Re: 3 month check - good and bad/iron infusion

[Guest guest]

i had really low iron/rbc before surgery. i went to a hematologist

(blood specialist) and she ordered a b-12 shot for me and a mini-

infusion of iron thru IV. that helped me some. but i ended up

needing 2 shots of procrit to help build up my blood so i could have

surgery.

the iron infusion is just an iv bag dripping iron directly into your

bloodstream. they watch you really close for the first 10-15 min. of

the infusion in case you have an allergic reaction. then if you are

ok, they continue with the rest of the iron. it can take up to a few

hours depending on how much you need.

then they will want to check your blood levels later to see if you

are maintaining your iron level.

hope this helps,

mary y.

> I had my 3 month follow-up today. As I already knew, I am losing

too fast.

> They want me to try and eat more calories and more often. I have

never been

> told that before in my life! My blood pressure was good and

everything else

> looked fine except when the surgeon came in to see me. He took one

look at

> me and then looked at the nurse and said, " Is she anemic? " He was

checking

> my fingernails and such and ordered some blood work. At first I

figured all

> this would mean was another vitamin I would have to take, but then

there was

> talk about people needing iron infusions (what is that?) At 3

months post-op

> I wouldn't think I could become that iron deficient, but maybe I am

wrong. I

> don't know much about this and now I am worried. Can anyone shed

some light

> on this subject for me?

>

> Kathy M.

> DS 7/19/01

> 213 pre-op, BMI 40

> 157 today, BMI 29

>

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