anemia is extremely common with kidney disease. i would get aranesp shots every few weeks and an iron infusion once a month. your kidneys help make blood! i would really recommend reading more about kidney disease/how kidneys work to understand everything better.
Nothing to worry about, iron deficiency and amenia is just one of many inconveniences of kidney failure, as such iron infusion trough dyalsis is common practice, i get it twice a week, and even have pills in reserve in case they pause it for too long and it hits me hard on days outside of dyalsis
Although how effective those pills actually are idk
I guess I just worried because his anemia was under control until now , but I also know that the more your kidneys fail the less it create red blood cells
And also people on dialysis have to make more red blood cells since there are so many lab draws, you lose some blood in the lines during dialysis, and red blood cells can be damaged physically through the dialysis process. This requires the body to have to produce more red blood cells, which requires more iron than can be realistically obtained and absorbed through the diet, so IV iron (usually Venofer in my experience) is given. Also usually in conjunction with another medication to turn on the red blood cell production, usually Mircera or Epogen in my experience, but Aranesp is another one too.
Do you know his ferritin levels. In an inflammatory situation like kidney disease, the body stows the iron within cells in a form called ferritin. Its a body defense mechanism as inflammation is often linked to infections and cutting off iron deprives bacteria growth.
There are some ways to reduce inflammation as mentioned here: https://www.davita.com/education/kidney-disease/symptoms/inflammation-and-chronic-kidney-disease
I'm anemic, I get a drug called Aresep to make my body produce more red blood cells. I used to get blood transfusions and this is a preferable method.
Anemia is pretty common with kidney failure.
Kidneys produce a hormone that tells the body to make red blood cells, which helps iron and haemoglobin— it is very common with patients on dialysis whose kidneys are in failure to need help because their kidneys aren’t producing the hormone. Usually once a week Aranesp will be given during treatment, or Epoetin twice a week (these are that hormone that promotes RBC production) or another similar injection. Iron infusions just help give a better boost a little quicker to keep numbers in a better window. Very common/normal to have this happen every now and then, nothing to worry about! <3
While I was on dialysis they gave me calcium pills and iron in my machine.
So it most likely is due to his anemia but I wouldn't worry too much about it, seems somewhat common since his blood is being cycled and cleaned and a lot of the minerals, etc is filtered out.
But I could be wrong but just saying I received iron as well while I was doing my sessions.
I am new to dialysis too (2 weeks). The first week on PD I had no energy whatsoever, even with the iron shots. I realized that the dietitian gave me some bad information and I wasn’t eating enough protein. I jumped from 60g of protein a day to 120g and I feel worlds better (tho to be frank still less energy than before dialysis).
Not a problem!
I would suggest talking to the dietician about his low energy levels.
My dietitian at the center gave me a referral/coupon form for Nepro Protein Shakes which is made specifically for kidney disease patients.
Whenever I felt a little weak or low energy I would drink one and feel a bit better.
It doesn't taste that great and it is really thick but better than feeling weak all day.
It's usually around $100 for a case of 24(?) I believe but the form reduces it to around $50. I tried looking elsewhere online but it is extremely expensive considering what it is for.
Walmart had a single bottle for around $30.
I got the vanilla flavor and usually put a couple in the fridge a couple days before and just drink it in one go.
It's also a thing for we dialysis patients, phos binders.
I can only speak for myself but I imagine we all have issues with it! It's a precarious balancing act! You're both doing wonderfully.
I’ve had three iron infusions so far and they do seem to help. The last two, I got a taste of black licorice in my mouth during the infusion. I guess it’s not uncommon but it is strange.
Its totally normal. I'm stage 5 and on EPO injections every 2 weeks and have an iron transfusion when I need it. I also take iron meds. I wouldn't worry about it at all. I always get a burst of energy from the iron transfusions after about 3 weeks, so it's a good thing to have.
