Low iron levels

[Gilly100]

Have been prescribed ferrous fumarate as my iron levels are low which may be causing my breathlessness. I have had ECG and xray etc and they are ok. Wondered if anyone else has had this problem and how long these tablets take to work.

[HungryHufflepuff]

That is interesting. Some years ago where I used to live, i was prescribed iron. I couldn't remember why this was, i assuned i must have been anemic. In February this year I was told I need an ECG and x-ray because I have heart problems and worsening breathlessness. May be it could just be that I need iron again. In the 6.5 years since I moved house I haven't had a blood test so who knows, it could be possible 🤔 With the whole situation I haven't had those tests but may be I'll suggest the iron idea. I hope it works for you and things start to improve soon 🤞

[Poobah in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Definitely have a full blood count check. I'm on a low maintenance dose of iron and that keeps my blood count within the normal range. Easy to overlook anaemia in an asthmatic.

[Poobah in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

LondonLiving is spot on. I've found that in spite of iron tabs I still need an iron rich diet. Dark greens and red meat (in moderation), chicken, oily fish. I love liver. If I get a craving for nuts I know I need a boost.

There was no underlying reason for my anaemia and even though it's not supposed to be genetic it definitely runs in our family! I do genealogy and realise it's not just me and my generation.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to Poobah]

Thanks 👍 I'd been trying to look up foods rich in iron. For now I'm snacking on pumpkin seeds which apparently are good.

[Gilly100 in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Thank you. Let us know how you get on.

[Poobah]

Hello Gill. I'm on prescribed iron because of anaemia. You don't mention your dose. When I started I had to take 210mg x 3 pd in order to get my blood count up. Initially I had a blood transfusion as my count was 6 & this brought it up to nearly 9. But then the iron tabs took a few weeks to bring me up to a normal level of 12/13. Regular blood tests were then necessary and now I'm able to maintain a good level on only one tab pd.

I just remember being so breathless whatever I did. Being asthmatic every Dr I saw just thought it was asthma even though I tried to explain it didn't feel like asthma. It took about 18 months to get diagnosed, which is why my blood count was so low.

[Londonliving in reply to Poobah]

My goodness, you must have felt horrific. Such a shame it took so long to be diagnosed.

[Poobah in reply to Londonliving]

I was cream crackered! Couldn't walk any distance. Asthma consultant was the one who had a hunch & did bloods. She rang me that night at home and ordered me straight into hospital for a blood transfusion. Transfusion over three days. I remember waiting for taxi in the morning sunshine to take me home - realised how great I felt. These type of things creep up so you don't notice. Thank goodness for that consultant - never saw her before or since. Wish I had an opportunity to thank her properly.

[Londonliving in reply to Poobah]

Yeah I thinks it’s one that you just cope with and the body adapts. If it had happened suddenly you likely would have collapsed, most people would not have been able to cope with a level like that! You must have felt like a new person after that transfusion!

[Poobah in reply to Londonliving]

I knew it was bad as the consultant sounded panicked when she rang me. I think I was just relieved they knew what it was. Lying in a hospital bed for a few days attached to a drip was a great excuse for a long lie down without feeling guilty.

It turns out that my asthma also originates in type of blood cell levels created in bone marrow, so clearly I have rubbish marrow. 😁

[Gilly100 in reply to Poobah]

Hi Poobah That is dose I am taking, only on day 4 of 84 tablets. I also have mild bronchiectasis, aspergillosis and asthma. Sometimes I am ok and sometimes not. My oxygen level was 98 and my peak flow had gone down about 30 from my normal but my breathlessness was terrible and had high heart rate. Have always been a bit of enigma to doctors as I only wheeze if I catch an infection normally it is just shortness of breath when it decides to come. See local and regional consultant. New consultant thought maybe I also had vocal chord dysfunction which can mimic symptoms of asthma but of course my appointment has been cancelled for tests. I know what you mean when you say it doesn't feel like asthma. Looks as though it may take a long time to up my levels, could it be 3 or 4 weeks or more? Thank you for your post.

