1. < Blood Cancers & Disorders
Mentor

Low Iron Levels and Weakness

Posted by Dana, Volunteer Mentor @danab, Jun 24, 2021

Hi, I am a caregiver to my wife who has just found out She has severe Low Iron Levels. She initially is getting 2 treatments of IV Iron infusion and im Praying she gets her energy back as she went from walking about 4 miles a day to almost not able to get around the house without feeling very weak. Looking for others who may have gone thru similar situation. No other issues except for the low Iron we're noticed on any Labs and a similar situation happen in March where she was hospitalized and ran every test known and could not find a cause. They at that point did not test Iron that I know of.
Thanks

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Blood Cancers & Disorders Support Group.

Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 10, 2023
In reply to @howlor5 "Going on 9 months now. Shortness of breath, extreme fatigue when exerting. Checked out with VA..." + (show)
@howlor5

Going on 9 months now. Shortness of breath, extreme fatigue when exerting. Checked out with VA . pulmonary good, no blood clots, EKG and Echo good, suspected Pancreas Cancer negative, two colonoscopy good, WBC & RBC good. Recent stress test good.
NOTE: Prior Prostrate Cancer, radical performed over 15 years ago. PSA came back up within last 17 months. Cancer in lymph nodes picked up on PET scan. However, being treated with quarterly Eli guard shots, PSA now at 0.01. Previous systemic colitis, that’s good now.
Recent Iron BT showed saturation rate (low) 17, Iron very low side of normal.
Help! Thank you!

Jump to this post

@howlor5, I moved your message about searching for the cause of iron deficient anemia to this existing discussion that @danab started:
- Low Iron Levels and Weakness: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-iron-levels-and-weakness/

I did this so you can read the previous posts and connect with other members like Dana, @lisal64 @deechase @loribmt @jakedduck1 and many others.

Howlor, has your oncologist ruled out prostate cancer or treatment as a potential cause?

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Mar 10, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "@howlor5, I moved your message about searching for the cause of iron deficient anemia to this..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@howlor5, I moved your message about searching for the cause of iron deficient anemia to this existing discussion that @danab started:
- Low Iron Levels and Weakness: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-iron-levels-and-weakness/

I did this so you can read the previous posts and connect with other members like Dana, @lisal64 @deechase @loribmt @jakedduck1 and many others.

Howlor, has your oncologist ruled out prostate cancer or treatment as a potential cause?

Jump to this post

Hi @howlor5 welcome to connect. I can definitely say Iron is a factor in feeling fatigued as when I started this thread my wife was going thru a similar situation of low iron. But also I myself have had bouts of low Iron and am now myself back on iron pills. My saturation is 15% but except for a slight bit of fatigue a quick afternoon nap helps a lot. I'm retired so if your someone with an active schedule like work or kids I can imagine it can be difficult.

What i can't really address is if it's because of the other issues you mentioned. I'm not familiar with how the treatment for the cancer may also be a factor. I also have low platelets and when it drops down it also affects my energy. I personally don't have any shortness of breath issues now, but I did when I had heart problems so it may be something to get checked out.
Also if your already seeing an oncologist they may be able to help with the iron issue. The doctor i see for my ongoing anemia is an oncologist. I hope that may help a bit. Let me know if I can help further as I know ever since I found this forum it has helped a lot to just know that others share in what we are feeling.
Have your doctors decided on any further testing to identify what else may be at play? I myself came from a background of heart related issues and my anemic issues came about due to the suppression drugs required for a Heart transplant patient. I've heard that the anemic issues are similar to people who have ongoing cancer treatment. So, please let me know how else I can help.

REPLY
1 reply
howlor5 | @howlor5 | Mar 11, 2023
In reply to @danab "Hi @howlor5 welcome to connect. I can definitely say Iron is a factor in feeling fatigued..." + (show)
@danab

Hi @howlor5 welcome to connect. I can definitely say Iron is a factor in feeling fatigued as when I started this thread my wife was going thru a similar situation of low iron. But also I myself have had bouts of low Iron and am now myself back on iron pills. My saturation is 15% but except for a slight bit of fatigue a quick afternoon nap helps a lot. I'm retired so if your someone with an active schedule like work or kids I can imagine it can be difficult.

What i can't really address is if it's because of the other issues you mentioned. I'm not familiar with how the treatment for the cancer may also be a factor. I also have low platelets and when it drops down it also affects my energy. I personally don't have any shortness of breath issues now, but I did when I had heart problems so it may be something to get checked out.
Also if your already seeing an oncologist they may be able to help with the iron issue. The doctor i see for my ongoing anemia is an oncologist. I hope that may help a bit. Let me know if I can help further as I know ever since I found this forum it has helped a lot to just know that others share in what we are feeling.
Have your doctors decided on any further testing to identify what else may be at play? I myself came from a background of heart related issues and my anemic issues came about due to the suppression drugs required for a Heart transplant patient. I've heard that the anemic issues are similar to people who have ongoing cancer treatment. So, please let me know how else I can help.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for your comments! I am retired (77yr. old). A young 77 before all this. Yes, I am seening my oncoligist 3/17/23. My VA doctor is sending me for an "anxiety" evaluation, she must thik not being able to breath is in my head. Oh, well...I'll just go along.

