Ironman trials.

[Graham1956]

Hello everyone Anyone here presently on or been on Ironman trial? I am waiting to go on said trial and would like to hear from others regarding What it entails and how it affects you etc. I suffer with moderate/severe heart failure and really pray that this procedure helps, especially with my energy levels and breathlessness. I look forward to reading your reply’s.

[Sina-6491]

I haven't, but wish you well.

I am sure tomorrow you will get some of the replies and awnsers you are looking for 😊😊😊

[jimmyq]

What is an Ironman trial?

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

Hi. Was it you I chatted to about this before? I can't remember... Anyway, I'm on the trial. You will be randomly assigned to a control group or an iron group. Control group - you continue with current treatments but have a few extra appointments a year to get blood tests, walk up and down for a few minutes and fill in a questionnaire. Iron group - exactly the same except you get an iron infusion if your iron levels are below a certain limit. I got the iron infusion (basically a drip full of liquid iron) this time last year and felt great for a couple of months afterwards, loads more energy. Since then I have JUST missed out on getting another iron infusion every time. Boo I'm back in next week, so really hoping I get some iron again this time around.

I have been prescribed iron tablets in the past and they had quite nasty side effects (all disgusting and stomach related, I won't elaborate!) but the infusion shouldn't affect you like that because it goes straight to your blood stream so your stomach doesn't have anything to do with it.

From what the research nurse has said to me, the trials are going well, showing iron infusion does have a positive impact on how patients are feeling (reduced symptoms/increased energy) and she thinks it will quite likely be part of all our standard treatment in the near future. So even if you are in the control group, hopefully you'll benefit as a result of your participation before too long. Good luck!

[Graham1956 in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Hi Laura thanks for reply, very interesting and helpful. Hopefully I will soon be posting how great it all was. Thanks Graham

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07x2zpb

think this is the episode here, seems to be available to listen to still.