[Poobah in reply to Gilly100]

I think it crept up slowly but had gained a couple of points in 6 weeks and in normal range (2 more points) after another 6 weeks.

I did get reflex after a bit but once I was 'normal' again I was able to cut the dose down to maintain levels and I can tolerate that. Regular blood tests will be necessary from hereonin.

Take it easy and I hope you start to feel the benefits really soon.

[Gilly100 in reply to Poobah]

Thank you so much! Hopefully light a the end of the tunnel.

[Londonliving]

Iron deficiency anaemia is fairly common but there can be many reasons why it happens, the most common being an inadequate dietary intake of iron. Iron supplements are usually successful in correcting low levels so long as their arnt other reasons why it’s dropping. But different levels will need different levels of correction. Sadly it’s not an immediate fix, red blood cells live around 3 months and those made in a state of inadequate iron supply will be smaller than normal which limits how much oxygen they carry hence the symptoms such as breathlessness and dizziness. It should gradually improve over the 3 months as old red blood cells get replaced with new ones, it usually takes this time to know whether the dose of supplementation is sufficient to correct the low levels but your symptoms should improve over the next 3 months.

You can try to increase the iron content of your diet as well: red meat and liver is the best source and is in the form we can best utilise it. But you can also get iron from vegetarian sources such as spinach and other leafy greens, Beans, tomato purée, fortified cereal, dried apricots and happily... dark chocolate. Try to have a source of vitamin C with your meals as it improves absorption of vegetarian sources as they need to be converted into a form we can use and vitamin C helps this conversion, tannins block the conversion so avoid drinking tea around mealtimes.

Iron supplements commonly cause constipation so if you can get iron from natural sources in the long term then it’s probably better for you. But it’s not always feasible or sufficient so supplements are a very effective treatment over time.

Hope things improve soon.

[Gilly100 in reply to Londonliving]

Thanks for all your advice, really helpful! Will just have to hang in there!

[Londonliving in reply to Gilly100]

You’ll probably feel better in a few weeks as you do adjust to having low levels when they drop slowly so your body tends to become better at coping with less but it will take longer for your blood results to reflect that and for everything to resolve and when you look back as things improve you’ll probably realise how long you’ve just been coping with it. Hope you feel better soon, anaemia is rotten, completely saps people’s energy.

[MikeWhite]

The Brompton picked up on my low iron and passed onto my GP, had some more bloods tests and was asked to pop in and see GP, I thought that I would leave with a prescription for iron tablets but was told that she suspected that I had an internal bleed. Was sent to see a gastroenterologist who advised that I would need both a colonoscopy and endoscopy, made more complicated due to adrenal insufficiency due to high/longterm prednisolone.

I had to spend the night before the procedure in hosp on a hydrocortisone drip.

They found a 15mm polyp In my colon which was removed and biopsy revealed was precancerous so glad it was removed.

Now on 3 months of iron tabs , not sure why they suspected an internal bleed but they were right, the polyp was weeping blood.

Always best to get checked out as my outcome could have been much more complicated if left.

Mike

[Poobah in reply to MikeWhite]

Hi Mike. Yes, they usually check for internal bleeds. I'd forgotten about the colonoscopy and endoscopy and other invasive prodding, but it was 16 years ago. I'm glad they caught your polyp in good time. Good on the Brompton for spotting the matter in the first place.

All the best.

[Singinglouder]

Just to flag up that iron deficiency (and low B12) can also be linked to coeliac disease - and Poobah, that is hereditary. Since going gluten free I’ve been able to stop the iron tablets (tho I’m still having B12 shots).

[Unicorn10 in reply to Singinglouder]

Further to this, also linked to Crones Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

I have severe Colitis which has made me anemic.

Amongst my many drugs I'm now on 3 month course of 322mg Iron Tablets taken twice s day 😕