I take one Vit. -C & one Iron per day. While good, no improvement noted. My fatigue is not being "tired," its dibilitating. I must sit down and let my heart/body play catch-up.

You have helped,,,,and thank you. I'll letr you know what happens after the 17th. Stay well!!

REPLY
howlor5 | @howlor5 | Mar 11, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "@howlor5, I moved your message about searching for the cause of iron deficient anemia to this..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@howlor5, I moved your message about searching for the cause of iron deficient anemia to this existing discussion that @danab started:
- Low Iron Levels and Weakness: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-iron-levels-and-weakness/

I did this so you can read the previous posts and connect with other members like Dana, @lisal64 @deechase @loribmt @jakedduck1 and many others.

Howlor, has your oncologist ruled out prostate cancer or treatment as a potential cause?

Jump to this post

Getting new Oncology DR. with VA next week (3/17) I'll find out more then.

Thanks so much!!

REPLY
howlor5 | @howlor5 | Mar 11, 2023

Interesting.....my condition exactly! Im pushing for Hemo. work-up with possible Iron Infusion. Did your DR's. do a Hemo. work-uo prior to Iron treatments?

Thank you for your post!!!

REPLY
1 reply
firstphone | @firstphone | Mar 11, 2023
In reply to @roch "I have had problems maintaining my Iron level in past and was treated with IV Iron..." + (show)
@roch

I have had problems maintaining my Iron level in past and was treated with IV Iron treatments. The IV treatments will help, but may need to be repeated in future. I had to have it repeated multiple times. I think they repeated every 6 months. I no longer need anymore. Testing for Ferritin (iron) is usually not done unless requested. My underlying cause was malabsorption due to surgery on stomach. Anything your wife can eat or drink with high levels of protein will help.

Prior to Iron infusions, provider recommended Vitron-C., a iron supplement formulated with Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps your body better absorb iron.

My tests were ordered and results monitored by a hematologist.

If they ran lab tests, they probably already checked the thyroid. I take thyroid medications and if dosage is off or another medication is interfering with Synthroid, it can also cause the same symptoms. Example, if take an Iron supplement, never take at same time as thyroid medication..

Hope iron infusions help,

Laurie

Jump to this post

Thank you for this information.I have yet to meet my hematologist.My problem started with long covid.I got a peptic ulcer from xpili heliobacter bacteria.Flagel eliminated most of my problem..Jim..

REPLY
faith3 | @faith3 | Mar 11, 2023

My oncologist is concerned because of me being anemic. He says my iron level is good so the anemia is from the CLL. I’m not getting treatment yet so I’m trying to build up
My hemoglobin. I read that eating spinach and dried apricots can help. I’ve always thought anemia was iron deficiency but apparently I’m wrong.

REPLY
clefever33 | @clefever33 | Mar 14, 2023

Did you ever get any answers on your wife? My friend is going through similar situation with iron transfusions? No doctor can give her diagnosis. She felt good after 2 iron infusions many months ago but now she is beginning to feel exhausted again and her ferritin has dropped. Cindy L.

REPLY
2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 26, 2023
In reply to @clefever33 "Did you ever get any answers on your wife? My friend is going through similar situation..." + (show)
@clefever33

Did you ever get any answers on your wife? My friend is going through similar situation with iron transfusions? No doctor can give her diagnosis. She felt good after 2 iron infusions many months ago but now she is beginning to feel exhausted again and her ferritin has dropped. Cindy L.

Jump to this post

@clefever33, I believe your question was directed at @danab, who I'm tagging here to make sure he sees your posts and can give an update on his wife.

I'm sorry to hear that your friend initially responded well to transfusions. How is she doing now?

REPLY
Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Mar 26, 2023
In reply to @clefever33 "Did you ever get any answers on your wife? My friend is going through similar situation..." + (show)
@clefever33

Did you ever get any answers on your wife? My friend is going through similar situation with iron transfusions? No doctor can give her diagnosis. She felt good after 2 iron infusions many months ago but now she is beginning to feel exhausted again and her ferritin has dropped. Cindy L.

Jump to this post

Hi Cindy, Sorry i didn't see your reply until Colleen helped out. We are still having bouts of weakness, but its unusual that She can head out and walk up to 4 miles but come home and have periods where climbing the stairs is a challenge. Since then, Iron seems ok at the moment and in the search to find out what the cause is her cardiologist has put in a loop recorder and so far nothing has shown an issue. The last time she had blood work everything looked fine. So even with the periods of weakness its not totally incapacitating like the time I wrote about initially.
Is your friend under the care of a hematologist? The one my wife sees a Oncologist/Hematologist a cancer center, I guess its a similar profession for Doctors who specialize in blood disorders.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.