Iron I fusions

[Hobbits]

Do iron infusions cause weight gain?

When I google this question all the articles I read say yes, sometimes significant.

If so, why do Iron this fusions cause weight gain.

[AgedCrone]

Iron deficiency can cause anaemia which can affect your appetite...once the rbc goes up you feel better & enjoy your food more!

[Hobbits in reply to AgedCrone]

Thanks for responding AgedCrone!

Do the actual infusions cause weight gain? ( from the medicine) ( not diet) I’m reading that they do, I’m trying to understand why this would be?

[Hobbits in reply to Hobbits]

If you google Do IV iron infusions cause weight gain? they all say yes

[AgedCrone in reply to Hobbits]

If you are feeling better after any sort of treatment it is likely you will have a better appetite....therefore altho you don't take more exercise, you eat more & gain weight.

I saw examples of that with people after having successful radiotherapy. They blamed the actual treatment, but their feeling good was the culprit.

[Hobbits in reply to AgedCrone]

I’m not on iron infusions.

Trying to decide if I want to be.

My GI gave it as an option, to the current iron pills I have to take, I have lost 10lbs in past two weeks and am anemic due to poor nutrient absorption from Crohn’s disease.

[AgedCrone in reply to Hobbits]

Did they give a choice of an injection rather than an infusion...they both avoid the GI tract so would probably be better than pills.

I’d make an appointment with either your Rheumy nurse or your GP & discuss it with them.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

[Hobbits in reply to AgedCrone]

I wasn’t given a choice, my GI told me to take the pills first. My insurance doesn’t cover these pills and they are quite expensive at 65.00 a bottle out of pocket.

I think my doctor is obligated to try the cheapest route first. Infusions would be covered by insurance.

If my numbers don’t come up, she said I will go on infusions. These would be given at same time as my Remicade Infusions.

I didn’t realize there is injections too!

Because of my malabsorption issue, I already have doctors script for liquid B12 which I was taught to self inject into the muscle.

They allowed me this because B12 is water soluble. However the pharmacist didn’t think I should be doing this myself, she was shocked. I told her I had been doing subcontanious injections in my stomach for years when I was on Enbrel, the B12 intramuscular was just a deeper injection with a bigger needle 😁.

I’m just hoping my appetite and weight improves once my iron is up.

My GI has kinda taken control of my medications.

I was first diagnosed with RA and my Rheumy helped me out of the hell I was in, after many, many drugs, Enbrel was my magic bullet.

Then years later I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease with strictures and bleeding ulcers.

There are a few biologics that will treat both RA and Crohn’s, and Remicade was one of them, so I was off Enbrel and on Remicade. My biologics now have to be given by my GI only because a Rheumatologist can not prescribe Remicade at the higher dosage I need for Crohns......the only bad thing about this is my GI often forgets she is actually treating both disease. My Rheumy is great though as I feel he is looking out for me, even though he is not prescribing my meds.

Both my GI and Rheumy share info including all blood tests.

My rheumy called last week about the copy of my blood test he got from my GI that was done from two weeks ago, I need a kidney function test done as there is stuff in my blood that shouldn’t be there. My Rheumy noticed this!!!! I have not heard one word from my GI she probably didn’t even read my blood test and she is the one who ordered it.

Thank you so much for the chat. Really only people with autoimmune disease truly understand the depth of the ongoing battle.

[AgedCrone in reply to Hobbits]

Well I must say you seem to be coping really well. I am extremely fortunate in that even after 20 years I basically just (!) have RA.

I muddle along as well as I can & refuse to let it take over too many aspects of my life.

Do let us know which treatment you decide on.

Very good luck whichever you choose.

[Leics]

I have a very high red blood cell count and my HB is quite high too. I suppose some may think that this is a good thing but it can make you feel unwell and forget even trying to eat anything with a natural high iron (eg. Spinach) unless you want to spend the day in the loo. I have the HB and RBC count mostly associated with a man lol. Not complaining really at least I don’t have to endure anaemia. I suppose if you are anaemic then iron infusions would make you feel a lot better so maybe would increase your appetite.