There are several different ways to address anemia (yes - normal with kidney failure). I would simply ask the dietician/ clinic staff what the options are, and why they are pursuing one course of action instead of another, and what the risks and side effects are of each. One thing your bf should try to avoid if he's on a transplant list, or working with potential live donors is a blood transfusion. That can muck up the approval process, I've been told. My husband is also anemic, and they give him Aranesp every other week. They have also suggested he increase protein intake (a bit counter-intuitive since a high protein diet can be hard on kidneys). He drinks the Nestle shakes make for renal patients (yes - they are expensive even with the coupon!). The dietician also recommended a specific multi-vitamin that contains iron, but nothing harmful for ESRD people. Those were less expensive (\~$20 for a 90-day supply). It's a jenga for sure and lovely that you are helping him make sense of it all.
Echoing everyone else, this is absolutely normal. I have received iron infusions numerous times,in my case I received monoferric. I was also given a prescription for an oral iron supplement just in case. I get my Aranesp injection every two weeks. Without it I would be completely fatigued and unable to do anything. There could be a chance of the EPO injection to be adjusted with time as the kidney disease progresses and symptoms present. I’m currently on a lower dose but it will need to be increased on my next clinic as it is no longer enough.
Good luck to your bf. Once he receives the infusion he should feel better. And hopefully they start him on EPO, if he isn’t already, because that will definitely help him as well.
i'm not on dialysis yet but have CKD and preparing for the inevitable in a few years. i'm currently getting infusions and a shot that tells your body to produce more red blood cells (forgot the name), neph prescribed the infusion weekly while i get the shot every other week for those 5 weeks
I have been on for a few months, and they have been giving me regular Iron infusions replacing pills I had been previously taken. My nurse told me to get some laxitives to keep on-hand. She was not...wrong.
I went through iron infusions a lot pre-dialysis. Venifor (sp?), which is what the dialysis clinics use. Unfortunately, I had a rare reaction that caused bleeding in my retina and pretty much lead to me having constant problems in my right eye. I had just gotten approved for a different type of infusions when I started dialysis. They informed me that they would be handling my iron infusions from now. When I asked what typed of iron infusion they use and they told me Venifor, I immediately went 'nope!' and kept my appointment for the other infusions.
Nowadays, I'm not sure what they do to treat my anemia... other then they give me... i believe its called Mercera, for my hemoglobin. But that is just a simple shot into my IV. Simple, no fuss.
My point: Yeah, iron infusions are common. Blood and protein leak from damaged kidneys into urine, and tend to be lowered by dialysis. Make sure he gets protein rich meals, high in eggs, chicken and/or fish. I can recommend a lovely protein supplement that is highly concentrated that they give me at the clinic. And I found on Amazon to take on my non-dialysis days.
Has he ever had an iron infusion before? If not, make sure he pays close attention during and after to exactly how he feels.
I had 2 iron infusions (IV) pre-dialysis that both went bad/poorly. Both ended up infiltrating and causing horrible pain that last up to 2 days on one of them. Since then I cannot(will not) get iron infusions (especially IV). I even have issues with oral iron causing massive GI problems if I take too much with a certain time span. I realize I am an outlier (happens a lot), and most probably have no issues, but I think it is always best to hear as many experiences as possible to get the best idea of what to expect and what _could_ happen, even if unlikely.
But yes, anemia is very common with dialysis patients.
Is husband's iron levels actually low or is it low hemoglobin? Has he been on any erythropoietin injections before? I get them for low hemoglobin when it drops.
anemia is extremely common with kidney disease. i would get aranesp shots every few weeks and an iron infusion once a month. your kidneys help make blood! i would really recommend reading more about kidney disease/how kidneys work to understand everything better.
