Back in hospital again!

[billybags]

Hubby has been struggling for months with anemia and low blood pressure, he is also malnourished. they have been upping his EPO to get his iron up. His Hg is down to 8. He has had a really bad week this week, low blood pressure, feeling dizzy and very breathless. He was admitted Thursday and all they have done is take a chest x-ray and ECG. chest was clear and the ECG will say bad heart, bad heart. So we are up in the air . How can I help to get his HG up, or is it up to pills and things? His appetite is not good but I do keep trying, the dietitian says he can eat what ever he likes. I think he is turning to Asian cooking and Indian because he says he can taste them. Any ideas/

[cattlekid]

I live at a hemoglobin of 8.  It sucks. 

How are hubby's iron stores?  EPO needs iron to work.  Has he been getting iron infusions?  I know for me, my ferretin levels are good but my stored iron is low, so they keep giving me iron injections at my monthly clinic visits.

Is he on a transplant list?  If not, has he been getting transfusions?  I got 2 units of leukocyte-depleted blood last month and man did that make my hemoglobin jump.  Of course, it went right back down again in two weeks.  If he's on a transplant list, check into the leukocyte-depleted blood because it will not jack up his antibodies.

How is his albumin?  Is he eating?  I know my hemoglobin went in the tank in November when my appetite took a holiday for a few weeks. 

I agree with him about taste.  The renal diet blows and renal-friendly recipes are devoid of FLAVOR.  Does he have any residual function?  Maybe he can up the spice level somewhat in his food to make it more flavorful.  Of course, that means that he might be drinking more fluid, which is why I ask about the residual function.

I feel for you guys....low hemoglobin is the pits.

[noahvale]

*

[MaryD]

No further suggestions than have already been made  -   just       

[willowtreewren]

So sorry to hear this Billy! 

Here's a big 

Aleta

[boswife]

we were in sun to monday this week too   It's so awful and im so sorry for you both.  We had the low hemoglobin goen on for quite a while (not this time) and finally they had him swallow a camera pill and they did find a leak where the two other tests (down throat,  up rear) didnt show.  He was on a fluid (yea) diet for about 5 days and it gave it a rest and he healed  and so far so good.  This time it was possible pnumonia... not confirmed.  Day by day he's better but i so ;sympathize  with you.  Can i ask what his blood pressures are??  We are going through that right now, though they say that its possible because of his cough/sick.  His is barly 100/47/78  though the days in the hosp it was 98/40/99   .... Painful for them as well as us..  Has been as bad as 88/37/78

[BobN]

billy, agree with the other posts on iron and epo, but when my bp is low, typically need my dry weight adjusted.

Best wishes.

[Whamo]

 

[MomoMcSleepy]

I did curries and stuff, too.  Nice flavor, with low sodium (home-made curries! Restaurant or store are too salty!).  I also have the book "Cooking for David," though I've found some recipes to be bland, and tinkered a little.

I'm lying about curries, I sometimes (often) get lazy and buy the curries in a bag, then just eat less cause of sodium.  I also usually pair with boiled chicken for protein.

[billybags]

Thanks every one,you are right  it is all  due to iron and epo. His iron is 11  ferritin is 790. These are UK figures. Went to see him this afternoon and he says he is still going dizzy. They have not done any thing only take his stats because low and behold it is the week end and what happens then, no renal doctors. His BP is normally 134/80/59 that is normal but these last few days it has been  101/60/54  its been 109/80 a lot lower than it should be. The neph is back to-morrow so we shall see. He is having epo every 10 days.

[boswife]

Yea, thats scarry for sure.  At least Bos is low anyway so not AS scarry but he just doesnt have much to fluctuate with.  THIS STUFF SUCKS!!  I pray your finding strength, and as my friend just reminded me, keep as positive attitude as able as our attitude is what will get us through.......... and faith 

[boswife]

Hows it going BB?

[billybags]

boswife, thanks for asking. Hubby was in hospital for 5 days he came out about 10 days ago. He was given another tablet called Ramipril to help his heart and get his blood pressure down, how far down do they bloody want it, it is low any way. We are waiting for a cardiac appointment in about 7 weeks, they are now thinking about a pace maker .Hello his heart has been jiffy for a couple of years. One good thing is his appetite is gradually improving and his albium is up slightly. They are upping his epo, so that might help, but he is still breathless. Fingers crossed.

[boswife]

boy BB, we sound in the same situation...... very close!  bo is fading away it seems, though it all started with him getting that cough/bronchites and loosing appitite.  Albumin droped, hemoglobin droped, lungs filled up with fluid, legs swelled and he coughed until i thought he would pass out.  We did 9 strait days of dialysis, uped his iron again as that went low, giving him protien shots, and so far, hemoglobin up, fluid gone (he also had thorothenteses (sp) ) and slowly, he is regaining strength but he just looks so awful.  I am so full of sadness that tears come so easy ...  Which, im just telling you so as you see, your once again sadly not alone     I hope for health for them and us for some better times... 

[brenda seal]

I hope Bo and billybag's hubby  improve soon .