Has anybody gone through intensive iron and other transfusion treatments for anemia and experienced a rapid and somewhat substantial weight gain from it? I know it’s not supposed to be a side effect but of course this is me we’re talking about and nothing is ever normal with me. I’ve gained a disturbing amount of weight in the last 10 days and the only thing different is that I started treatments.
Comments are open, information or links would be greatly appreciated.
6 responses so far ↓
Sharon // 27 Jun. 2008 at 12:42 pm
I would like to know the answer since I see the hemo on July 16 for likely infusions as well. You are giving me something else to dread!
Deluzy // 27 Jun. 2008 at 3:14 pm
It’s temporary.
I had a 6-hour iron/other nutrients infusion a year ago February, and I showed a substantial gain of I-forget-how-many-but-enough-to-make-me-REALLY-tense pounds (this also happened after my DS surgery and 4 days of being on IVs).
IVs cause me to retain/gain temporary weight. It took about three weeks for it to go away after the DS, and I think about two weeks for it to go away after the lengthy iron infusion.
It’s crazy-making. But it does go away.
MB // 28 Jun. 2008 at 5:45 am
Sharon, I’ll email or call you with the scoop. We may be having different treatments too so that could make a difference as well.
Deluzy, hrm. I wonder what the difference is between a single infusion and a course of twice a week for a month from a gain standpoint. I am somewhat encouraged to know I’m not the only one experiencing this though.
Chasity // 28 Jun. 2008 at 1:39 pm
This I am basing on my kids and their NICU experiences and we have had between the 2 of them over a 100 transfusions or close. In any case, it depends on what they are giving you? Is it just packed red blood cells or is there other stuff? Either way they are adding volume to your body. How many mls are you getting each time? When the kids got packed red blood cells they were always given a diuretic after to get rid of excess fluid. But that is in preemies and can effect things if they retain fluid. So I am thinking there is extra stuff in there and your body may be retaining water because of it. It depends on how much of an increase in weight you have had. I would think more than 10lbs is to much. Theres my 2 cents!
*S* // 1 Jul. 2008 at 4:26 am
Thanks for posting about this. I’m under with all of my hemo readings, and because of my allergy/intolerance/debilitating vomiting issues with all sorts of iron supplements to date, I may be walking down that road - sooner, rather than later if my surgeon freaks out about my levels prior to surgery in a couple of weeks. Are there lots of different types of iron IV treatment?
*S*
Beth Ann Betts // 4 Jul. 2008 at 12:55 pm
I had my DS 3 and a half years ago. I’ve always had minor problems with anemia even before wls. All of my labs came back within normal range a couple of years ago except for iron levels. I had been taking multivitamins but nothing extra in the iron supplement department. The hematologist (sp?) advised iron supplements for a month but no real improvements. Incidentally, he at first suspected that low levels of B vitamins might be implicated in the iron deficiency but my lab test showed great levels of the B complexes. (I drink a lot of a sugar-free energy drink which really boosts the B levels I think.) Anyway, I ended up going to the local oncology center for a series of iron infusions — 1 a week for 4 weeks. (Ask me if I felt weird sitting in the waiting room with all the really sick cancer patients when they would ask me what I was being treated for? Oh yeah!!!) My iron levels were brought within the low side of normal ranges after the first set of 4 treatments I don’t remember anything unusual about my appetite or weight gain, but unlike you, MB, I have not been near as diligent with my diet. I lost over a hundred pounds but I still really need to drop another 50 to be “normal”. About a year ago, I had to undergo another round of infusions but my anemia was not as severe as the first time and still, no unusual weight gain or appetite changes that I remember. For the past 2 years I have been taking chewable iron supplements and that seems to help keep my iron levels up more than just multivitamins. A pharmacist did mention that he had seen more than a few wls patients who just plain don’t digest/absorb enough vitamins from traditional pills to make any real difference. I’m a bit overdue to go back for my bloodwork with the hematologist this year but it’s on the agenda in the near future. Hopefully this helps you with your situation.
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