My wife's blood results have shown a a hb of 10. She used to have 12 ish. There is some lethargy she says and a while ago a GP suggested that if she struggles to take iron tablets (which she does - but still have completed few courses) then she might benefit from an iron infusion. Recently, she spoke to a GP again referring to previous conversation and she referred her to hospital for infusion.
The consultant rang her and told her that rarely there can be some skin patch/ pigmintation, etc. Another GP said that its very uncomfortable.
Ideally, she should be asking this question herself but ....she can't be bothered
Personally, I dont think she is very lethargic or anything. She is able to go to work as normal and do most chores just in the normal way.
I wonder if anybody knows or had iron infusion and what are their thoughts.
thank you
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From personal experience I have found that lacking motivation to do things can be a huge issue with low iron, even if doing something will give me benefits in some way. I've had under the range haemoglobin before and it had horrendous effects on my quality of life.
There is some lethargy she says and a while ago a GP suggested that if she struggles to take iron tablets (which she does - but still have completed few courses) then she might benefit from an iron infusion.
There are lots of iron supplements available, and in the UK even prescribed iron supplements can be bought without prescription in a pharmacy.
For more info on available supplements see this reply written for another member :
I struggled for years with low iron. Doctors never mentioned iron infusions to me, so I never knew they existed and therefore never asked for one, and was always treated with tablets which were prescribed for approx 2 - 3 months.
I learned how to supplement iron and how to get properly tested privately without spending money on a doctor. I wanted to get my ferritin up to roughly mid-range or a little bit over. Rather than taking 2 - 3 months it took nearly two years and even then my serum iron was still very low in range. So, when doctors only gave me 2 - 3 months worth of iron they were virtually giving me nothing. I found I tolerated ferrous fumarate 210mg but only with food, which obviously would have reduced absorption.
If I had my time over again I would experiment with ferrous gluconate 300mg, starting with 1 tablet a day, and raising it by one tablet at a time according to tolerance. Taking the maximum possible isn't always a good idea. See this link :
hello there, my son who has ulcerative colitis has had at least3 iron infusions and is due another next week.It's mostly due to blood loss when he has a flare up but due to his colitis he has to limit certain foods and I think he has absorbtion issues with vitamins and minerals.He seems to know himself that he needs one by the way he feels.More lethargic and tired than usual, a bit breathless and alot of sighing(I hear him do it!)No energy.He hasn't had any problems having one as far as I know.No mention of it ever being painful.Usually done within an hour via IV drip.Occasionally has a headache afterwards, not noticed any patchy skin.Hope this helps.
Hi, I have persistently low Ferritin and have an online consultation next week with the Iron Clinic in Harley St with a view to going for an infusion. It is £££ but I can’t get it done in Scotland because GPS are v behind in their understanding of the effects of Ferritin deficiency (my husband who is an anaesthetist is very up on it, on the other hand, as low Ferritin affects surgical outcomes). The clinic has a v good patient info leaflet on infusions which covers these questions on side effects and if you Google the iron clinic London I think you should be able to find it. There is a small risk of iron leaking on to the skin but it’s rare. I don’t expect it to be particularly painful either.
Would you mind giving us an update on this? Did you go ahead with the infusion? How have you been feeling?
Hope your trip to London was worthwhile.
GPs in England can refer patients to haematologist for iron infusion, in a hospital setting. My GP offered me the choice, voluntarily, after I gave her a run down on the reciprocal relationship between under thyroid activity & iron deficiency anaemia.
I've seen some negative experience in this forum. Just wondering if you have a good one.
Thanks - yes it went well and I’m feeling great - better than I have I years - hair regrowth will take a while of course but the extreme fatigue is gone. I’m upset I suffered as long as I did tbh.
GPS in Scotland can refer too but the problem was I don’t have anaemia! And also it’s much cheaper to give tablets esp given waiting times at the mo for referral. Iron Deficiency Without Anaemia (IDWA) is far less understood by them unfortunately.
Which flavour of iron did you have for infusion? There're 4 types listed on NICE guideline. Just wondering about preference used in a private clinic. Did you have a choice?
Also, it'd be good to know if the side effects are related to the type of iron being infused.
"Iron can be administered parenterally as iron dextran, iron sucrose, ferric carboxymaltose, or ferric derisomaltose"
The clinic used Ferinject and certainly here in Scotland that’s what they use in the NHS now. (Older preparations had a higher anaphylactic risk - Ferinject is really safe). I felt a bit fluey a couple of days after the infusion- similar to the Covid jag actually. That’s normal but it was just for a couple of days.
Also to add, the leaflet talks about oral iron dosage. There is a limit to what the body can absorb orally and I’ve been advised it’s 60-80 mg of iron every second day (different formulations contain different amounts so check). This can be better tolerated by patients too. The downside is that oral therapy takes a long time - many months - to get levels up.
Iron absorption is dependent on adequate vitamins C and B2, plus there are frequent imbalances in Iron-Copper-Zinc one being high can suppress the other so I'd also suggest checking Copper and Zinc too to be sure.
Most gut issues can be tied back to prolonged low healthy Bacteria, and/or stomach acid and digestive enzymes, nutrients are also dependent on these factors to be absorbed properly too. Low stomach acid also indicates you're deficient in one or more of the nutrients required to make Stomach Acid like B1/thiamine, Zinc, or Histidine... these are nutrients and most doctors aren't interested in nutrition as it kills most of their business of ill people?
Am I saying people don't need medications, I'm definitely not saying that but doctors and patients need to be aware of the nutrients they deplete, you can tie most of the side effects back to the nutrients they deplete.
Don't believe me look at the side effects, then research the nutrients depleted by the meds then research the symptoms of that nutrient deficiency, then cross reference the side effects with the symptoms of xyz deficiency...
This is why there cannot be just a big pharma industry alone as they'd like it to be.
Liver,,, that is an excellent source of iron and b12 and other vitamins and amino acids etc. I take dessicated liver power in capsules bought from Amazon and I am gradually feeling stronger and not so tired. If sh is a vegetarian though it is unlikely going to be a choice to consider.
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