Things you can do if you think you may have low hemoglobin

[okarol]

Things you can do if you think you may have low hemoglobin:

1.  Advocate for yourself. If the patient is not able to, the
caretaker for that person has to step up. Do not depend
on your healthcare team alone to make sure you are
being treated properly.
2.  Tell your nurse and doctor how you are feeling, and
what you are experiencing
3.  Ask questions. How are they treating your anemia at
your center? What is the anemia protocol?
4.  Which ESA does your center use? Epo, Aranesp,
Procrit? How much are you receiving? And how often do
you get it?
5.  Know when blood work is being taken and get the
results on the next treatment day.
6.  Ask your nurse what they plan on doing to make your
anemia better if the results come out low.
7.  Trend your results. Document for your own use what
your hemoglobin is from month to month and the dose
of medication you get to treat anemia. This way you will
see at what level of hemoglobin you feel best at and try
to have them keep you at that level.
8.  Ask your dietitian or physician about Folic Acid.  If
you need it, make sure you are prescribed a Folic Acid
supplement and are taking it.
9.  Ask your physician if you have acceptable Iron stores
(levels) and if you need supplemental Iron. Iron helps
carrying oxygen in your red blood cells to all tissues
throughout your body.
Doing these few things and getting involved in your own
care not only make you feel better and will show your
healthcare team that you are taking an active part in
your own care. It will make for a better outcome for you
& your family and you’ll feel better too!

http://www.ipro.org/index/cms-filesystem-action/esrd/pac/2012_january_anemia.pdf
From y IPRO End Stage Renal Disease Network of New York, the ESRD Organization for New York State

[ChrisEtc]

What are the symptons of low iron?  I recently worked my legs out on a Saturday and they were still sore on Wednesday.  This is extremely unusual as most of the time any soreness goes away after a day or two.  I was eating plenty of protein and getting plenty of rest.  I asked them to check the bloodwork and rather than doing what I asked they tried to raise my dry weight 3kg and told me to drink broth three times a week or something.  I refused that because it just felt like a bunch of BS and they weren't paying attention to my concerns.  I know wha tmy body feels like when I'm dehydrated, particularly when I work out and it felt more like it was something with my blood than that. 

[MomoMcSleepy]

My hemoglobin was 10.2 last week, and no one said anything to me. I have been feeling crappy.  I started taking normal iron supplements, and called my doctor to let him know. 

I felt a little weird in the head, like it was hard to see almost, or like o was squirm be I  .the Johan,e but there was no bright light.  I have felt this way before, I  used not furor  it all the time, but it got better when k had my gallbladder omit,you so I reassigned it was fro. That somehow. 

also, and this is different, my muscles feel  worn out a (not sore, like they are dried out or starving or restless....not right.  Like my muscles were tired).  They feel better today, and I want to credit theorem pills, but I have had to take them before and know what to take, the hospital have the. To me,  I also TOLD MY DOCTOR, just in case.  So for those reading,

DON'T JUST TAKE SUPPLEMENTS WILL-NILLY, CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR! 

That's very good advice from okarol, though.  Stay on top of your own stuff, don't just wait for a phone call.  You'd be surprised how NOT on top of things your doctors can be, they may have tons of patients (mine are all at a huge health system).. Also, I have assumed that I felt like crap because of this or that, and it turned out to be something serious and totally not a kidney Issue at all, and I should have gone to the doctor instead of assuming.  So if you feel different and not right, extra crappy, check your labs and call your doctor's office with questions!

Thanks, okarol!


ooh, ps, doc's office just called, ok to take iron supplements, call if I need a refill.  They're pretty good at Neph...and take colace