Low iron

[SweetyPie]

Hey everyone,
So the doctor came in Tuesday and said my iron was low at 16 so he ordered five doses of iron with treatment. I am a tiny bit concerned because when I first started hemo which was about 2 years back I was in the worst possible shape and required iron every week. I have not had to have an iron boost for a little more than a year now until now. So I’m sure you can understand my concern.
Also, when I get iron it I can taste it and it is not pleasant it very disgusting and the taste lingers anyone have tips?

[Kathymac2]

I suck on a peppermint lifesaver while getting the iron infusion. I can't taste anything but peppermint.

[GA_DAWG]

Same here Kathymac. I ask the nurses to warn me when they are about to give the iron, because of the foul taste, and I pop a peppermint in my mouth before they give it. It really does taste terrible. Aisha, with your small size and the lowered appetite you have been talking about, it is not a surprise you need iron. Maybe when your appetite recovers they can stop it. I know it can be hard to eat after having the wisdom teeth removed, and it takes time for your mouth to heal.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

I agree with the above posts. You will probably get the "bump up" of iron that you need and then be alright for a little awhile. Your diet has suffered lately and needing iron is sooooo common on HD. Like the others, popping a mint candy really helped get over the ugh taste.

I was one of the patients that "tasted" or "sensed" the sodium citrate when they flushed my line (not for long) and a candy always helped with that too.

[SweetyPie]

My mouth has been back to normal for some time now Thank God. But eating wise I agree my appetite is not the best. While trying to lower my phos my calcium is suffering a lot. I got my parathyroids out in 2015 so it is naturally low. I have been able to take care of it with tums but now its just getting lower and lower. Its supposed to hang around 8 and its 6.5. I am worried because I am not showing symptoms of low calcium.
Does iron and calcium have any connection???

[Paul]

Does iron and calcium have any connection???

They are both metals but apart from that I doubt it.

[UkrainianTracksuit]

For the longest time, there was, and I guess still is, a belief that calcium messes with the absorption of iron into the system.

If you rely on plant based protein, calcium prevents the substantial absorption of that. So, often we are told to stick to meat.

Then I guess more research supported the idea that while it has an effect on absorption, calcium does little to hinder iron stores.

The same advice continues to be given though: don’t take iron supplements the same time as you take calcium supplements and don’t take your iron with milk. I don’t think this applies to you though.

Low calcium is also possible from low protein levels in the blood. Not exactly iron but really bad (and related) anemia. How are your albumin levels? Again, for albumin levels to be good, you need a diet with proteins.

I am no doctor and I don’t even play one on tv but just throwing this out there. If your diet has been suffering lately, and you are a tiny gal to begin with, as well as dialysis wiping clean the good stuff too, you could have malnutrition.

I can attest it happens when a person is small framed. 

[SweetyPie]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. At the moment I am not on iron supplements... because i never needed them. The last albumin check was last month it was 4.
It reallyweird, after dialysis I am hungry and it feel like no matter how much I eat nothing can fill my stomach!!! Anyone else have this?

[PrimeTimer]

You might ask your neph about the binder called Auryxia. It 's a binder that also has iron in it. As for being hungry after dialysis, my husband goes thru that all the time. He likes to have a big breakfast afterwards, especially omelets with red, green and yellow peppers, spices and onions with some toast. You might ask the dietician if you can have oatmeal because that is a meal that "sticks to the ribs" and makes you feel full without feeling too uncomfortable.

[SweetyPie]

Have tried aurixya, there was a shortage of them at one point so I just switched back to my regular binders. To be honest I don't eat my binders much and watch what I eat meaning I dont go for high phos foods and my phos has been doing okay. I always hated the idea of taking pills during my meal because they just make me feel nauseous and I would lose my appetite.

[PrimeTimer]

OK, so what are you eating that leaves you hungry for more? Try heartier meals, "brain food".

[SweetyPie]

I eat an egg sandwhich or bagel with cream cheese

[GA_DAWG]

The problem I have after dialysis is I am hungry, but nothing sounds really appetizing. I must admit the omelette with peppers and onions sounds pretty good as one of the thigs I do like it a frittata with those things. What I would really like is a BLT with fries.

[SweetyPie]

I did not have a good session today. The first hour an a half went smoothly then I started to decline. As the nurse was putting the iron in I started to feel dizzy, I told her and she said yes urine drops your blood pressure and makes you dizzy so I had to stop pulling and ask for extra saline. I felt awful. I really hate days like these its really tough on me

[SunshineOfHope2]

Hey everyone. I am brand new today and introduced myself a little earlier....

I think the iron tastes like maple syrup! At least, I tell myself that and when she gives it to me (most days) I tell her is this my pancake breakfast?  The nurse laughs...I do agree I need to be warned but sometimes they give it to me without letting me know and I know that strange taste is coming.