Iron Infusions

[CarolineF]

Cos of very low iron levels I am booked in to have an iron infusion a week on Friday. I have been told by the haemotologist that it will take all day to administer.

Just wondering if anyone else has had them, and how they felt and how long it took until they started to feel better?

Thank you xxxxxxxx

[Baybee]

Hi Caroline,
I'm not pregnant (yet!) but I have had a few iron injections. I don't absorb iron well so the tablets didn't do me much good. Yes they took between 5 and 7hrs ( I think depending on your blood pressure) They put it in very slowly so as not to shock your system (take a good book). It took about 2 weeks for me to feel great again. i didn't know how bad I felt until I started feeling better, it was fantastic and they are very safe, not like iron injections which can have side effects.
Goodluck,
Baybee

[CarolineF]

Thanks Baybee, They did say it would take over 6 hours and I should take a cardigan and a good book. They also said that i may be a bit drowsy cos they give you a pre-med before....phenergan and something else. Knowing the effect that has on my daughter (she is out for the count in minutes after having some) I think I may enjoy it. I need a good sleep.

Thanks again. xx

[rynosmum]

Best of luck Caroline ! This should get you well and truly back on track !

...and I need to tell someone and I know you'll understand, my last TSH came out at 1.8 !!!!!....

[My Miracle Baby]

Hi, I have regular iron infusions (nothing to do with pregnancy). It takes about 6-8 hours to administer. You get hooked up to an IV drip for this time. Yes you may have a pre-med to ensure you dont react to the iron (probably because you are pregnant - I never have one). A doctor usually stays with you for the first 15min to make sure you are okay and then leaves. The nurses take your blood pressure, pulse and temperature on regular intervals. They watch you very closely. It is like watching grass grow really it takes that long. Take lots of magazines, books and snacks (lollies, chocolate) because you cannot leave the ward while you have it. I usually feel better after about 1-2 weeks.

[CarolineF]

Katrina, 1.8 - good result, although I always feel much better if I can get it under 1. At 1.8 it is at the top end of the ideal treatment range level for someone on the thyroxine therapy. My endo says that if you are on thyroxine you should try and keep your TSH between 0.5 and 2.0. Are you feeling any better? As they say...keep taking the tablets!!!!!

my MIracle Baby - good advice. Magazines - check, sweets and chocolate - check, cardigan - check.

I have had a blood transfusion before in the UK. That took 4 hours to go in via IV per unit. I know exacty what you mean about boredom. I would look at the bag and feel better when i saw it coming to the last few drips, then a bloody nurse would come in and replace it with another one. My OB at the time was very patient with me, I was a very unhappy camper and made my feelings clear. They were great with me and I was a pain in the **** type patient I was sooo tired and grumpy.

If this infusion makes me at all human again, then I will tolerate it gladly. I feel shocking at the mo and will do whatever it takes to get well and also make sure that bubs is OK.

Thanks everyone

Caroline xx

[My Miracle Baby]

All the best Caroline