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  1. M

    Tolerable iron supplements?

    I am tired of being tired. Due to allergic reaction to my go iron infusion I now take a weaker one that takes 8 separate infusions over a 3-4 week period... and I need this about three times a year... so 24 infusion (plus 2 transfusions this year as I didn't get in soon enough). What have you...
  2. M

    Low ferritin

    thanks -- have never heard of this
  3. M

    Low ferritin

    Tell me more about an iron spray???? Is this colloidal that you spray in your mouth? Would that absorb sublingual you?
  4. M

    Low ferritin

    I have felt this way and had ok H&H (low side of normal)-- then the complete labs come back and ferritin is in single digits -- confirming what I physically felt and allowing a round of infusions without waiting for the H&H to drop further. Oral iron does NOTHING for me. Have you considered...
  5. M

    Elevated Hemocrit and Hemoglobin

    Its been a couple weeks -- how did it go??
  6. M

    Transfusion AND infusion?

    So my hemaglobin crashed again- down to 6.1 - and I started a series of 8 ferricit infusions (was offered transfusion first but wanted to avoid). After my 5th infusion they tested me again and my hemaglobin was only 6.3 so I had my first ever transfusion today. But I still was given the...
  7. M

    Mesalamine~ New and something seems wrong

    I am due for another colonoscopy -- I haven't had a one in about 4-5 years, but have had several endoscopies -- I also have GAVE (otherwise known as watermelon stomach) which may be what causes the anemia, but the two cauterization treatments Iwere expected to have taken care of that as a...
  8. M

    Mesalamine~ New and something seems wrong

    Was on Pentasa for about three years. Had very few symptoms other than anemia (for which I get iron infusions a couple times a year) so I got complacent and quit taking the Pentasa when I accidentally ran out. Yep - now I am having flares. Have appointment Monday with GI and hoping to get...
  9. M

    short term constipation relief?

    I must remember to NEVER treat constipation -- been practically living in bathroom for pas 48 hours. I really hate this disease.
  10. M

    short term constipation relief?

    feeling better finally -- thanks for the support
  11. M

    short term constipation relief?

    thanks for suggesting calling doctor = thought it was too minor but he suggested starting with Colace
  12. M

    short term constipation relief?

    Had a celebratory meal three days ago and ate poorly -- burger and fries -- had stomach cramps by the time I got home. No longer cramping, but hard and sore below ribs, center, and no bowel movements since. Have stayed well hydrated but feel like after three days I need to address the...
  13. M

    steroid related cataract

    Anyone have experience with a posterior subcapsular cataract? (Most commonly associated with steroid use) I was diagnosed with one this year and we are taking a "wait and see" attitude. Sounded like the thought was it won't get any better left alone, but it won't get any worse either, so long...
  14. M

    Oral iron supplementation - any that worked for you?

    My Crohn's is in the terminal ileum, mainly asymptomatic except a few off-limit foods that cause extreme pain for 2-3 days if eaten and a three year history of anemia which gets treated with iron infusions about every 6 months or so. I can fairly accurately feel when my hgb has dropped below...
  15. M

    Argon plasma coagulation vs infusions

    Have to make the decision AGAIN soon... my Crohn's is practically asymptomatic (a day of pain every couple of months - usually pin-pointed to food I didn't think hard enough about not eating) except for re-occurring anemia... roughly twice a year my iron levels drop low enough to require...
  16. M

    Anyone use My Daily Crohn's App?

    I get "Living with Crohn's Disease" newsletters from Everyday Health and they have a kind of cool app, My Daily Crohn's. Basically they send you a text reminder each day to log how you are feeling, as a way to chart flares in between visits to the doctor. It looks like it can be used as simply...
  17. M

    Lightheaded and dizzy -- which Dr to call first?

    Planning a physical soon with my primary just for general checkup, but in last week have been lightheaded and dizzy on three separate occasions. I have a history of anemia even when not obviously flaring so would it be more appropriate to call hematologist who gives me my B 12 and iron infusions...
  18. M

    Adverse reaction to injectafer.. what now?

    Today I had an iron infusion (specifically injectafer) and within five minutes of walking out of my hematologist's door I was back with tightness and pain in the chest, elevated blood pressure (148/85), redness in the face, and a general sense of something wrong. They had me sit with feet...
  19. M

    How fast can food make it completely through GI tract? kinda gross

    Tried to have a nice dinner out tonight but got hit with the big D before the check even arrived... not to be gross, but it certainly seemed like the spinach from the main course had made it through. We did linger for coffee so it wasn't super immediate, but probably within an hour of starting...
  20. M

    B-12 deficiency, Crohn's and anemia

    2014 was a pretty rough year - starting with a hgb of 4.6 g/dL and hct of 17.6 - finally diagnosed with Crohn's plus GAVE (watermelon stomach which can cause internal bleeding). Treatments ave been simple - iron infusions, Penatsa / Zegerid / on and off again B-12 shots. Plus two cauterizations...
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