Re: Is it to much... MAYBE!!

[Guest guest]

Hello Pal.. My name is Del.

Whew! What you asked is difficult at best, to answer.The very first thing I

woulf recommend, is asking your team of professionals. 750mg of Iron a day is

way over the RDA limit.

Call and ask the nurse, over the phone, why so much Iron every day?

There may be someone that has had a similar experience as yours, and I wish you

well in finding that person.

Normal amounts of Iron would be 10mg for men, and 15mg for women.

I would be very surprised if the hospital/doctor would prescribe too much, or

too little iron for your particular case. There are many reasons that need to be

addressed individually.If your level is over 10mg...which one think it is... let

the doctor/nurse know, even though they would be reading the same report as you.

Iron deficiency is the most common mineral deficiency in the world, causing

anemia in men, women, and children.

In adults, iron deficiency is most commonly caused by loss of blood. In

premenopausal women, monthly menstrual bleeding may cause the deficiency. In men

and postmenopausal women, iron deficiency usually indicates bleeding in the

digestive tract—for example, from a bleeding ulcer or a polyp in the colon.

The deficiency may also result from bleeding in other areas of the body, such as

the kidneys.

Iron deficiency may result from an inadequate diet, primarily in infants and

small children, who need more iron because they are growing. Adolescent girls

who do not eat meat are at risk of developing iron deficiency because they are

growing and starting to menstruate. Pregnant women are also at risk of this

deficiency, because the growing fetus requires large amounts of iron.

Symptoms

When iron reserves in the body are exhausted, anemia develops (see Anemia: Iron

Deficiency Anemia). Anemia causes paleness, weakness, irritability, drowsiness,

and fatigue. Concentration and learning ability may be impaired. When severe,

anemia may cause headache, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), spots before the

eyes, digestive upset, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a rapid heart rate.

Occasionally, severe anemia causes chest pain and heart failure. Menstrual

periods may stop.

In addition to anemia, iron deficiency may produce such symptoms as pica (a

craving for nonfoods such as ice, dirt, or pure starch), spoon nails (a

deformity in which the fingernails are thin and concave), and leg cramps at

night. Rarely, iron deficiency may cause a thin membrane to grow across part of

the esophagus, resulting in difficulty swallowing.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of iron deficiency is based on symptoms and on blood test results.

Results include a low level of hemoglobin (which contains iron), a low

hematocrit (the proportion of red blood cells to the total volume of blood), and

a low number of red blood cells, which are abnormally small. The amount of iron

in transferrin—the protein that carries iron in blood when iron is not inside

red blood cells—is determined. If the amount is less than 10%, iron deficiency

is likely. Iron deficiency is confirmed if the level of ferritin (a protein that

stores iron) in the blood is low. However, inflammation, infection, cancer, or

liver damage can result in a normal or high ferritin level even when iron

deficiency is present.

Occasionally, a bone marrow examination is needed to make the diagnosis. A

sample of bone marrow cells is removed, usually from the hipbone, through a

needle and examined under a microscope to determine the iron content.

Treatment

Because the most common cause of iron deficiency in adults is excessive

bleeding, doctors first look for a source of bleeding. Drugs, such as oral

contraceptives (birth control pills), may be needed to control excessive

menstrual bleeding. Surgery may be needed to repair a bleeding ulcer or remove a

polyp in the colon. A blood transfusion may be necessary if the anemia is

severe.

General treatment includes daily doses of an iron supplement taken by mouth.

Normal dietary intake of iron may not be sufficient to replace lost iron

(because less than 20% of iron in a typical diet is absorbed into the body).

Iron is absorbed best when the supplement is taken on an empty stomach, 30

minutes before meals or 2 hours after meals, particularly if the meals include

foods that reduce the absorption of iron (such as vegetable fibers, phytates,

bran, coffee, and tea). However, taking iron supplements on an empty stomach can

cause indigestion and constipation. So some people must take the supplements

with meals. Antacids and calcium supplements can also reduce iron absorption.

Consuming vitamin C in juices or taking it as a supplement enhances iron

absorption. Eating small amounts of meat, which contains the easily absorbed

form of iron (heme iron), enhances the absorption of the poorly absorbed form of

iron (nonheme iron). Iron supplements

almost always turn stools black—a harmless side effect.

Rarely, iron is given by injection. Injections are necessary for people who

cannot tolerate tablets or for a few people who cannot absorb enough iron from

the digestive tract.

Correcting iron deficiency anemia usually takes 3 to 6 weeks, even after the

bleeding has stopped. After the anemia is corrected, an iron supplement should

be taken for 6 months to replenish the body's reserves. Blood tests are usually

performed periodically to determine whether the person is receiving enough iron

and to check for continued bleeding.

Women who are not menstruating and men should not take iron supplements or

multiple vitamins with iron unless specifically instructed to do so by a doctor.

Taking such supplements can make diagnosing bleeding from the intestine

difficult. Such bleeding may be due to serious disorders including colon cancer.

source: Merck Medical Manual

Deliman

Just for your sake,

and your well being...

don't mix a laxative,

with something for sleeping!

Subject: Is it to much or necessary?

To: HepatitisCSupportGroupForDummies

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2008, 11:41 PM

My doctor has me on 325mg of ironsupplement twice a day[750mg per day]

since having liver resection done 4-1-08.my liver was /is cirrotic

with hepc of course prior to tumor diagnoses.Ilost just over 3 pints

of blood during the course of the 8 hour surgery,so my own blood

was re-cycled.So my question is ,''should i be taking that much iron

each day ,and why.

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