Get my Iron back up...new to me?

Chelee · 04-17-2006, 09:34 PM

I went down for my weekly herceptin today. They gave me some Procrit due to my hemagolbin being low I guess it was? But they also said I need some OTHER infusion to bring my "Iron" back up. It will take FOUR hours in the chair the first time I do this. Has ANYONE heard of this? I had heard of the Procrit, and the Neulasta shot...but I never heard about anything that is to bring your Iron back up. Am I the only one?

I asked my infusion nurse WHY four hours? She said like anything...the FIRST time they have to watch me real careful for reations. She said they are rare...but just to be on the safe side. Then she said If I ever needed this infusion again...it would be quicker once they know there is no problems.

I don't mind...anything to stay out of the hospital...but of all the posts I have read...and books, etc...I just have never ran across this before. Gee....I just had the herceptin today...and the Procrit shot today...now they will add that Iron tomorrow. If I did have any weird or strange side affects...I won't know which one it is caused from. But they did tell me the procrit won't work right UNTIL they get my Iron back up...so I guess I have to do it.

lisahammo · 04-18-2006, 01:52 AM

Chelee

My last 3 chemos had been cancelled due to bad "bloods". At first it was platelets, but they are going great guns, then last week it was haemoglobin and neutrophils. My iron was very low and bordering on a blood transfusions. So, over the week, I began taking a liquid iron supplement (twice a day, awful poos!), and immune system booster 3 times a day, and trying to eat red meat at least 4 times a week. It worked, as I was able to have my chemo today. My neturophils are great, and my haemoglobin has gone up. Just got to keep up the regime as much as I can.

Good luck.

Love Lisa

RhondaH · 04-18-2006, 02:28 AM

I had 6 treatments of dose dense TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan...began Herceptin 3 mo after) and after my LAST one my iron etc was so low, I was hospitalized for 3 days. They wanted to give me a transfusioon, but I was borderline (.1 away from MANDATORY transfusion) and wanted to do what I could to avoid it (didn't like the possible side effects). When I got home, my mom bought liver and we broke out the iron skilliets. Take care and good luck.

Rhonda

lisahammo · 04-18-2006, 06:05 PM

Me again Chelee

Just got your reply to the weight loss, and then remembered about your low iron as well. I was told by my onc. that she had not adjusted my Taxol/Carbo dosage to accommodate my weight loss, and that could be affecting my bone marrow, causing the bad bloods. So you definitely need to talk to your onc about your weight loss and make sure you are receiving the correct dosage. Meanwhile, keep eating red meat and taking liquid iron.

Take care.

Love Lisa

StephN · 04-19-2006, 11:14 AM

Just wanted to mention that there are other foods that I was careful to include such as green, leafy like spinach. Lentils are another good source, and make good soup or you can get the small ones and use for mixing with rice, eating hot with some onion, herbs and olive oil or cold as with a salad.

Advice is to look into ways to incorporate foods besides red meat and this will help your iron level.

P.S. I never had that infusion with the iron and have not heard of it either.
Where are you treated, Chelee? Always something new coming along in the way of helping our treatments.

Jade · 04-19-2006, 02:05 PM

I had to have an iron infusion for 7 hours in the middle of my 4 rounds of EC, no big deal, no side effects. Your blood has to be healthy to receive chemo. It wasn't a blood transfusion I received, just an iron transfusion.
All the very best to you,
Jade

Chelee · 04-22-2006, 11:49 PM

Hi Lisa, I know what you mean about bad bloods. That messes up everything. I was having alot of problems with mine until I switched to a NEW oncologist. She seems to be paying much more attention then my first doctor. (I know these things happen no matter what...but my first oncologist told me for THREE weeks my wbc was low and didn't do anything about it until I landed in the hospital for 10 days sicker then a dog...not knowing if I would even make it out of there.)

Since I was NEW to this nightmare...I didn't know there was Neulasta to boost your wbc. Nor did he tell me. He didn't tell me anything! Since my change to the new oncologist...EVERYTHING is different. That is why I was asking about this IRON IV I had. This TOO was NEW to me. Never heard of it before until I got her as my doctor. She has MADE SURE I get my Neulasta after each infusion....after checking my lab work or course. She even has given me shots of Procrit which I did NOT know about when I was with the first doctor. It didn't matter if my hemagolbin was low, or my wbc or rbc. I felt terrible when i was with him. Since my change to the new oncologist...I feel so much better. As we all know...chemo is NOT fun...but we don't need added problems on top of it IF there is a way to get rid of them...or stop them before they start. I know I have NOT been as tired since I have been getting the Procrit shots...and now that Iron Iv. It did make a difference.

But I am going to HAVE to start eating better like you mentioned Lisa...and I best look into a iron supplement. That has to be easier then the infusion of iron. I need to force myself to eat more meat as you said. But as you know...after chemo you just don't have much of an appetite.

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Hi Ronda, Wow, you did the dose dense. Your a tough lady. Regular chemo is bad enough.. I don't know HOW you guys do it. (You could NOT of gotten any closer to getting a transfusion if you wanted too...could you!) Talk about pushing it to the edge. I had to smile when I read that when you got home you & your Mom broke out the liver & iron skillets. Thats the way to do it! I wonder why your doctor didn't give you a Iron IV? Seems you don't hear of this at all? I know it was new to me. Thanks for your reply Ronda.
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Hi Jade, Finally...someone that has ACTUALLY heard of this Iron IV I had. I thought I was the only one. I was getting concerned as to why no one but me has had it. I read several boards and I have never heard of it before. But obviously you have.

I wonder why you don't see more people going through chemo getting these iron infusions? (Just curious is all) Thanks for letting me know you had one yourself...I really was starting to wonder. You said your was JUST iron and thats it. Same here....I had to sit in a chair for FIVE hours to do this. Argh. But I will admit...I did feel better that week.

Thanks to all...

Chelee