Medical procedure now or after vaccine??

March 9, 2021 12:19 PM

I need an iron infusion. Should I go now or after the vaccine? (more inside)

After skipping doctor appointments for over year due to covid, as of yesterday, my ferritin level is 17. It's infusion time. But that feels risky, Covid wise. I was worried during the brief hospital visit for labs, 90 mins for the infusion feels like dangerous territory. I also have neutropenia and a pretty weak immune system in general so I've been staying home as much as possible.

I could wait it out till I get the vaccine, hopefully around May or June for my group as my symptoms aren't horrible: I'm often cold and tired. I have a hard time focusing. Also I think I'm losing a bit of hair. If I wait, I'm worried about the more severe effects I've had in the past, like dizziness that keeps me bedbound.

Should I stay (home) or should I go (to my hematologist)?

note: my doctor has given me no advice on this issue. I cannot keep iron pills down nor have they been effective in the past. I cook everything in a cast iron skillet. I have a Lucky Iron fish. I eat red meat.

posted by Pretty Good Talker to Health & Fitness (12 answers total)

Response by poster: Also it usually takes about a month for me to feel better after the infusion. So waiting for the vaccine gives me a "feel better " date of early July, best case.
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 12:21 PM on March 9, 2021

I say do it now. Yes, there is more risk than if you just stayed home. But the risk is still very low in a medical setting. I don't know of any cases traced to infusion centers, and the people who go to infusion centers are, on average, very high risk. Wear an N95 and go for it. You deserve to feel better before July and the COVID risk of this procedure, though non-zero, is low.

(I had to take my husband for biweekly infusions last April. It's scary! But the actual risk is pretty low.)
posted by mskyle at 12:36 PM on March 9, 2021 [17 favorites]

GO. Get that iron. Wear a tight fighting surgical mask with a personal one on top, or an N95. You don’t want to spend extra months feeling like this.
posted by obfuscation at 12:37 PM on March 9, 2021 [3 favorites]

The one thing that made me feel better when I had to go to a specialist recently for something else was the fact that all of the doctors and assistants there had been vaccinated (they were also taking all of the standard precautions with other patients). Also, it's good that COVID rates have dropped pretty substantially. I would go now.
posted by pinochiette at 12:47 PM on March 9, 2021 [12 favorites]

Managing risk in a pandemic is about weighing up what you can safely skip and what steps you need to take to mitigate risk if you can't skip it.

Haircuts, can skip. Getting food to your house so you can eat: can't skip.

This is an essential medical appointment. I'd go.
posted by freethefeet at 12:48 PM on March 9, 2021 [4 favorites]

As mentioned, all of the medical staff should be vaccinated by now. Also, every time I've been in medical facilities this past year, they've been really good at making everyone (including patients) wear masks and distance. You should be able to get a KN95 on Amazon - if not, this is something you could ask your doctor about, they may be able to provide you with one. The risk isn't zero, but as others have said, it will be a relatively low risk and it sounds like your health will benefit greatly from the procedure.
posted by coffeecat at 12:56 PM on March 9, 2021

Another vote to wear a good mask and go. You will feel much better.

(I’m immunocompromised with severe neutropenia and I’m at the hospital for tests/treatments at least 1-2 times every week. Be vigiliant, be careful, keep your distance.)
posted by mochapickle at 12:58 PM on March 9, 2021 [2 favorites]

Anemia is a risk factor for severe COVID, so you need to get it now, but before you go, please see my recent ask regarding masking at the infusion center when I recently went for this same treatment. I would call first and ask 1) what their policy is and 2) if and how they enforce it. You're right to be wary--use that wariness to make an informed decision about where you get the infusion.
posted by HotToddy at 1:04 PM on March 9, 2021 [8 favorites]

I would absolutely do it now. For the past 4 months, I've had to be at hospitals for chunks of many hours with a family member who needs serious treatments. I've been at hospitals for 6-10 hour days back to back to back and over many weeks during the wintertime height of cases. I've worn good, tight-fitting masks (double surgical masks or a KN95/KF94) and not removed them and have been fine. My severely immunocompromised relative has done the same and been fine. Hospitals and clinics are taking this very seriously and have felt safe to me.

Making your immune system strong by getting necessary infusions will help to support your immune system being able to generate immunity after you get the vaccine. I think this infusion is very important specifically because you plan to get the vaccine and want to mount an effective response to it.
posted by quince at 1:18 PM on March 9, 2021 [1 favorite]

I've been going for chemo infusions three times every month during the entire pandemic, and I'm very immunocompromised. Infusion centers are extremely safe. I would say go.
posted by FencingGal at 1:20 PM on March 9, 2021 [1 favorite]

1) Check whether your medical history puts you in an earlier vaccination phase where you live

2) Otherwise, have the infusion
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:31 PM on March 9, 2021

Response by poster: Thanks all for the encouragement. I will call today for an appointment. Here's to clear thinking and warm extremities in the future!
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 1:37 PM on March 9, 2021 [9 favorites]