Morning All,
I was wondering if anybody else here suffers with anemia on a regular basis? I have a Jpouch, and have had it for almost 17 years. For me the only thing I deal with on a regular basis is anemia, and well, I can't take enough oral medication to absorb it, or something just isn't absorbing right... My GP just sent me for blood transfusions because my hemoglobin level was in the 60s!!!
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yep, I just did two rounds of IV iron infusions in the past few months. 5 infusions each time over course of 2 weeks. My levels have normalized now but my GI stated due to having less intestine we don't absorb iron like we should so might need more down the road.
Waiting to see when I have my annual in March. I do take an iron supplement but not sure how much that helps.
JOSHF, a blood transfusion works quickly but doesn't last very long. Iron infusions might be a better long-term bet, if the oral supplements aren't adequate.
Scott, thanks! that is my concern as well. The doc did the blood transfusion to quickly get my iron levels up while we determine what the next course of action is. I would like to do iron infusions but i'm not sure. The oral iron is definately not sufficient
I have had my pouch since 1998 and have been having one, sometimes 2 iron infusions every year since then.
I didn't realize I was iron deficient but I knew something was wrong so I went to the doctor for a check up. While my blood was at the lab I got a letter from Palms of Pasadena saying that I might now be suseptible to anemia. A day later I got a call from my doctor saying I needed to get to the hospital immediately. I don't remember exactly what my levels were (this was several years ago) but he said my red blood cells were a quarter of their normal size.
I went to the hospital in Munich but they wanted to run a whole battery of tests. They were not impressed with my letter from Palms. After two days of this and still no iron, I basically said forget this and left, booked a flight to florida for the next day and was gone.
Once at Palms, they gave me two bags of blood and a gram of iron in an infussion. I felt terrific afterwards. Amazing what a little mineral can do for you.
Since then I have taken 100mg of Iron (I think it's called Ferrenol) a few times a week. I've been doing that for years and that works just fine. I've had no side effects and my stomach tolerates it well.
