't have any problems. There are a couple of differnt types and make sure you doctor get you the one that doesn't have any problems associated with it.It helped me a lot but it did take about a month or so before I started to feel less tired. Right now my iron levels are fine and my onc. told me if they drop again Ican have it done agin to bring it up. Hope this helps, Chuck ________________________________ From: Cogan <ncogan@...> Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 1:24:27 AM Subject: [ ] IV iron???? Have not posted in awhile, but I do read the digest....I am at my sisters and she has a sloooow computer! Has anyone had IV iron, to bring up their ferritin.... and how did it go for you? I am on Sprycel and have been using Procrit for low hgb....but now my insurance (Humana Medicare Part D) wants me to have a higher ferritin to cover the Procrit (mine is 33 and Carolyn at OHSU said it should be 100......I am not a red meat eater x 10 years)....so she suggested that I could do IV iron to bring it up. I was off Sprycel for 2 weeks and when I restarted I got my initial side effects back, so I am not wanting to do anything to make me feel any worse. Has anyone had any experience with this procedure? Thanks for any information you can provide. C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 hi nancy,            i don't post too often either. i read just like you but your post got my attention as i have had the same experience. my dr. has been after me to do something about my iron storage. i feel fine most of the time but my hbg does jump around just as all my counts do. ex: my iron storage about 3momths ago was 84, 2 weeks ago it was 155, go figure. as long as i can put 1 foot in front of the other, i don't want any invasive proceedures.blood trans or iron drips. i started off taking ferritin iron but it upsets my stomach. i have a sensitive stomach. that's when my dr. wanted me to take an iron drip. the explanation was if my iron storage doesn't come up, i will have to keep taking procrit and unless i had a kidney problem the insurance may not cover it. i am going to keep on like i have been until my insurance ?s my taking procrit. everyone is not the same and i really think back to what my father said many times. " listen to your body " it will let you know when something isn't quite right. come to think, that is how i knew something was wrong and found out i had cml. please keep me posted as to what you decide to do.  jean m. ________________________________ From: Cogan ncogan@...: [ ] IV iron???? Have not posted in awhile, but I do read the digest....I am at my sisters and she has a sloooow computer! Has anyone had IV iron, to bring up their ferritin.... and how did it go for you? I am on Sprycel and have been using Procrit for low hgb....but now my insurance (Humana Medicare Part D) wants me to have a higher ferritin to cover the Procrit (mine is 33 and Carolyn at OHSU said it should be 100......I am not a red meat eater x 10 years)....so she suggested that I could do IV iron to bring it up. I was off Sprycel for 2 weeks and when I restarted I got my initial side effects back, so I am not wanting to do anything to make me feel any worse. Has anyone had any experience with this procedure? Thanks for any information you can provide. C. New Email addresses available on Get the Email name you & #39;ve always wanted on the new @ymail and @rocketmail. Hurry before someone else does! http://mail.promotions./newdomains/aa/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Do you cook using an iron fry pan? It may help a little and you won't even notice. Take care; Eva From: Mcallister Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 11:09 AM Subject: Re: [ ] IV iron???? hi nancy, i don't post too often either. i read just like you but your post got my attention as i have had the same experience. my dr. has been after me to do something about my iron storage. i feel fine most of the time but my hbg does jump around just as all my counts do. ex: my iron storage about 3momths ago was 84, 2 weeks ago it was 155, go figure. as long as i can put 1 foot in front of the other, i don't want any invasive proceedures.blood trans or iron drips. i started off taking ferritin iron but it upsets my stomach. i have a sensitive stomach. that's when my dr. wanted me to take an iron drip. the explanation was if my iron storage doesn't come up, i will have to keep taking procrit and unless i had a kidney problem the insurance may not cover it. i am going to keep on like i have been until my insurance ?s my taking procrit. everyone is not the same and i really think back to what my father said many times. " listen to your body " it will let you know when something isn't quite right. come to think, that is how i knew something was wrong and found out i had cml. please keep me posted as to what you decide to do. jean m. ________________________________ From: Cogan ncogan@...: [ ] IV iron???? Have not posted in awhile, but I do read the digest....I am at my sisters and she has a sloooow computer! Has anyone had IV iron, to bring up their ferritin.... and how did it go for you? I am on Sprycel and have been using Procrit for low hgb....but now my insurance (Humana Medicare Part D) wants me to have a higher ferritin to cover the Procrit (mine is 33 and Carolyn at OHSU said it should be 100......I am not a red meat eater x 10 years)....so she suggested that I could do IV iron to bring it up. I was off Sprycel for 2 weeks and when I restarted I got my initial side effects back, so I am not wanting to do anything to make me feel any worse. Has anyone had any experience with this procedure? Thanks for any information you can provide. C. New Email addresses available on Get the Email name you & #39;ve always wanted on the new @ymail and @rocketmail. Hurry before someone else does! http://mail.promotions./newdomains/aa/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Hi C, While my ferritin levels are in the normal range, I've been struggling with iron deficiency anemia for a couple years. Most recent hgb was 7.7 and iron saturation 3, at which time I had transfusions. Previously when hgb was in the low 9s, and oral iron caused nausea and vomiting, I had IV iron. Other than a nuisance and boring, the infusions didn't bother me and brought my hgb up from the 9 range to 11. Recently I've been taking ferrous gluconate and I've been doing okay as far as nausea and vomiting are concerned -- if I don't take it at the same time as Gleevec. B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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