It's been two weeks since I started taking an iron supplement, and one question people have been asking is
Well that's a difficult question to answer. Even if I thought I felt better, I would be hesitant to say yes, because I find it hard to believe taking an iron supplement for only two weeks could really have any effect. Then there is the obvious potential for a placebo effect. I want to think the iron is helping, so I rationalize that I'm feeling better.
So I have been answering "no".
In reality though, I do [sort of] feel better. I've already put in 300 miles on the bike this month, and while I feel tired, I don't feel any more tired than I have been feeling, and I rode really strong this weekend. At least that's my perception. Plus, I think I've been sleeping better, not getting up as often during the night as before, but then again, that could all just be a placebo effect.
Oh well, hopefully I'll learn more shortly. I have blood work scheduled for tomorrow, and an appointment with my primary care physician on Tuesday. I'm anxious to see if my hemoglobin and iron have increased any. I also have an appointment with my oncologist on Wednesday for a bone marrow biopsy. I'll be quizzing them both.
Do I notice any difference?
Well that's a difficult question to answer. Even if I thought I felt better, I would be hesitant to say yes, because I find it hard to believe taking an iron supplement for only two weeks could really have any effect. Then there is the obvious potential for a placebo effect. I want to think the iron is helping, so I rationalize that I'm feeling better.
So I have been answering "no".
In reality though, I do [sort of] feel better. I've already put in 300 miles on the bike this month, and while I feel tired, I don't feel any more tired than I have been feeling, and I rode really strong this weekend. At least that's my perception. Plus, I think I've been sleeping better, not getting up as often during the night as before, but then again, that could all just be a placebo effect.
Oh well, hopefully I'll learn more shortly. I have blood work scheduled for tomorrow, and an appointment with my primary care physician on Tuesday. I'm anxious to see if my hemoglobin and iron have increased any. I also have an appointment with my oncologist on Wednesday for a bone marrow biopsy. I'll be quizzing them both.
Comments
Good luck at the Dr. see you Wednesday.
And Gerry, I'll see you on Friday. My BMB is scheduled for 10 AM on Wednesday, so it will be a little tough to ride before that. I could go short though, but......... We'll see.
Don't forget to ask your oncologist to be sure they do an Fe stain on your BM biopsy, and to give you the results.
I say my PCP today, and she said she never even pays attention to hypochromia, but she still sent an order to the lab to check my Fe, TIBC, ferritin, Folate and Vitamin B and whatever else levels. I'll get the results of those tomorrow. I'm anxious to see if 2 weeks of 100 mg of Fe per day has done any good.
Hemoglobin was up to 11.7 from 11.2, but I know, that could just as easily be lab error, but I did feel good again this morning on my bike ride, despite the wind.