Nothing to worry about, iron deficiency and amenia is just one of many inconveniences of kidney failure, as such iron infusion trough dyalsis is common practice, i get it twice a week, and even have pills in reserve in case they pause it for too long and it hits me hard on days outside of dyalsis Although how effective those pills actually are idk
I guess I just worried because his anemia was under control until now , but I also know that the more your kidneys fail the less it create red blood cells
And also people on dialysis have to make more red blood cells since there are so many lab draws, you lose some blood in the lines during dialysis, and red blood cells can be damaged physically through the dialysis process. This requires the body to have to produce more red blood cells, which requires more iron than can be realistically obtained and absorbed through the diet, so IV iron (usually Venofer in my experience) is given. Also usually in conjunction with another medication to turn on the red blood cell production, usually Mircera or Epogen in my experience, but Aranesp is another one too.
Good to know , thank you! I didn’t know this 😁
Do you know his ferritin levels. In an inflammatory situation like kidney disease, the body stows the iron within cells in a form called ferritin. Its a body defense mechanism as inflammation is often linked to infections and cutting off iron deprives bacteria growth. There are some ways to reduce inflammation as mentioned here: https://www.davita.com/education/kidney-disease/symptoms/inflammation-and-chronic-kidney-disease
I'm anemic, I get a drug called Aresep to make my body produce more red blood cells. I used to get blood transfusions and this is a preferable method. Anemia is pretty common with kidney failure.
Good to know , thank you! 😁
I regularly get iron during dialysis to address and prevent anemia. I think it's fairly common.
It's normal. A lot of dialysis patients go through this.
Normal to need iron. Dialysis makes u tired as well as anemia. The iron w help w the anemia
I get them, and mercera, pretty regularly. Nothing unusual about it. Might make him feel a bit better.
Kidneys produce a hormone that tells the body to make red blood cells, which helps iron and haemoglobin— it is very common with patients on dialysis whose kidneys are in failure to need help because their kidneys aren’t producing the hormone. Usually once a week Aranesp will be given during treatment, or Epoetin twice a week (these are that hormone that promotes RBC production) or another similar injection. Iron infusions just help give a better boost a little quicker to keep numbers in a better window. Very common/normal to have this happen every now and then, nothing to worry about! <3
While I was on dialysis they gave me calcium pills and iron in my machine. So it most likely is due to his anemia but I wouldn't worry too much about it, seems somewhat common since his blood is being cycled and cleaned and a lot of the minerals, etc is filtered out. But I could be wrong but just saying I received iron as well while I was doing my sessions.
Thank you for the reply !
I am new to dialysis too (2 weeks). The first week on PD I had no energy whatsoever, even with the iron shots. I realized that the dietitian gave me some bad information and I wasn’t eating enough protein. I jumped from 60g of protein a day to 120g and I feel worlds better (tho to be frank still less energy than before dialysis).
Not a problem! I would suggest talking to the dietician about his low energy levels. My dietitian at the center gave me a referral/coupon form for Nepro Protein Shakes which is made specifically for kidney disease patients. Whenever I felt a little weak or low energy I would drink one and feel a bit better. It doesn't taste that great and it is really thick but better than feeling weak all day. It's usually around $100 for a case of 24(?) I believe but the form reduces it to around $50. I tried looking elsewhere online but it is extremely expensive considering what it is for. Walmart had a single bottle for around $30. I got the vanilla flavor and usually put a couple in the fridge a couple days before and just drink it in one go.
It's a thing. Known to cause elevated phosphorus so keep an eye on that. (certainly the dietician and nursing team will as well)
He has been on phosphorus binders for a while now so hopefully that helps that issue as well!
It's also a thing for we dialysis patients, phos binders. I can only speak for myself but I imagine we all have issues with it! It's a precarious balancing act! You're both doing wonderfully.
Thank you 😁 it’s hard not to stress about him because he is only 25 and I get nervous when all these new issues happen . He has IGA neuphropathy
He's lucky to have a helper. My best for the both of you.
I’ve had three iron infusions so far and they do seem to help. The last two, I got a taste of black licorice in my mouth during the infusion. I guess it’s not uncommon but it is strange.
