SICKLE CELL AND INTRAVENOUS IRON
HAPPY NEW YEAR! WELCOME TO 2017
Have you had the pleasure of being given intravenous iron? Some of you have I am sure and some not. Well, I have and I would like to share my experience about it with you; a not so nice experience but I have learnt to find a way to get over the negative after effect of it.
I have been to hospital for a normal check up whereby I was told after a blood test that my iron is very low. To be frank, I knew it, as I know my body and it gives me tell tale signs. I become very weak, to walk from a to b is a big deal, when in normal circumstances its nothing, I have black under my eyes and any physical chore is as if I have ran to some far place and back.
So any way, this day, I went to the Haematology day clinic in order to be given iron. Some people are given iron tablets and it works for them but unfortunately not for me, I react to it and so if my body needs iron, it will have to be given to me intravenously.
For starters, I am one of those people whose veins are difficult to find. After six attempts from various nurses, someone is finally successful in putting the cannula in. Hurray, I said to myself, as I was fed up by this time and just wanted to get up and leave and say ‘I am not a guinea pig’.
I find it so strange, as the drip or iron is going in, in liquid form, it feels on the inside of me as if someone was slowly pouring very cold water inside me. Half way through I am shaking and freezing.
When I get home, I am still with chills and feeling bitterly cold, even though it is not cold outside because it was summer. I have had a situation whereby after being given iron, I have a crisis because of this cold feeling on the inside.
But now, I know what to do and know how to manage myself better: I go to the hospital warmly dressed in layers and I have noticed, that it helps me as my body temperature drops. I also take a flask of hot tea with me and drink it all through and this also helps me. I also now make sure that when I get home, I have a very hot shower or have a soak in the bathtub, as these steps help my body temperature to rise again and I take a hot beverage or soup. Lastly, I take some painkillers and then go to bed with plenty of covers over me or a duvet.
The last time I took all the above steps, I did not fall sick after being given intravenous iron. I don’t intend to have a crisis after being given intravenous iron ever again because I make sure that I eat food rich in iron on a daily basis.
hi ma’am.
i tried mailing you on this but seems to always bounce back tdehinde@yahoo.com
Hi Dare, so sorry to hear about the above. My email is t.dehinde@yahoo.com
I hope you are well and doing good. I look forward to hearing from you on email.
Take care
Yes iron contribute to crises it can cause crises after my sons first and onli crisesi witnessed I have learnt how to manage him and even wit the drugs to be taken. It’s a good tin u open up this forum do educate pple or family day have someone in dis state. Kudus ma. Yes u guys are warriors he is very intelligent and display a matured attitude at home, school and over his elder brother. Hmm God will kip u guys till full old age. I called u guys the optimist. Tnks
Hello Adeyemo,
Thank you so much for your lovely email and I also need to commend you as a father, its not easy looking after someone with Sickle Cell, I should know. Wishing you the very best as well, may you also grow to full old age. My love to your lil warrior!
I just came across your blog and i must commend you for a great job. Keep it up.
On the subject of Iron in take. It is better to get iron from natural sources rather than tab or intravenously. The simple reason for this that most of us with sickle cell due to constant crisis lose (I use the word lose here, due to the fact that the spleen just shrinks and disappears ) our Spleen , which is the organ that helps to recycle and clean up iron in take in the body.
As a result if you take too much iron tabs or drip, if not well manage can lead to what is know as also known as hemochromatosis, indicates accumulation of iron in the body from any cause. The side effect of this is that you need constant blood transfusion.
Like i said i just discovered the blog and i will definitely follow you now and cannot wait for more tips, more conversations that can help all of us who are warriors in my humble opinion.
Please keep this up and God bless you.
Hello Abiola, thank you so much for stopping by and now that you have, do check out the blog more regularly. Yes, I do agree about the iron intake and that is exactly what I do, in terms of eating food filled with iron. Do continue to take good care of yourself and God bless you richly.
Infact i really love this is educative one of my child is warrior i always give her drugs and still using faith to treat her ‘cos it really pain me see à child of 2yrs crying for pain but i just have to be strong for her
Hello Oreoluwa, thank you for stopping by and I have to say well done for looking after your daughter and as you said for now, you will have to be strong for her. Do look after yourself too. Thanks for your kind words