Re: Iron Infusion

[Guest guest]

Tess,

I have been behind on posts, and I'm sorry you have been going through

some tough times. I hope the infusions help you, and you can start

feeling better. Keeping you in my prayers, Tawny

[Guest guest]

My Dr is considering an iron infusion for me, first he wants to try upping my

iron for another month. I am 6 post op (Dr R) and am 55 yo. unfortunately you

are just as likely to be anemic as the other gals because of the MGB and the

fact that as we get older our bodies just dont absorb as they used to. Even my

hubby is beginning to show mild anemia, so he too has upped his iron. I realize

this doesnt answer your questions concerning the infusion, but I hope it helps

you realize you must, must, must take all supplements and dietary

reccomendations and yearly blood tests seriously. Blessings Conrad

[Guest guest]

Does pretty much everyone that has the MGB have to have Iron infusions?

Iron infusion

There are 2 types of iron infusion that my hem. doc presented. 1. Small freq.

1 hour infusions or a 7 hour yearly (or so depending on your numbers) infusion.

I chose the 7 hour. I was prepped with Benadryl and steroids to prevent a

reaction and reclined back. I decided to work night shift the night before AND

begin a colonoscopy prep <clear liquid phase only> as I laid there (?Why waste 3

days?!) So for me it was very easy, sleep and sip water. My husband who also

works in the hospital would run up and check in on me. I will be checked again

in a few months.

Anemia is a problem at any age! You need red blood cells to transport oxygen

to the heart! I hadn't had a period (D & C w/ ablation) in a few years, and my

iron stores never built up or recovered. It's actually a harder fix as you age

due to underlying health issues,drug interactions,etc. Insurance SHOULD cover

this!

Osler

MGB 7 years ago Dr. R,

lost 110,found 10lbs

Happy as a clam

[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

I do realize I will need to be vigilant with the CLOS recommendations.

Re: iron infusion

My Dr is considering an iron infusion for me, first he wants to try upping

my iron for another month. I am 6 post op (Dr R) and am 55 yo. unfortunately

you are just as likely to be anemic as the other gals because of the MGB and

the fact that as we get older our bodies just dont absorb as they used to.

Even my hubby is beginning to show mild anemia, so he too has upped his

iron. I realize this doesnt answer your questions concerning the infusion,

but I hope it helps you realize you must, must, must take all supplements

and dietary reccomendations and yearly blood tests seriously. Blessings

Conrad

[Guest guest]

Nope, three years out and not anemic. Anne H.

>

> Does pretty much everyone that has the MGB have to have Iron

infusions?

>

> Iron infusion

>

>

> There are 2 types of iron infusion that my hem. doc presented. 1.

Small freq. 1 hour infusions or a 7 hour yearly (or so depending on

your numbers) infusion. I chose the 7 hour. I was prepped with

Benadryl and steroids to prevent a reaction and reclined back. I

decided to work night shift the night before AND begin a colonoscopy

prep <clear liquid phase only> as I laid there (?Why waste 3 days?!)

So for me it was very easy, sleep and sip water. My husband who also

works in the hospital would run up and check in on me. I will be

checked again in a few months.

> Anemia is a problem at any age! You need red blood cells to

transport oxygen to the heart! I hadn't had a period (D & C w/

ablation) in a few years, and my iron stores never built up or

recovered. It's actually a harder fix as you age due to underlying

health issues,drug interactions,etc. Insurance SHOULD cover this!

> Osler

> MGB 7 years ago Dr. R,

> lost 110,found 10lbs

> Happy as a clam

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Dear ,

> What happens if you are on iron overload? I am surprised to hear you took

Decadron, my BIL took it in the last stages of lymphoma.

>

> You certainly have a colorful history with CML. Having to travel just a short

distance to get your treatment is really a lucky break. We have to drive 7

hours to Houston.

________________________________

Hi Lottie,

Did I write Decadron? or did you just read it that way?

I took Dexamethasone, which is a cortisone and used frequently for many things,

like the cortison shot in my shoulder bursitis.

I was just impressed that they had a very specific routine for iron

injection....this was at an infusion center in a cancer center. I only let them

give me 1/2 the benedryl because I did not want to be knocked on my can!

Like all of us that were dx with cml before the new, easy drug treatments, my

treatment is pretty typical (and I was pretty healthy most of the time). But

they only had me on triple therapy (inf, ara-C and HHT) for 3 months and Dr.

Kantarjian said it was 'too toxic' for me. I went to MDACC thinking I was going

to have to argue my case, but he took one look at me (thin hair, mental fog,

very anemic - he had the RN go right then and get me a Procrit shot)....he

declared me intolerate of inf (my first use) and that made me eligible for

Gleevec. But that 3 months on triple therapy was pretty miserable (my friends

said I could hardly talk and did not make any sense). My trip to MDACC, flying

from Eugene, OR to Denver to Houston, then shuttle to MDACC took as much as 17

hours.....it was pretty awful. In the waiting room, I met Jody C. from Florida,

and she was chatting it up, looked great, had lots of energy.....I went over and

introduced myself and said " I want to be on what you're on " . She was off drug

waiting for Gleevec to arrive for her trial.

I think this early cml treatment toughened up us ol' timers, so that anything

they throw at us now is a piece of cake. It is always good to get the worst over

with first. Being a medical person also helped me....I was never just a passive

patient! You had to tell me what you were going to do and why....and if it

didn't make sense, then I needed to talk to someone more informed.

You and Bobby are our Golden Girls of the CML list.

C.