Yes, I'm on my third course of infusions (8 weeks each). It does work and I haven't experienced any side effects.

I actually find it relaxing to sit in the big chemo chairs and just read or sleep, especially since I'm usually so fatigued anyway.

Sometimes I feel better right away, sometimes it takes a couple of days, but eventually I feel great!

How long does it take for the infusion and how many do you have to take. or is it forever?
I was contacted by a research group for iron infusion but they also wanted people to have kidney problems which I do not have.
Who prescribed iron transfusions...............your family MD or a hemotologist or?

cuttlefish

thanks for the encouragement.

I'm used to infusions every 5 weeks for my RA, so i'm not worried about taking 4 hours. i usually read and sleep.
but i'm so glad you said you have no side effects. that eases my mind.
i'm looking forward to feeling better.

babee2, my hematologist decided this

Bambee, the length of the infusion depends on how much they're giving you. Mine takes about 1 1/2 hours. The number of infusions, and how often you get them, varies from person to person. I've been doing once/week for 8 weeks at a time, and it holds me for several months. Fortunately, I have health insurance!

My general MD diagnosed after doing a blood test that showed my hemoglobin was 4, the first time. This time it was 6.8, which she also caught. The hematologist is on board to try to figure out what's causing it.

I am totally confused about TM. I thought a person with it had too much or the right amount of iron but the test showed they were anemic. Thought someomne said if you have TM you should never have iron infusions as it could be made worse.

yes, usually that's never use iron. it does make you worse. that's why i'm seeing a hematologist. the only time to use iron is if your pregnant or truly iron deficiency.. but they watch you closely to raise your iron levels and do ultrasound to make sure your organs are not holding to much iron. it is very confusion. i have always been told No Iron.. but in this case i need to have some to bring my numbers back up, then no more iron.

i know this doent make since, look up thal pal's to learn more

WOW! That does sound complicated. (I did not look up that web site yet....later) So do ou have to watch what you eat so you do not get too much iron from your food? Gosh. that would be difficult for me. I like oatmeal, apricots, raisins., etc. If I had to eat meat (I am a vegetarian), I would choose liver and onions.Comfort food from childhood.
Sandi, hope all goes well with the infusions. At leasr you should be home and feeling terrific for the holidays.

No actually iron in food source is recommended, just not in supplement. For some reason that is how were supposed to get our iron. i use chinese herbs and natural food source vitamins. and before i became so iron difference, I used a multi vit that was iron free.

If one does become iron deficient, they usually check for the reason in your digestive system first. as in crohn's, ulcers, small intestine bleeds, ect..

I'm so happy my iron infusion went well today. i was really nervous on how my body would except the iron, but all went well.. so now will see how the numbers go.

In my case, we don't know what caused the deficiency. I saw a gastroenterologist and all test came back fine. so hopefully my hemoglobin will come back to my normal number.

let me know what you find out

I meant Ferritin, not hemoglobin

HAD 3 SEPARATE IRON INFUSIONS. THE TREATMENT LASTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS FOR ME. FOR THAT TIME FRAME I FELT RENEWED AND RE-ENTERGIZED. THE INFUSION ITSELF WAS NOT PAINFUL AND THE ATMOSPHERE WAS RELAXING. GOOD LUCK

Thanks for all the input. saw a gastroendo today because of swallowing issues and anemia. he says the swallowing is probably MG related. I think so too. But he did mention iron infusions. Wonder why the hemo did not mention this? He took a mess of blood samples and i go for a colonoscopy jan 31.Will know more fter that.

Sandi--my white and red cells are terribly below normal. hemaglobin, etc too. But the ferritin is off the wall high!!!! I go for a colonscopy Jan 31. Meanwhile, do I eat spinach, etc or???

i would continue eating as healthy as you can. You'll find out soon if your not absorbing it, and why.

good luck keep us posted

Thanks. Strange how this was never discovered. I was born severely anemic and had to have 16 transfusions a year-4 pys of blood 4 times a year. Going for a colonscopy Jan 31-weather permitting. Will let youknow more, when I know more.Thanks. He did mention iron fusions but this was before the test results. Interesting.

I had to have iron infusions last summer. 5 in total. It took about an hour each time. Then they waited about 6 weeks and retested my levels to make sure it brought my numbers up which it did. I get retested tomorrow but I have had blood work for different things since and nobody mentioned me being anemic so hopefully it was just a one time occurrence. But the actual infusion part wasn't bad.