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Infused (again)

I posted last week about feeling so fatigued and it was time to get my blood levels checked.  Yep, I was right, no ferritin left in my body and my hemoglobin was dropping as a result. 

And, so, I got right in there for an infusion.  Still using the Ferrlecit and still only doing one infusion rather than two.  I think for me mentally, doing one infusion is so much easier.  With the Venofer, I was doing five infusions every four months or so and, so one infusion every three months seems really nice.

The infusion itself went smoothly.  I still get Benadryl because I have reacted before and so I just rested and snoozed the entire time.  I think the Ferrlecit infusion ends up taking about an hour and a half.  They do the Benadryl and then the Ferrlecit and then I have to wait a half hour while they monitor me. 

That night, I was exhausted which I usually chalk up to the Benadryl.  I slept for hours that day. 

The next day, I just felt sort of icky like my body was fighting something off and I ended up feeling that way for the next couple days.  I haven't had that with the Ferrlecit before so I wonder if it is because I waited too long.  It almost seems like when I have no ferritin, my body fights off the new iron.

So, next time, I'll try and catch my levels when they are down around 10 or so.  I do think having a little Ferritin in my body for the infusion helps with the side effects.

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