iron infusion

[acker]

my ferritin has dropped to 44 [15-290]; dr says iron infusion. i'm probably not absorbing iron along the gut. i'm recovering from fatigue and hyperthyroid. have been feeling good the last couple weeks, so wouldn't have suspected low iron, haven't been feeling any worse than last iron level test (which showed low but not this low).

this is the drip where i sit for 5 hours and fork out 700 $. apparently i just need the one treatment. could've had shots but i put up such a fuss with injections the dr says infusion. anything else i should know?

[Bek2]

Hi,

I saw your post, i am very low in ferritin. Somewhat low in iron.  I just tested positive for LYME disease. It is the disease caused by an infected tick.  If you didn't know that.  Other things carry it too like biting flys, etc..
Anyway, the bacteria love red blood cells, and thrive on them, causing low iron or ferritin.  So, if i were you i would get tested for Lyme disease if i were you if you have no other reason for your low iron.
Also, i see you say it may be caused by absorbtion issues.  I too have that.  And it can be caused also by Lyme disease.

Hope this helps.
Bek

[acker]

(btw, is 'beets' = beetroot? the dark red vege? i love em)
anaemic - dr trying to find out. she thinks i'm not absorbing it along digestive tract. i think she was surprised... the specialist didn't bat an eyelid... just asked me if i had celiacs (no).
i've had the fatigue syndrome long before my iron levels began falling. so i thankfully have felt slight improvement but nothing like night n day. and i think my bowel action has improved. good :) got floradix on my list for if tests turn bad. thanks!

[laura1967]

As Pax said above, Floradix makes a fantastic whole food source of Iron......easily absorbed and a good way to "maintain and build" your Ferritin levels.
Also another important question is why are you anemic? Where are you losing this blood at? Are the Drs trying to figure this out?

[acker]

a couple days later after the drip - feeling ok - i'm sure I was actually a bit sicker after it at first - feeling sore and inflamed. i feel it also kept me awake that night - bad sleep! now though much better, bit more energy - or at least absence of the painful crushing fatigue that can strike by noon. also it's changed my skin, it's sort of... shiny?... in a good way, seems less thin...
i guess i'm recommending it; my dr found a clinic that i could get my health fund to co-pay; besides my minor adverse reaction, it's been great.

[acker]

i had the treatment yesterday. feeling better by a thin margin. i hope it sticks! i had muscle soreness by night, but i feel I have the capacity to build strength again. another observation is that it seems to have straightened out my toes. a few months ago i noticed my toes were curving in the slightest way. (?) not enough for anyone else to notice, but i thought they were curling up and dying- a bit like myself. anyway, i think they've straightened out!

[Paxiled]

For the long term you should try adding good iron foods to your diet -- parsley, beets, dandelion greens, watercress -- there are lots of them.  A good supplement is herbal iron by Floradix.  It seems very well absorbed and tolerated.

[gymdandee]

Very low iron levels can also cause trouble. Easily fatigued, weakness, lightheadedness and shortness of breath can occur with low iron levels. Low iron, like high iron, can trigger free radical generation and lead to disease
Ferrlecit
is indicated for repletion of total body iron levels.Many times, after the first dose, the result are almost miraculous. Patients with low iron levels are pale, tired, brain-fogged, and have other symptoms.If their ferritin level is below 15, seeing how they look before and after the first iron injection is astounding. The paleness can abate by the end of
the injection. Most importantly, as they are getting the IV dripped in their veins,  my aunt said she starts to feel better. The first symptom that improves
is the brain fog. Not everyone needs intravenous iron therapies. For those with very low iron stores (ferritin less than 20 ng/ml), however, intravenous iron therapies should be considered.