Ferritin level 9, hb also low, push for iron infusion?

[elm26]

Hi

I’m 32 weeks pregnant and the past 2 weeks, my vision will randomly go more or less black and I feel dizzy and faint.

My BP has been on the low side at around 90/50 throughout my 2nd trimester and into my 3rd.

I’ve been feeling so tired but put it down to being pregnant, the heat and running around after my 2yo DD.

I’m consultant led throughout pregnancy due to DD having IUGR, I’ve also got a long history of miscarriages and gynae issues, endometriosis etc.

I spoke to my consultant yesterday after my growth scan and told him about my vision and feeling dizzy, I have absolutely no signs of pre eclampsia and my glucose tolerance test was normal, he advised I could be anaemic and took my blood.

They called me this morning to tell me that the level of 9 is pretty much complete absence of any stored iron and the consultant has asked midwife to send an urgent prescription of ferrous fumerate to my GP which I collected today and have taken the first dose.

If my levels haven’t risen sufficiently in 14 days, they will start iron infusions but I’m wondering if I can skip straight to this considering how scared I am of passing out when just me and DD at home and the fact I cannot stay awake past 9pm, struggle to get up at 7am with DD despite having 10 hours sleep.

Any advice? Has anyone had iron infusions?

Try the tablets first. If you don't tolerate them well then ask for sytron liquid as has virtually no side effects

There is a risk from iron infusions so only use as a last resort. There is a small risk of serious allergic reaction which carries a high risk of miscarriage.

It can also cause very nasty staining & scarring (Google some images to give you an idea of the severity) I have had to had emergency infusions a number of times & the risk of staining was never really discussed. I have a huge stain/scar from mid way up my upper arm all the way to my wrist. It looks like I have a filthy dirty arm & I cannot face wearing short sleeves.

I wish the risks of iron infusions had been properly discussed as I definitely would not have agreed to it had I known. People on social media talk about it being a miracle fix but don't mention the risks

I've had low ferritin for pretty much 20 years, including through pregnancy. Lowest it's been is 3. They've never even mentioned an iron infusion to me, I'd probably have snapped their hand off if they had!

I've had four in the last 18 months. My local NHS trust doesn't give iron infusions for ferritin levels over 4, so mine got down that low and stayed there for several months until a consultant got on my GP's case for me. It was bloody awful and debilitating. I really, really feel for you.

I didn't have vision or dizziness issues like you. But am sure that those issues plus your pregnancy and looking after a toddler must mean they can and should make an exception for you due to the higher risk from backing out / falling over?

I felt tip top after my second infusion and then better and better each time. I didn't have any side effects and my ferritin levels have been well over 100 for the last 6 months. I do know that's not everyone's experience of course, I'm just one case.

When you're taking the ferrous fumerate I'd really recommend taking them at the same time as a berrocca or an Urgent-C or something, if those are safe during pregnancy. I found that taking the tablets on an empty stomach and with a high dose of vitamin C got best results. Don't take them near any dairy or caffeine either (although I imagine you're avoiding caffeine anyway).

Good luck to you, I hope you find some relief soon - ferritin levels that low are just horrible.

Tablets worked very quickly for me. 2 weeks later, levels were increasing nicely.

I’ve had 2 infusions but had to pay privately as my ferritin was 7 and I wasn’t anaemic (normal haemoglobin). The risk of anaphylaxis is very small now with newer preparations, however that said in pregnancy doctors will be very conservative with you and even a small risk might be one they don’t want to take. But if you still have low ferritin after you give birth and if the cost isn’t prohibitive I’d be going private if I was you!

I did get hospitalised after an iron infusion - google hypophosphatemia. It's something that can happen if your vitamin d levels are low so check that before you consider having one. To be fair I did feel much better after the infusion and I'm considering having another one, just make sure you're well monitored afterwards

I was prescribed two, but had an allergic reaction to the first so they wouldn’t give me the next one. I was gutted because the first one worked really well.

I have open access to a unit at my local hospital when I require iron infusions. My bloods are taken every 12 weeks. It's usually twice a year. I'm admitted for blood. Infusions give me an awful headache for a couple of days but also take a while to work. Blood is far better in my experience but I think my HB has to be below 6 for that.
My worst was a HB of 3. They said they were surprised I was conscious! A HB of 9 wouldn't rise to the level of an iron infusion, although your trust might be different.
I was told that NICE use HB as the guide to requiring infusions so ferritin is pretty much irrelevant to them, despite how you feel. I live with ferritin in single figures. They only infuse when my HB is below 8.