Iron Infusion Heart Failure Related ??

[Prada47]

Hello

Just a quick question yesterday I had an appointment with the Heart Failure Nurse, she said after my latest Blood Test I need an Iron Infusion. My Question, is this a normal procedure for people with Heart Failure or just an age related thing. Or a possible meds side effect Entresto, Dapa, Clopidogrel etc Thanks

Regards

ps A friend said it means they will put a nail through my Head lol

[uzininemm]

It's a new treatment option and has only been in place about 3 or 4 months I believe.

I have attached the link from BHF news for you from November

bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-...

If you don't mind could you report back when you have had it, as I would be very interested in the results as I wonder if I will eventually benefit from it.

[Lezzers in reply to uzininemm]

Do you know if you're anaemic & if so just how anaemic you are? They do only give the infusions if your iron levels are low & tablets don't improve it. However if you find you do need to have an infusion then hopefully it should increase your energy levels & help with tiredness, my husband had 2 infusions early last year, a week apart & he felt much better for them.

[Prada47 in reply to Lezzers]

Hi Lesley,

Thanks for the reply, saw the Heart Nurse yesterday she just said "your Ferratin levels have dropped by half between blood tests" !

So I had another blood test at the Hospital yesterday and she said she will phone as soon as she gets the results. She is better than pretty good and I know she will phone. There was no offer of Tablets just an Infusion. I will post the blood test results when I get them. Has Kevin had the Ablation yet ? hope is feeling much better now.

Best Regards

[Lezzers in reply to Prada47]

Kevin was on the tablets, prescribed by the GP!! for about a year with absolutely no improvement, you'd have thought that after a year the GP would have thought hmm 🤔 this isn't working!! It was his oncologist who asked the GP to prescribe the iron tablets due to low levels, the GP said she didn't agree but would prescribe them anyway!! Because his HF had worsened he was allocated a nurse & one of the 1st things she did was arrange the infusions! Ablation is scheduled on 30th March 🤞 He had an urgent echo this week & unfortunately his EF has reduced again which is a bit worrying, not so much that's it's reduced but because this is the 2nd time it's gone down by quite a large amount. He feels ok though, tirednbut he's lost his driving licence unfortunately, so we're doing lots more walking!! Not the bestest weather for it! Please update us with what your nurse says. Take care

[Prada47 in reply to uzininemm]

Hello and thanks for the reply. Interesting link and thanks for that as well. I will post as to how it all goes. I switch between Moderate/Severe Heart Failure and most of the time I am feeling reasonably well just the occasional hic up which I have learnt to manage. i.e. Now when I shower and dry myself off I expect the breathless episodes so not surprised by it !!!

Regards

[Lezzers]

Hi ya, it's quite common for people with HF to require iron infusions. Unfortunately with HF your gut isn't able to absorb iron properly either through food or iron tablets & therefore if you're anaemic you're usually given an iron infusion. My husband had 2 last year, a week apart, and because he's had a previous allergic reaction to to iron tablets, they were very cautious how they approached it & he had a nurse sit with him the whole time. It took a few weeks but it did help him massively with his energy levels & tiredness. Good luck with it 🤞

[Prada47 in reply to Lezzers]

Hello just been down to our Surgery to see my Blood results, test was on the 16th December and a copy never went to my Dr only to the Hospital Heart Failure Clinic

Serum Ferritin was 77 Range looks like 30 -400 so it doesn't looks to be very low. It says on the report " Low normal ferritin does not reliably exclude iron deficiency especially in the context of inflammation or liver disease " which I don't have then it shows

Serum Folate 5.9 with a range of 2.1-26.8

Only other thing is Potassium 4.7 with a range of 3.5-5.0 I don't know in what context these results are in relation to Heart Failure lol

Best Regards

[Lezzers]

Hi again. Potassium 4.7 is good, Kevin's is usually around that number so nothing to worry bout there. I think the upper range limit is actually 5.2 but even that's not a massive worry, Kevin's has gone up to 6 before now. I'm no expert on iron deficiency but it looks like your ferritin level is in range, did you have your haemoglobin, reds cells, mean red cells etc tested? I'm trying to remember back to last year (a lot has gone on in the last 12 months!) I think with Kevin his ferritin was ok but his haemoglobin, hemocrits etc were low. Interestingly (or maybe not 😂) bout 5/6 months later his ferritin level was really high, above range, but his nurse said that's to be expected after an iron infusion. If you bear with me, I'll dig out last year's blood results & see what Kevin's levels were. Gotta walk the dogs first though! Have you spoken to your nurse?

[Prada47]

Hello You walk your dogs they need the exercise lol catch you later

Regards

I walked my neighbours dog earlier with my Wooly Hat and Gloves along with a Scarf.

I don't think the dog was impressed with the Cold !!!