controlling anemia?

Question

I'm on iron pills but they're really not helping. I have a Dr. appt on Wednesday what else do you think they will have me try?

I'm taking ferrous sulfate.

Answer 1

I have kidney disease and I guess along with it goes anemia. It depends on what levels your anemia are at. I have been on PROCRIT for over a year and a half. I have to give myself a shot once a week and every 2 weeks I have to go to the lab and have the blood checked to see what level the anemia is at. I feel 100% better and is well worth it to me. The medicine is VERY expensive and as of yet there is no generic. I'm not telling you all this to scare you - just to inform you. The main thing is - you need to keep your Dr. appointments and follow directions. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

in worry-free words iron deficiency anemias is also managed through taking iron nutritional supplementations. pink cells have an conventional life of about 100 and 80 days. This leads to a established attrition to the point of needing about 2 mgm iron /day, it really is often met through a nicely balanced nutrition. If the anemia is led to through the different factors the healing will be particular. maximum proper to seek for suggestion from a GP.

Answer 3

Iron tablets alone will not do the job if you are not getting a sufficient diet. Hemoglobin is a combination of iron and protein. I had a problem with my children keeping low blood even though I was giving them iron and they were eating iron-rich foods. I finally found out that it was not building up because we were not eating enough protein. Due to budget retraints, we were not eating much meat, and I was not giving them enough alternative sources of protein such as eggs, cheese, dried beans, etc.

A much less likely couse of low iron is pernicious enemia which is low B-12. Some people do not absorb B-12 well in their digestive system, and that coused them to keep low blood. A blood test will show if it is low, and B-12 supplements can be given in injections. (Very small needle, like an insulin syringe.)

Answer 4

sometimes your digestive system simply don`t absorb iron from food or pills. i`ve had that problem. doctors didn`t know what else can they do. finally i got in vein iron shots - i think i got 14 shots - and that helped. i don`t have anemia since october 2004

Answer 5

Hope all works out ok, have found some info....


Eat foods high in iron:
red meat
fish
chicken
liver o eggs
dried fruits, like apricots, prunes, and raisins
lentils and beans
green, leafy vegetables, like spinach and broccoli o tofu o cereal with iron in it (iron-fortified)
For more sources of iron, visit www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/supplements/iron.html.

Eat/drink foods that help your body absorb iron, like orange juice, strawberries, broccoli, or other fruits and vegetables with vitamin C.
Don't drink coffee or tea with meals. These drinks make it harder for your body to absorb iron.
Calcium can hurt your absorption of iron. If you have a hard time getting enough iron, talk to your health care provider about the best way to get enough calcium too.
Make sure you get enough folic acid and vitamin B-12 in your diet.
Talk to your HCP about taking iron pills (supplements). Do NOT take these pills without talking to your health care provider first. These pills come in two forms: ferrous and ferric. The ferrous form is better absorbed by your body. But taking iron pills can cause side effects, like nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. Reduce these side effects by taking these steps:
Start with half of the recommended dose. Gradually increase to the full dose.
Take the pill in divided doses.
Take the pill with food.
If one type of iron pill is causing problems, ask your HCP for another brand.
If you are a non-pregnant woman of childbearing age, get tested for anemia every 5 to 10 years. This can be done during a regular health exam. Testing should start in adolescence.
If you are a non-pregnant woman of childbearing age with these risk factors for iron deficiency, get tested every year:
heavy periods
low iron intake
previous diagnosis of anemia
How much iron do I need every day?
Most people get enough iron through a regular healthy diet that has iron-rich foods. But some groups of people don't get enough iron:

teenage girls/women of childbearing age (who have heavy menstrual losses, who have had more than one child, or use an intrauterine device [IUD])
older infants and toddlers
pregnant women
These groups of people should be screened periodically for iron deficiency. If the tests show that the body isn't getting enough iron, iron supplements may be prescribed. Many health care providers prescribe iron supplements during pregnancy because many pregnant women don't get enough. They can help when diet alone can't restore the iron level back to normal. Talk with your HCP to find out if you are getting enough iron through your diet or if you or your child needs to be taking iron supplements. Please see to the chart below to see how many milligrams (mg) of iron you should take every day

Age
Infants & Children Women Pregnant Breastfeeding
7 to 12 months 11 mg
1 to 3 years 7 mg
4 to 8 years 10 mg
9 to13 years 8 mg 27 mg 10 mg
14 to18 years 15 mg 27 mg 10 mg
19 to 50 years 18 mg 27 mg 9 mg
51+ years 8 mg

Answer 6

Possibly adjusting your diet. Maybe to try using a different pharmacological form of iron. However, it might have to be infused or injected if it's a malabsorption problem.