Anemia

Hi - am anemic, so am wondering if iron pills will do the trick. My Dr. prescribed them, so they are better than vitamin iron. I can't have any kind of surgery, right? I have a "large" fibroid, so that's what is causing it. Sure feel rotten!
Sue

Hi,

Yes iron pills are stronger than iron in vitamin supplements. I've been anemic for a while (on and off for the last 2 years) and they sure help.

You can still have surgery if you're anemic depending on your hemoglobin level. Normal is from 12 to 16. If you are under 9, your Dr might have some concerns though.

A week 1/2 before surgery I was at 7.3. My DR thought it was too low so I received a blood transfusion that brought it is to 10. The morning of the surgery level was 11 (which is not really considered anemic). After surgery I was down to 8.4, but since there was no more excessive blood loss, it wasn't a concern. I started to take my iron pills again at 2 weeks post op and I'm now feeling better than I have in ages!! I will still have to take them for weeks or months though, depending ...

Hope this helps you. Good luck!

Hey,
Yes, prescription iron is much stronger than otc iron pills. I took two Hemocyte Plus daily and have been on Lupron to stop my bleeding for two months now. My iron level is 14.2 which is fantastic. I'm now down to one Hemocyte Plus a day and will donate two units of my own blood for my upcoming surgery.
You will feel really rotten if your Hgb is low, tired, short of breath, forgetful, etc. Hopefully, your iron pills work well for you and you will start feeling better soon.
Good luck,

Leena*pig*

I am anemic, too, but not severe. I was surprised to find the postings from others that are anemic. Then I figured it was from the bleeding. Now I hear that it is caused by the fibroids?? How is it connected? (I have multiple fibroids, too) Just curious.

Fibroids are very vascular. My MD did some sort of color ultrasound and my fibroids lit up like a xmas tree, it was impressive, lol. So, the bigger the fibroids, the more vascular they are and the heavier and longer the periods.

Leena*pig*

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SAH scheduled for 12/27/04 for grapefruit size fibroid and some smaller ones, hoping to keep ovaries and cervix

I am anemic, last hemo was 7.5, the one before that in August was 8.1. I am now on prescription iron (3x a day) and was given a shot of depo to stop the bleeding - it did just the opposite, I am bleeding every day now.

My surgery is scheduled for 12/28 and I hope I am not too anemic at that time.

Hey, justme5959,

I assume that you got a shot of lupron depot. Sometimes with lupron you can get an estrogen surge at first, which would make you bleed heavier, and then the periods stop alltogether and you find yourself in the land of chemical menopause. I'm getting my third lupron tomorrow and have been having wild hot flashes already. My friends call me hot mama, and I truly am one, lol.
Good luck to you, I will be having my surgery a day before yours, and I am already scared.

Leena *pig*

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SAH 12/27/04 for grapefruit size fibroid and some smaller ones

Hi justme

If your hemoglobin is too low when they draw blood prior to surgery (usually 2-4 days ahead) - or if it was ok then but too low on the day of surgery, they may give you blood but they wouldn't cancel your surgery.
When you're experiencing significant blood loss, it's not a question of hanging around and building up iron in advance. Ain't going to happen, you just need the surgery to stop the blood loss.

joano

(that's my experience, but ask your Doc)