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blood work test results-Iron low look please

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Posted 1/4/2013 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I'm low in my iron it's a 10 and the range is 37-170 ug/dl that scares me! I'm on iron every day. When do they start to do infusions? My doc is closed for the day.

I feel so nervous now

Posted 1/4/2013 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
Also, my ferritin ai 15.2 which the range is 14.0 - 233.1 ng/ml
Posted 1/4/2013 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
You're gonna be OK! Ask your doctor about Venofer infusions, they absorb much better than oral iron in us UCers. Also they smell like molasses.
Posted 1/4/2013 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not finding much good information on good iron levels unfortunately. But are you having any serious symptoms of anemia such as heart palpitations or chest pain (angina)? Anemia isn't something that will whack you out of the blue. If your iron levels get dangerously low your body will send you a strong message. In any case, definitely let your doctor know at the next opportunity.
Posted 1/4/2013 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
i know how you feel. i've been severely anemic for a while now. the lowest my iron level ever got was 12 so you have me beat. i had to get 2 blood transfusions when it was that low. i was able to get it up to 17 with the added blood. i've done A LOT of iron infusions but developed an allergy to ferrlecit. there are only a few types of iron infusions around but i'd try that. i had 14 total and was able to get my level up to 25- still really low considering i was there every darn week. i think UCers maybe just have low iron levels from absorbtion problems. not sure why the infusions didn't get me out of the whole.

how is your hemoglobin count?

lacaille is right. i can tell i'm anemic just because i have ZERO energy and need a ridiculous amount of sleep. plus, i am vampire white compared to everyone else.
Posted 1/4/2013 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Wow Joanna you've sure been through a lot for being so young, my heart goes out to you! You sounds so strong though when you right so I know you have a fighting spirit! Awesome!

I have a appt on Monday with a NP at a local office in town, in the mean time I did fax the info to my GI and I took a iron pill a real one, not the iron absorb water I've been taking, I just don't that is doing anything for me.
Posted 1/4/2013 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
I was at 22 before Humira now I'm at 10, so I don't know if the Humira is causing this?
Posted 1/4/2013 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
I went and had mine checked today..I have felt it drop all week. I have dizziness, weakness, irritability..when mine was really bad before, my pulse rate was really high, in the 130s non-stop. I quit taking my supplement for a few weeks, because my NP wanted to see if it would stay up with diet..but I love my supplement..it has fish oil in it. I can say I have tanned less after it's been up, because I have a healthier complexion! I didn't know my paleness was from the inside for so long, so I over-did tanning for a long time.
Posted 1/4/2013 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
hey there - try not to worry too much -

i would eat a whole cow and half an acre of salad this weekend -

don't let the numbers mess with your head too much - just keep an eye on how you are feeling and act accordingly -

hang in there -
Posted 1/5/2013 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
I'll echo - you're going to be ok! I had one iron infusion (was in the hospital for my UC in general). I think every GI is different in terms of what triggers them to give you an iron infusion. I never requested one, but got close on other time.

You are pretty much going to physically feel the same until Monday, when you can talk to someone. In other words, you aren't suddenly going to fall over. I definitely recommend the infusion over the pills if you can get one. Treat yourself to some steak this weekend! Lots of steak! And if you aren't a meat eater, make Kale chips. Lots of them. You can wipe out an entire bunch in about ten minutes of eating them that way.

They have prescription strength iron (with folate and other additions). I was on three prescription pills a day for awhile.
Posted 1/5/2013 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
How about some liver?
Posted 1/5/2013 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
adding iron foods would make any difference at all when absorbtion is your problem. at least that's what i've noticed in my experience. kale don't matter. liver don't matter. if your body is getting rid of it too fast, it aint doing anything.
Posted 1/5/2013 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Mine Ferritin level was a 4 this past September. I was so depleted from UC and then my j pouch surgeries that it all caught up to me with a vengeance. I had a series of 9 iron infusions and I feel like a new person. They helped tremendously . Oral iron did nothing for me.
Posted 1/5/2013 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
if the boat i'm in is taking in water almost as fast as i can bail it out, guess what i'm gonna do ? keep bailing and stay in the boat -

she has to eat so why not focus on eating foods that could potentially help the problem - i'm not saying it's gonna be the saving grace, but why not keep bailing ?

Post Edited (soystud) : 1/5/2013 12:17:57 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/5/2013 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
yeah if you are able to absorb at all, you've gotta have something to absorb. I can't stand the thought of livers though..since they are "filters" as a nurse told me one time.
Posted 1/5/2013 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
It's possible to get liver from pasture raised cows. Probably better to avoid if you have t buy conventional stuff. Tastes better with good bacon. If you can't get that. The big juicy steak is the way to go

Are you actively bleeding? When you're iron deficient because of low hemoglobin lots of other stuff gets messed up too and you cant bail fast enough. Building iron back up is different .

If you are bleeding and you have the heart palpitations and stuff, I wouldn't wait too long to be seen by a doctor. I'm on day seven in the hospital right now, ended up needing a transfusion even.
Posted 1/5/2013 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
I was 20 and also low hemoglobin etc.

Pure green protein has 87% of daily iron. Then also need the right iron pills.

Iron glycinate, citrate

Now I am glowing red just one month later.
Posted 1/11/2013 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
My daughter is in hospital since Monday, Her blood count was extremely low! She got a iron infisions everyday and 2 blood tranfusions and she's steady for now! Doc thinks Imuran probably caused the anemia! 

The attending nurse informed us that a teaspoon of Molasses a day will keep iron levels in check! Old Jamaican home remedy!

Did short colonoscopy, left side shows she is extremely sick (scan shows whole intestine is sick)but Doc said he saw improvement since last one done in August! Some good news there but he thinks we should do surgery!! We decided to go with Humera first!

She started Humira treatment today so far no reaction and she's feeling ok! hoping she'll get into remisssion or else  surgery is her only option!!!  Before that happens we're going to get a second Opinion!

Surgery scares the hell out of her and me!!!

Daughter daignosed UC : Oct 2011

Treatments: Remicade 01/12-12/12, Imuran 100mg/day stopped monday

Present treatment: Humera 1st treatment today!

 

Posted 1/11/2013 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck warrior, I hope things keep on improving.

Thanks for mentioning about the molasses, I think I might try that myself wink

Imuran can cause anemia!?! Good grief, but good to know I guess.
Posted 1/11/2013 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
thank you for mentioning the molassas, I will get back on that too! I have some somewhere. I hope your daughter feels better warrior. I'm on Humira too. I take my third shot on Tuesday. I ache quit a bit right now. I just had my iron check today so I will know later what its ate. If it's moved up since I tried the ferrous sulfate, I'll continue otherwise I have to do the infusion...which I'm scared about. I read that everyone has a bad reaction to them.
Posted 1/11/2013 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Ok my iron is now up to 14 from 10 last week. I'm doing ferrus sulfate every day sometimes twice a day. I'm going for molasses too. My platelets are still low 62 bummer.
Posted 1/12/2013 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
That's great your iron went up! My first flare was during my pregnancy and my iron went down to 8.5. I got four infusions of venofer, and felt great. I still only got up to about a 10, but I felt so much better. And the infusions aren't a big deal if you ever end up having to do them (doesn't sound like you'll have to hopefully). It's just boring to sit there for two hours.
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