Found out yesterday I'm EXTREMELY anemic

[VaBusa]

So much so, the hematologist said he'd never seen numbers like mine and that he was shocked I was functioning as a human being Might explain why I'm perpetually tired and have headaches every waking moment of my life. Doc suspects this has been going on for YEARS and does not yet know why...

Anyway, this isn't a pity post I'm due for a 6 hour "iron infusion" via an IV on Monday. Hopefully that will help my body replenish the iron. Doc says the iron is completely gone from my bone marrow and my liver.

He said there are side effects with this process and that I'll be closely monitored in his office while they do this next week.

Anyone here ever had to do this before? I won't lie, I'm kind of nervous...I'm hoping I just sleep through it, but I'm worried about how I'll feel in the days following this infusion. I need to work the very next day. Just curious if some of you guys and gals have done this before...

[BigBSBusa]

Sorry to hear it, 'Chelle, but glad they have found the problem.

[BUBBA]

Prayers for a smooth procedure and hope that you begin to feel better ASAP.

[djsin]

eat more metal hope all turns out well

[PDBusa]

Holy Crap Girl. I thought I told you to take care of yourself? You certainly seem to be doing a crappy job of it.
Okay rant over.
I have never heard of this procedure, but my thoughts are with you regardless!

[VaBusa]

Originally Posted by PDBusa

Holy Crap Girl. I thought I told you to take care of yourself? You certainly seem to be doing a crappy job of it.
Okay rant over.
I have never heard of this procedure, but my thoughts are with you regardless!

Hey, no picking on me! I had no idea...and the doc still doesn't know why, so I'm up for a myriad of fun tests to determine why this happened...

I'm trying, honest

[Mrs.Rubber2Burn]

+1 on the take care of yourself!

I struggle with keeping up with my iron, but nothing like that. It can really make you feel awful to when as I call it, "you are down a few quarts." Hopefully after your infusion you will begin to feel much better!

[Scar]

Hey, Q: Did you look on WebMD to see what the after-effects of this procedure are? Did you ask the doc? At least then you'd have some kind of an idea of what you're going to be looking at in the days to come.

Best wishes for success and a strong to help you endure it. As with anyone else, through everything else, if there's some thing you need, please let us know.

Anticipating excellent results...

[VaBusa]

The iron looks like coffee...doc said it'll be very hard to watch the dark fluids going in my arm

And I have to have Benadryl beforehand to offset some of the side-effects...should be a regular party! I'm hoping my Dad schedules his cancer treatments at the same time; we can sit side by side and whine

[VaBusa]

Originally Posted by Scar

Hey, Q: Did you look on WebMD to see what the after-effects of this procedure are? Did you ask the doc? At least then you'd have some kind of an idea of what you're going to be looking at in the days to come.

Best wishes for success and a strong to help you endure it. As with anyone else, through everything else, if there's some thing you need, please let us know.

Anticipating excellent results...

Doc wouldn't really tell me the side-effects. I honestly think he was still in shock from how low I am I perplexed him...

I have researched the side effects, but like most things, there are hundreds of potential things that could go wrong Just curious if anyone's done it and what it did to them...

Thanks Scar

[notright]

My father in law had it done after chemo and raidiation. Even though he was terminal it made a huge differance over night. Hope it works great for you. Also my wife and sister were both told by their doctors drinking red wine in moderation would help . Although their condition was not as serious sounding as yours.

[mattstang]

good luck hope everything works out and you get better.

[Scar]

Here's my recommendation for the In-Shock Doc who apparently has no information...

Today, the part of Cher will be played by you.

Now, let 'im have it!!!

[VaBusa]

Scar...aww, he was too nice for me to act like that. I mean, he was stumped! I finally said to him "Hey, I am your challenge and perhaps you'll learn something new" so he wouldn't think he'd scared me...

[Phil96]

Good, all that's treatable, you'll be OK. Get well quick!

[Skywalker]

God bless you and I'm sure the big man will take care of you for good things come to good people in the end! Just to make you feel better... since Feb 08 I have what felt like a stroke, a few weeks later the USAFA here in Colorado found multiple rare lesions on my brain, what a coincidence! Since I was in already engaged in a medical board evaluation from Randolph AFB they done up a email I was never to have seen and told the Neurologist to synch my diagnosis and to not give me a definitive diagnosis because that would equate to more retirement money. I have fought and fought and went with civilian Neurologist at Denver University. The girl within two minutes put her hand in my face and said she did not care about the lesions on my brain. Told me she was friends with Doctor Chen the neurologist from the USAFA whom is under orders to shut me down! Her bull chit 35 minute meeting with me and her focus on MS which was not my question at all, my question was what is these lesions on my brain and why do I have 24/7/365 left side deep within headaches that never ever stop... her report started a rollercoaster that has kept every Neuro POC I have pursued to focus on my anxiety and depression and ignore my request for help and all the very detailed info. 31 Aug 09 I asked to be seen by the VA and got a young female doc Pelak who was very smart and was outside the realm of the TRICARE which is at the military installation here in Colorado. She spent 3 hours and you could just see the intelligence in her! She said I think you have V. Zoster Sine Herpete or Shingles on the Brain caused by severe nervous condition. Gave me strong meds; Famvir at 500 mg x 3 per day at 10 days and a 50/50 chance of recovery. I had three or four days that the headaches was just almost gone but came back. Follow-up was on 29 Oct 09 and new docs at the VA whom happened to be friends with the 1st girl at the Denver University as he spoke of my visit with her. He did a complete turn around and different direction because he is a floater from the Denver University Hospital and friends with two of the docs I seen there already and they are not about to admit to stupidity or the fact they were ordered or influenced to ignor my medical condition and to just say I have anxiety and depression issues. Now, because I turned in the V. Zoster Sine Herpete or Shingles on the brain to the DAV to continue my pursuit of my brain damage the Compensation and Pension Team from the VA Denver Hospital called me in and was trying to ignore her, their own VA doc diagnosis. I ask how do you test for it then? Blood work! It came back as the Denver VA COMP & PEN Team Doctor Maa called me just last week to tell me I have Shingles on the brain and that I need to get with my doctor immediately for treatment for this is a serious thing! No chit... been going on since Feb 08 you think someone would have heard what I have said over and over and with four civilian Neuro docs and one idiot Capt Neuroligist at the USAFA but he was following orders! Sorry, to highjack your thread but man does this bite and in my opinion is criminal and now I'm to go back soon with the other VA Doc that floats over to the VA from the Denver University and has no focus on what the good Doctor Pelak nailed with her diagnosis on 31 Aug 09 and I will have my blood work in hand. I will not have any kind words for him as he trains the two interns that was with him. Anyway, I wish you the very very best and that you get back to 100 percent with you health and god bless you! I'll pray for you for sure.