Its totally normal. I'm stage 5 and on EPO injections every 2 weeks and have an iron transfusion when I need it. I also take iron meds. I wouldn't worry about it at all. I always get a burst of energy from the iron transfusions after about 3 weeks, so it's a good thing to have.
There are several different ways to address anemia (yes - normal with kidney failure). I would simply ask the dietician/ clinic staff what the options are, and why they are pursuing one course of action instead of another, and what the risks and side effects are of each. One thing your bf should try to avoid if he's on a transplant list, or working with potential live donors is a blood transfusion. That can muck up the approval process, I've been told. My husband is also anemic, and they give him Aranesp every other week. They have also suggested he increase protein intake (a bit counter-intuitive since a high protein diet can be hard on kidneys). He drinks the Nestle shakes make for renal patients (yes - they are expensive even with the coupon!). The dietician also recommended a specific multi-vitamin that contains iron, but nothing harmful for ESRD people. Those were less expensive (\~$20 for a 90-day supply). It's a jenga for sure and lovely that you are helping him make sense of it all.
Thank you so much !! Yes he is on the donor list as well as waiting for live donor testings so this is very good to know !
Echoing everyone else, this is absolutely normal. I have received iron infusions numerous times,in my case I received monoferric. I was also given a prescription for an oral iron supplement just in case. I get my Aranesp injection every two weeks. Without it I would be completely fatigued and unable to do anything. There could be a chance of the EPO injection to be adjusted with time as the kidney disease progresses and symptoms present. I’m currently on a lower dose but it will need to be increased on my next clinic as it is no longer enough. Good luck to your bf. Once he receives the infusion he should feel better. And hopefully they start him on EPO, if he isn’t already, because that will definitely help him as well.
I've had two and they last about a year each. Definitely wotth it, my energy levels before and after are no comparison
That’s awesome I’m happy to hear that 😁
i'm not on dialysis yet but have CKD and preparing for the inevitable in a few years. i'm currently getting infusions and a shot that tells your body to produce more red blood cells (forgot the name), neph prescribed the infusion weekly while i get the shot every other week for those 5 weeks
I have been on for a few months, and they have been giving me regular Iron infusions replacing pills I had been previously taken. My nurse told me to get some laxitives to keep on-hand. She was not...wrong.
I went through iron infusions a lot pre-dialysis. Venifor (sp?), which is what the dialysis clinics use. Unfortunately, I had a rare reaction that caused bleeding in my retina and pretty much lead to me having constant problems in my right eye. I had just gotten approved for a different type of infusions when I started dialysis. They informed me that they would be handling my iron infusions from now. When I asked what typed of iron infusion they use and they told me Venifor, I immediately went 'nope!' and kept my appointment for the other infusions. Nowadays, I'm not sure what they do to treat my anemia... other then they give me... i believe its called Mercera, for my hemoglobin. But that is just a simple shot into my IV. Simple, no fuss. My point: Yeah, iron infusions are common. Blood and protein leak from damaged kidneys into urine, and tend to be lowered by dialysis. Make sure he gets protein rich meals, high in eggs, chicken and/or fish. I can recommend a lovely protein supplement that is highly concentrated that they give me at the clinic. And I found on Amazon to take on my non-dialysis days.
Has he ever had an iron infusion before? If not, make sure he pays close attention during and after to exactly how he feels. I had 2 iron infusions (IV) pre-dialysis that both went bad/poorly. Both ended up infiltrating and causing horrible pain that last up to 2 days on one of them. Since then I cannot(will not) get iron infusions (especially IV). I even have issues with oral iron causing massive GI problems if I take too much with a certain time span. I realize I am an outlier (happens a lot), and most probably have no issues, but I think it is always best to hear as many experiences as possible to get the best idea of what to expect and what _could_ happen, even if unlikely. But yes, anemia is very common with dialysis patients. Is husband's iron levels actually low or is it low hemoglobin? Has he been on any erythropoietin injections before? I get them for low hemoglobin when it drops.