I'm not dead. Cha-ching.

So.  I have written on all of my medical charts that I am "allergic" to iron in the form of Dextran or Infed.  The new hematologist gave me a test dose today, after much discussion last week, because my long-term iron storage levels, or "Ferritin Levels" (Currently at 3) are so low, and have been for so.freaking.long. that...

        "Why shouldn't we give it another try?"

        "What, OMGZ what?!"

Yeah.  I took the allergic medication. 

"Because anaphylactoid reactions are serious and unpredictable, IV iron dextran should be used only when iron deficiency anemia cannot be treated adequately with oral iron"  -JAMA

I lived.

No reaction. 

Woot.  I tried HARD not to feel an itch.  I overthought it.  I was like, THERE IS AN ITCH RIGHT THERE AND OH MY FREAKING GAWD I FEEL IT AND I AM GOING TO GO INTO SHOCK RIGHT THIS VERY MOMENT!!  I felt a little bit gross for a moment, and then my arm felt heavy and achy, but then, I was okay again, and back to my normal seizure-medicated self.

I had been receiving Ferrlecit, which is given instead of Dextran or Infed, but it didn't seem to raise my iron storage levels at all.  My ferritin levels have always been 5 or under.  I admit, I have been not good about following through with infusions, but I have had more infusions than more RNY patients out there.

The hematologist seems to think that if I survived this big dose of iron that should have made me shoot into orbit with itch, I'll be running a marathon by next week.

If this does not work, I will melt down pots and pans and eat them.

Why infusions?  Why can't you just take pills, Beth?

            Parenteral Iron Repletion Therapy-

Therapy for iron deficiency anemia includes treatment of its underlying cause and restoration of normal hemoglobin concentrations and iron stores. This can be accomplished by oral or parenteral administration. Although the oral route is preferred, clinical situations exist where the parenteral route is indicated:

• Intolerance or non-compliance to oral iron preparations.
• Lack of effect of oral iron therapy.
• Malabsorption of oral iron, e.g. due to gastrointestinal disease or surgery.

PS.  My bloodwork from last week - BETTER - my B12 with no injections - was good!  Nothing stood out in the basic CBC other than the iron.