anemia

jphilpo
jphilpo Member Posts: 177
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi All,

After my regular check up, my onc. called and told me I have severe anemia.I usually speak to the nurse, so it was scary that he called! He told me to get on iron supplements right away. If it doesn't improve, it will be done intravenously.

This explains SO MUCH to me. The constant fatigue of getting through a day of work, coming home and sleeping for about 30 -60 minutes. I just haven't felt well in so long and now I know why. I work with someone who is not very compassionate about the after effects of treatment. She feels that since chemo is over, I should be fine. I am so tired of explaining myself. I too had no idea that after all the treatments, surgeries etc... that the fatigue and joint pain would be so debiitating!

Anyway,I just thought I would post and see if any of you had dealt with the symptoms of severe anemia.

Thanks,
Jean

Comments

  • linpsu
    linpsu Member Posts: 747
    #2
    me too
    I had severe anemia during my chemo treatments - had to have 2 blood transfusions, but I felt so much better afterwards.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #3
    linpsu said:

    me too
    I had severe anemia during my chemo treatments - had to have 2 blood transfusions, but I felt so much better afterwards.

    Me three .. hate to jump on the band wagon --- but, another
    side effort .. we are not told about, and have to suffer for some time before we are offered supplements to help with the fatigue, bruising and yellowing of our skin tones.

    Hats off for the posting, and bring this very valuable subject to our boards.

    Strength, Courage and Love,

    Vicki Sam
  • mom62
    mom62 Member Posts: 604 Member
    #4
    Had Transfusions
    Hi,

    Last year I had to have two blood transfusions I was so anemic. I wasn't working. The first time I had cancer they gave me procrit shots (not sure if I spelled that right). I was working then. I'm sorry you work with people who are so heartless. It amazes me even my own family sometimes feels that I should be "back to normal". Get what you need to get well! Best of luck.
  • meena1
    meena1 Member Posts: 1,003
    #5
    VickiSam said:

    Me three .. hate to jump on the band wagon --- but, another
    side effort .. we are not told about, and have to suffer for some time before we are offered supplements to help with the fatigue, bruising and yellowing of our skin tones.

    Hats off for the posting, and bring this very valuable subject to our boards.

    Strength, Courage and Love,

    Vicki Sam

    I am anemic also, so i am
    I am anemic also, so i am very tired most of the time. my number is 9 and from what i have been told if you go down to 8 you need to have a blood tranfusion so that is probably what your doctor is referring to. I will warn you that I became very constipated on the iron pills, that is one of the side effects, so make sure you take stool softener. I take Senna S, ( I take the store brand, much cheaper). I stopped taking the supplements for right now, i will see what the doc says tomorrow. You can also get iron from certain foods, like red meat. So sometimes i will eat a big juicy steak. Hope you are feeling better, just keep track of your bowel movements!
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #6
    Jean, I just brought back up
    Jean, I just brought back up the post "Low red blood count" to help you. Check it out and let me know if you need more help with any questions.
  • jphilpo
    jphilpo Member Posts: 177
    #7
    CypressCynthia said:

    Jean, I just brought back up
    Jean, I just brought back up the post "Low red blood count" to help you. Check it out and let me know if you need more help with any questions.

    anemia
    Thanks for bringing up the posting and to all of you that responded. I forgot to mention that I am a vegetarian. My husband went to the health food store and got the high potency iron supplements that are plant based. The owner said that it will help with the side effects, constipation etc...

    I just went for a walk and came back wanting to take ANOTHER nap!! This will be my second today! However, it helps knowing I am not alone in this!

    Jean
  • Cindy54
    Cindy54 Member Posts: 452
    #8
    Me Too
    Jean, while I did not do chemo, I also became anemic. After the BC I also had ovarian. Last year my ferritan level went to a 1. Yes a one. It had been steadily declining for a long time. Iron pilss did not work for me. Plus I was unemployed and not eating as well as I should have. I( had 6 iron injections..by IV. My ferritan levels went up to 93. For the past 3 months I have not been on any iron supplements or any injections. Next month I go for labs and if my iron is low again, we will do injections again. This time I have insurance to cover some of the cost.

    I was also dead tired, short of breath, weak, wobbly legs. It is a miracle I am still up and moving after this. So I can empathize with you. No amount of sleeping, resting, eating helped me other thatn the iron injections. I'm glad I came across your post as well as some of the replies. It has made me feel as if I am not the only one with this problem. Hugs, Cindy
  • jphilpo
    jphilpo Member Posts: 177
    #9
    Cindy54 said:

    Me Too
    Jean, while I did not do chemo, I also became anemic. After the BC I also had ovarian. Last year my ferritan level went to a 1. Yes a one. It had been steadily declining for a long time. Iron pilss did not work for me. Plus I was unemployed and not eating as well as I should have. I( had 6 iron injections..by IV. My ferritan levels went up to 93. For the past 3 months I have not been on any iron supplements or any injections. Next month I go for labs and if my iron is low again, we will do injections again. This time I have insurance to cover some of the cost.

    I was also dead tired, short of breath, weak, wobbly legs. It is a miracle I am still up and moving after this. So I can empathize with you. No amount of sleeping, resting, eating helped me other thatn the iron injections. I'm glad I came across your post as well as some of the replies. It has made me feel as if I am not the only one with this problem. Hugs, Cindy

    Iron
    Cindy, thanks so much for responding. This is my second go round and it is just hard not to get depressed. I am so tired of being tired.

    Thanks again,

    Jean

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