Iron transfusion? Interpret my bloods please!

[ImAlwaysknackered]

Is there a level your iron has to be in order to get a transfusion.

I feel rotten. Previous bariatric surgery but have always had low iron. No obvious cause notified just given tablets which now make me feel incredibly sick. Also have low folate.

Can anyone interprete these bloods? The 3.0 result is for serum ferritin.

My folate level is 1.5ugl

I think you should consult your GP for an interpretation. I cant read your screenshots very well, the forwarding arrows are over the results but it's probably my phone.

Ahh thank you anyway! May be easier to just write them out actually!

I have spoken to the gp but she just said it's low here's some tablets but I'm not feeling much improvement and it's been months.

Hb: 98.0
Serum ferritin 3.0
Serum folate: 1.5

Your screenshot suggests that result was from September. Have you discussed with your gp?

Having been in A and E for low iron and fainting and exhaustion there is, the horrible woman in there refused to give me an infusion as my Ferritin (stores) were 9 and their threshold was 8.

If you can go to your GP with your results and request a drip that would be my next thing.

So haemoglobin is 98 and ferritin 3?
I got an infusion when pregnant and ferritin was 9, but only after I had tried tablets for three months first without success and because labour was imminent and there's a risk of blood loss.
I think generally the key is that they want you to have done your 3 months of tablets first. If you're just starting them you might have to put in the three months first? Try iron bisglycinate though, it is way gentler because you can absorb it much better. It's also a lower dose but don't let that put you off - it's because it's more absorbable so you don't need so much.
But if you've tried some different forms of iron tablets and all of them (bisglycinate included) actually make you vomit, definitely go back to the GP. They can't expect you to puke for 3 months!

Hi yes. I'm due for repeat bloods now. Trying to make an appointment.

I just know I don't feel any better from September. I do have a 10 month old so I do expect some tiredness obviously..

I'm not actually puking on the tablets but the nausea is horrid.

I’ve recently had some blood tests and my results of Serum Folate were 6.9 and anything below 3 is considered a deficiency.

My serum ferritin result was 14 and it says the results should be between 10-240.

And my Hb is 126 and it says results should be between 115-165

Your ferritin is very low as is folate and hb. How long have you been on iron tablets & do you take vitamin c with them ie orange juice or high vit c fruits? Could you get a more recent test as that one is 5 months old. I'm suspecting bariatric surgery has messed up your absorption maybe?

@ImAlwaysknackered just a thought based on my experience - I had low folate and iron levels for years (put down to irregular bleeding caused by contraceptive injection). I was always knackered, always getting ill, always feeling sick. Eventually I was tested for coeliac disease and it came back positive. 16 years on, my bloods are normal, I'm well and not knackered all the time! I know it might not be the case for you, but there might be an underlying cause that it would be worth discussing with your GP.
Good luck xx

Thank you, yes trying to arrange an appointment, their times are dreadful though 9am or 3pm none of which because of the school run. I will definitely get them redone ASAP.

I was told because I had the sleeve the malabsorption wasn't much of an issue and was more common with the bypass but who knows?!

Been on the tablets since end of Sept roughly. Missed the odd one but that's all.

Thank you! This is interesting actually as I've recently been given a stool sample kit due to daily diarrhoea, ongoing for over a year! It's miserable! Sorry TMI. 🙈

Which tablets are you taking?

Ferrous sulphate are the only ones I can stand.
Ferrous fumerate (sp) make me so sick.

And 98.0 is low, no wonder you feel shit.
I felt like death when it was 100

I think it's the ferrous fumerate! Was also prescribed some folic acid but some people say as its a synthetic version our bodies don't utilise it well but that could just be Dr Google talk.

Did they check B12 too? It's related to foliate.

Yeah they did! My b12 result was 381.0ng/l I'm inclined to think my b12 is OK as I do have 3 monthly injections.

I hope you get to the bottom of it. Just be persistent with getting tested, getting your levels up, and chasing a diagnosis.

You need your periods sorting out. No point turning the tap on more if you haven't put the plug in the bath first....

Sorry wrong iron thread!