Re: Marta - iron infusions

February 19, 2003

In a message dated 2/19/2003 7:20:04 PM Pacific Standard Time,

> Anyone out there who has had iron infusions - please help!

> I am severely iron deficient, having depleted almost all of my ferritin

> stores, while being totally compliant with the iron meds I was recommended

> to take by my surgeon's staff.. I'm really discouraged, as today I had labs

> done (after 5 infusions) and there is no significant difference; some are

> even lower. For example, WBC was 8.1, now 5.2; HCT was 34.6, now 34.5; MPV

> was 9.6, now 8.4; HGB stayed the same (11.6); MCV was 88.9, now 87; MCH was

> 29.8, now 29.3. PLT count, which was 230 in January, is now 214. MON was

> 7.4, now 5.3. Any info appreciated! Thanks!

>

Marta,

I have been getting iron IV for almost a year now, although I have been able

to have a break and have had only one infusion since Thanksgiving.

What you need to know is what your ferritin is. Mine was 2 when I started

getting the infusion, and now it is 190. However, my hgb is hovering in the

low range at 11.5 and was 13.5 in November. But, because I still have enough

iron stored in the ferritin, then I didn't get any iron infusion. The

hematologist told me last week that I would need the iron IV if the ferritin

started getting below 80. The hgb " steals " from the ferritin to keep it's

levels up. If it doesn't have the storage of the ferritin, then it starts

dropping. The difference in your hgb this time and last time is quite

minute, as probably drinking another glass of water could bring up that

number.

Hope that helps.

B

Distal RNY 12/27/95

275/152

February 19, 2003