Severe anemia -Anyone have iron infusions?

catlady44 · November 2015

I'm going to start Venofer infusions this week. I will have it once a week for 4 weeks. I've completed chemo, radiation and a double mastectomy, but now I am very iron deficient. If you've had these infusions, can you tell me what it was like? Any side effects?

Thx - I appreciate any answers!

sas-schatzi · November 2015

Catlady, Hi sorry this is another thing to deal with. Pawprint had these infusions last year. She's still here, but doesn't post often. PM her?

Sydneyluv · November 2015

Hi Catlady. I receive iron infusions every few years for a non cancer health issue. I have never had any issues: No difficulties during the IV administration and no side effects. Good luck to you.

Jblmom · November 2015

I have had lots of iron infusions over the years for Crohn's disease (only recently diagnosed with bc), including Venofer. I've never had any side effects and the infusion is usually done in one hour...very doable. The only thing I noticed with Venofer was that it was really cold, might just be that pharmacy, but it was refrigerated, so your arm gets cold, but that's about it. The medication is also really dark brown, so don't be shocked if it looks different than most medications. I usually start feeling much more energy a few days to a week after my infusions. Sometimes, when my hemoglobin is really low, I need a second infusion before I start feeling better.

Best wishes

rainnyc · November 2015

I had several at the beginning of treatment because I was anemic. They were fabulous; not only were there no side effects, but I felt more energetic immediately. The red-brown color is a little unsettling, but otherwise no problems.

catlady44 · November 2015

Thanks for everyone's response! I've had 2 infusions with no side effects at all, so I'm really glad about that. I still feel extremely fatigued though. I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy about 4 days ago, and since then I've felt even more fatigued, despite the iron infusions. A little bit of my history - I finished my radiation Sept, 29 and had a double mastectomy and chemo before that. I'm hoping the fatigue is just due to the fact that my body is just so broken from the recent treatment. The fasting for 36 hours gave me a severe migraine, plus having everything in my abdomen just shoot out of my butt - what a bizarre experience! So maybe the procedure just traumatized my sick body more than it would for a normal person. I keep hoping I will get that boost of energy from the iron, but nothing is happening so far. Honestly, I'm so tired of feeling this way, I cry daily. I'm so frustrated that I feel so shitty all the time! (sorry for the language)

Sorry about the rant. I'm having a rough time and I feel so alone in it.

sas-schatzi · November 2015

Catlady, I'm wrapping my arms around you and rocking..........

catlady44 · December 2015

Sas-schatzi - thank you for the hug! I'm bad at getting back to people on here. I'm always thinking, I need to write back but I don't have time right now, etc. Every time I get on my computer, I get sucked into the internet vortex and end up wasting whole days browsing everywhere. Then I hate myself! LOL

ksusan · December 2015

I needed 5 infusions before surgery. It helped to heat my arm just beforehand.

catlady44 · December 2015

I get so many hot flashes that I don't remember getting cold. They always gave me a fresh batch so maybe it didn't sit in the fridge.

Severe anemia -Anyone have iron infusions?

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