In spite of supplementing my ferritin remains low. My endo has suggested an iron infusion. Has anyone had one or knows the pros and cons.

[Caze]

Also wd it be worth having a full iron panel 1st or wd it be a waste of time & money.

Thks C

[Ansteynomad]

I'd say do it! I was told by the endo that I needed an infusion but the haemo wouldn't give me one! The result was it took 4 years to raise my ferritin levels. I just know I could have felt so much better so much sooner.

[Caze in reply to Ansteynomad]

Thks for your reply. Gt to get some feedback.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There has recently been a tightening of the rules and regs surrounding iron infusion. Not meaning to put you off, but better to be aware of the importance of proper procedure:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Rod

[Heloise]

There must be great difficulty in raising iron stores. My MIL needed 18 injections over a month or so and was told that should last for several years. Her problem was not due to being hypo but because part of her stomach was not allowing absorption of iron.

[Caze in reply to Heloise]

Hi H, I get the feeling that low absorption is the problem here. Did ;the injections result in am improvement and was there any side effects?

[Heloise in reply to Caze]

Well, if living to age 94 means anything, I'd say she had a good result but she also had to supplement for the rest of her life. I think she took 65 mcg. ferrous sulfate tabs every day. Some people say they get very constipated from the tablets, I'm not sure injections cause that since the injections were in her backside but she never complained of it.

[Hidden]

I also had low ferritin despite 5 years of heavy supplementation. I have an absorbtion issue due to coeliac.

My specialist rec an iron infusion, but i had to fight really hard to get it as my gp steadfastly refuses to follow all advice from specialists (i dont know how it's lawful - nhs is a law unto itself). Instead f just facilitating it, she asked a haemo's advice, without giving them my background - and so of course they said no. I had to insist she gave my full history - whereupon they said yes. This is why it is absolutely essential to always insist of copies of ALL letters your gp writes.

So after fighting for several months i was finally given one. It takes all day so go prepared. If you are coeliac, take your own food as UK hospitals don't cater for coeliacs.

I cannot say i felt different afterwards - in any case, my specialist said 1 was pointless, as they only last about 10 months and then go hit rockbottom - if you have absorption issues. NHS made it clear it was a 1 off and i would NEVER get another.

So be aware it's only a temporary fix.

Oh, and the NHS hasn't bothered to test my iron serum since...................

I looked at getting a private infusion but it's about 1k!

I sourced my own iron injections and got a couple of shots abroad. I still have the amps but cannot inject myself as it must be IM and can permanently stain your skin of not done properly

[Caze in reply to Hidden]

My endo said that one of her patients literally skipped down the ward afterwards but I worry with doctors that if they hve a big success with one patient that becomes an idee fixe and they think that they will hve the same results with other patients. I have IBS symptoms so I think I am not absorbing nutriments including iron. B12 and vit D have also been an issue. I am negative for coeliacs but have recently done a stool analysis via Dr Myhill and am awaiting results. I am going to hold off with the iron infusion until I have tried her recommendations. To be honest I am not now convinced of its benefits against risks, cost and short term nature of possible benefits. Hve appt. with endo Sat. so will discuss further. Thks for yr input.

[behappy1]

My ferritin has been at 7 for a long time and I can't get it up. Is iron infusion safe?