Has anyone ever had an Iron infusion?

[doingitfordad]

Having suffered from underactive thyroid for years and taking Levothyroxine with mixed results, I also suffer from low iron and ferritin and Vitamin D. I find it hard to get my levels of iron up despite eating red meat and green veg and supplementing, and wondered if anyone had tried an iron infusion either on the NHS or privately. It can apparently bring your levels right up where from you can use supplements to stay there rather than trying to get the levels up with supplements alone. I suffer from fatigue all the time and wanted to eliminate this as a possible source before I go back to GP to ask for possible increase in Levo and or talk about my HRT as I am also on patches and feeling tired all the time. So many related reasons!

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

I had an iron infusion about 3 years ago now and it's lasting me well so far. I paid for it privately as my ferritin had been low a very long time and then I lost a lot of blood during an operation. In the high dependency unit they told me my ferritin level would be back up in 2 weeks!

You haven't posted any thyroid results lately or vitamins. Have you had your levels checked and can you post your results? There may be other things you are short on.

What supplements do you take?

Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

There is also a new company offering walk in & mail order blood tests in Crawley, Hove and Reigate areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...

Do you know if you had positive thyroid antibodies? Many with autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's benefit from a gluten free diet. A smaller percentage of those also need to remove dairy from their diet to feel well. These are intolerances and will not show up on any blood test.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Before considering iron infusion you would need to

1) get full iron panel test including ferritin

are you currently taking any iron supplements

Stop supplements a week before testing

Test early morning and fasting

Medichecks iron panel test 

medichecks.com/products/iro...

2) get thyroid and vitamin D, folate and B12 levels tested and at optimal levels

Please add most recent results and ranges

How much vitamin D are you taking

Are you also supplementing magnesium and vitamin B complex

ALWAYS do thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Do you know if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune, also called Hashimoto’s, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies?

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 and includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies -£29 

randoxhealth.com/at-home/Th...

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies) 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here 

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

previous post 2 years ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

How much levothyroxine are you now taking

[Hidden]

I had a private iron transfusion in June 2021. My ferritin went up from 18 to 205.

In January this year (2023) it was 75.

It's not a long term fix so I would recommend if you do have a transfusion to monitor afterwards. The problem I'm facing is that my iron levels are good so I can't really take iron supplements.

[doingitfordad]

Dear friends thank you for all your replies. I am taking 100mcg levo now having pushed for ages for it to be increased. My ferritin and vitamin D always come up low (sometimes under) and I generally supplement erratically, hoping they will improve. Vitamin D does come up but it is hard to get iron up because I think I need so much that I can't tolerate it, that is why I am considering an infusion. I also started HRT about a year ago and I have heard this might mean I need to readdress my levo levels, but I thought I would address iron first to see if that is causing the tiredness. I see my GP on Wednesday to discuss all this.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to doingitfordad]

What are your blood results on 100mcgs Levo? Vitamin deficiencies will be worse if you re under replaced.

Its best to get into a routine with supplementing as this gives you the best chance of feeling well.

Are you also taking it K2 with your D3?

HRT increases the need for more thyroid hormone.

What were your B12 & folate levels?

[doingitfordad]

These are some typical results. I don't take K2 but have been looking into it.

Test results

[doingitfordad]

This was the rest....

Test results