I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions) => Topic started by: tyefly on July 21, 2009, 06:54:14 AM
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Hello to all.... I have tried to research treatment for anemia for people who are not on dialysis yet.... I have had low RBC and Hemoglobin for several months now and this last blood test was the lowest and I am feeling really tired..... like I want to sleep all the time.... I am not liking life ... I am tired of being tired... I did talk to my doctor about this trend last month but she said that I should not feel the way I do... my hemoglobin now is 10.1 and my RBC is 3.07.... I know that there are others that have had numbers much lower... but I am thinking that I could feel much better...... with treatment.... but I dont know what kind of treatment... I know that dialysis patients take EPO shots, and I am not sure if that is something that pre -dialysis people can do....or are there other treatments. I am taking vit b12 shots ( from my primary doctor as I have some numbness in my feet now ) and I just stopped my vit d ( 50000IU) a few weeks ago. Have any of you pre dialysis people been treated for anemia..... if so let me know what treatment you did....... I am going to be talking to my doctor about the anemia and feel that I need to have a good argument for treatment..... I feel that we to have to continue to try all sorts of things to get the treatments needed and try to keep us healthy too.....
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besides Epo there is also aransap (sp).
My neph sent me to get shots of this but once i got to the hospital they took a blood sample. My insurance will only allow me to get these shots once my hemoglobin goes UNDER 10. I was at like 10.2 or 10.3. I quess every person is the exact same this is how they came up with this guideline. SARCASIM there.
So they refused to treat me until i got even sicker then i was. Sad as it is this is how my insurance works. My last bloodwork my hemoglobin went up to 10.7 or so. I still feel sick and tired but cant be helped for enema.
Good luck maybe your insurance is different or you can pay hundreds per shot on your own i quess.
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Are you at least taking iron pills? That might help a little. IV iron will also help. I don't know why Epo is so expensive since they use it for both renal patients and cancer patients, but I think Epo is your best shot at raising your hemoglobin.
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Before I started dialysis I got procrit as a prescription and gave the injection to myself every other week when my hemoglobin was down. When my iron was down I received IV infusions. Both made me feel a lot better.
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I was on procrit or aranesp for a decade before I actually started dialysis. Have them check your iron levels, too. I find that regardless of how high my hemoglobin is, I have very little energy when my iron levels are low. I did IV iron long before dialysis, as well, since I couldn't stomach anything in pill form. I know you are tired - but find the energy to push your docs for a solution - you deserve to feel better!
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In addition to what everyone else has said, make sure to take Folic Acid.
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I will talk to me doctor about the EPO and see if that is something that may help me... For now I did do more research on folic acid and looks like vit C along with folic acid would be a plus... I have reviewed my blood work looking at ferrous and other iron relatied blood test and I am at the lower ends of the norm.... I already take vit b12 shots so The folic acid and vit c should be a benifit..... I dont think it will hurt..... Seems like most of the dosages are 400 iu for folic acid..... Does anyone take a different dose ? I am hoping to gain more energy and feel my best untill I have to start dialysis.... I am currently at GFR 15.....