[Projekt]

It is said that cooking in old school Iron skillets, griddles, and pots helps to maintain a healthy iron intake for anemics. Do you have a any old fashioned cookware?

[VaBusa]

Originally Posted by notright

My father in law had it done after chemo and raidiation. Even though he was terminal it made a huge differance over night. Hope it works great for you. Also my wife and sister were both told by their doctors drinking red wine in moderation would help . Although their condition was not as serious sounding as yours.

I guess that's why I was at the cancer treatment center. It's the same place my Dad is going for his treatments. I could tell this must be something many cancer patients have because the treatments must deplete their iron reserves. Thanks for the info...oh, and wine just makes me flushed and look like I'm running a fever, so no wine for me *sigh*

[Ace_05]

Vabs, take my very best wishes with you for the proceedure. Pulling for you all the way.

[VaBusa]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

God bless you and I'm sure the big man will take care of you for good things come to good people in the end! Just to make you feel better... since Feb 08 I have what felt like a stroke, a few weeks later the USAFA here in Colorado found multiple rare lesions on my brain, what a coincidence! Since I was in already engaged in a medical board evaluation from Randolph AFB they done up a email I was never to have seen and told the Neurologist to synch my diagnosis and to not give me a definitive diagnosis because that would equate to more retirement money. I have fought and fought and went with civilian Neurologist at Denver University. The girl within two minutes put her hand in my face and said she did not care about the lesions on my brain. Told me she was friends with Doctor Chen the neurologist from the USAFA whom is under orders to shut me down! Her bull chit 35 minute meeting with me and her focus on MS which was not my question at all, my question was what is these lesions on my brain and why do I have 24/7/365 left side deep within headaches that never ever stop... her report started a rollercoaster that has kept every Neuro POC I have pursued to focus on my anxiety and depression and ignore my request for help and all the very detailed info. 31 Aug 09 I asked to be seen by the VA and got a young female doc Pelak who was very smart and was outside the realm of the TRICARE which is at the military installation here in Colorado. She spent 3 hours and you could just see the intelligence in her! She said I think you have V. Zoster Sine Herpete or Shingles on the Brain caused by severe nervous condition. Gave me strong meds; Famvir at 500 mg x 3 per day at 10 days and a 50/50 chance of recovery. I had three or four days that the headaches was just almost gone but came back. Follow-up was on 29 Oct 09 and new docs at the VA whom happened to be friends with the 1st girl at the Denver University as he spoke of my visit with her. He did a complete turn around and different direction because he is a floater from the Denver University Hospital and friends with two of the docs I seen there already and they are not about to admit to stupidity or the fact they were ordered or influenced to ignor my medical condition and to just say I have anxiety and depression issues. Now, because I turned in the V. Zoster Sine Herpete or Shingles on the brain to the DAV to continue my pursuit of my brain damage the Compensation and Pension Team from the VA Denver Hospital called me in and was trying to ignore her, their own VA doc diagnosis. I ask how do you test for it then? Blood work! It came back as the Denver VA COMP & PEN Team Doctor Maa called me just last week to tell me I have Shingles on the brain and that I need to get with my doctor immediately for treatment for this is a serious thing! No chit... been going on since Feb 08 you think someone would have heard what I have said over and over and with four civilian Neuro docs and one idiot Capt Neuroligist at the USAFA but he was following orders! Sorry, to highjack your thread but man does this bite and in my opinion is criminal and now I'm to go back soon with the other VA Doc that floats over to the VA from the Denver University and has no focus on what the good Doctor Pelak nailed with her diagnosis on 31 Aug 09 and I will have my blood work in hand. I will not have any kind words for him as he trains the two interns that was with him. Anyway, I wish you the very very best and that you get back to 100 percent with you health and god bless you! I'll pray for you for sure.

Holy cow! See, to me it's almost gotten to the point where you either "self-diagnose" then go to a doctor for verification, or you get lucky and find that one doctor that actually cares about the patient and not the BS that goes along with healthcare. I'm so sorry to hear you've gone through all of this, but I hope the end result is in your favor...

I have a neurologist on my long list of specialists I need to see for migraines and constant headaches, but honestly, with over 15 doctors in the last decade for various OTHER issues, I'm worn out from it all. And I'm not a sickly person, I just have a lot of "oh, we don't know why that's that way" issues

My best to you and I hope things work out soon...that's just too much stress and has to be so frustrating...