Ok hb, low ferritin

[Redrosebelle]

Hi all
I’ve posted about this before but I’m seeing the consultant tomorrow. I’ll be 36 weeks pregnant this week.
At my last blood check my hb was 98 but ferritin only 7.9
I’ve had increasingly worsening symptoms of palpitations, breathlessness, being pale and just exhausted. I can hardly walk! Consultant refused me an iron infusion because my hb is ‘ok’ at 98 and wanted me to continue the iron supplements I’ve been on since August for another 2 weeks.
Can anyone give me some ammo to go in with for wanting an infusion? The supplements are giving me crippling diarrhoea and nausea. I’m bent over with tummy pains and can’t eat. Baby is measuring small and I’m having regular growth scans so really need this sorting ASAP.
Any advice please? Xx

Could you try the liquid iron supplements? Spatone and Feroglobin are widely available and much easier on the stomach than tablets.

Avoid caffeine and dairy at the same time as taking the supplements and try fruit or juice instead as vitamin C helps you absorb it.

I'm sure you know, but leafy greens, dried apricots, fortified cereals etc are good sources, as well as red meat etc.

I don't know what the criteria are for iron infusions in pregnancy, but I do know that I had to get my levels up when pregnant to be allowed to give birth in a birth centre (as opposed to the hospital).

I'm very surprised they aren't considering you for an iron infusion, you will undoubtedly have a lower hb after birth so topping you up now would be wise.
I get infusions because I can't tolerate oral iron (same symptoms as you) so in your position I would say I can't tolerate the tablets and demand an infusion.
Unless you've experienced the symptoms of low ferritin, which are horrible, you don't realise how bad it is. My hair starts falling off when mine drops below 30 and the palpitations and exhaustion are horrible too.
Good luck with speaking to the GP, or consultant.

I’ve been on a liquid suspension prescribed by the Gp for about 8 weeks but when I take the dose I’m supposed to I vomit and have diarrhoea. I’m supposed to be monitoring my baby’s movements v closely due to high cord pressures and baby measuring small so it’s not really what I need! I’ve stopped the iron for the last two days and the symptoms have gone. The consultant was v dismissive of low ferritin last time and said I didn’t need an iron infusion as my hb wasn’t below 80-85. I’m just so so sick of feeling poorly.
I’m going to ask for an iron infusion tomorrow!

Good luck and be assertive. If they know that you're not able to tolerate iron then they should be considering your iron levels after birth and preparing you with an infusion.
Don't be afraid to overemphasise how bad you're feeling, low feratin is horrible and it's relatively simple to increase your level with an infusion, so asking them to reconsider and if they don't then ask them to make a clear note on your file that you asked for it and they denied it. That often makes them realise that it's important to you.

Check out the iron clinic on Harley street for info on how bad low ferritin is for u

Thanks all for your replies it’s really helped. I feel absolutely dreadful this morning so that will probably spur me on to make some noise and be heard!! I’m taking someone to my appt with me too. Fingers crossed the dr listens this time!

Let us know how you get on. Fingers crossed 🤞

No joy - consultant adamant that low ferritin wouldn’t be making me feel poorly. Continue with oral supplements. At the end of my tether. Can’t take anymore.

That's ridiculous. I had v low ferritin and ok hb with heavy periods. I was scheduled for an ablation but when they saw how low my ferritin was they moved me to the top of the list and I was in in a week. A nurse friend said it was because if it got any lower they'd have problems operating on me.

Have they done a full blood count and checked your B12 and folate levels as well as your ferritin and hb? What was your red blood cell count?

NHS guidelines are that low ferritin is under 15ug/L. What measurement is your level of 7.9 in?

If you can post your full test results here there are lots of people who can help you understand them.

Your hb isn't okay at 98 though, lower than 120 is anaemic.

They’ve done a fbc and ferritin today. I’ll try and get those results Friday. I don’t know about the other levels. They’ve been measured but I haven’t had them, I guess. Her argument is that 105 is acceptable for pregnant women, and my ferritin is ‘just’ my iron store so it won’t come up for a long time. She said iron infusions are not without risks and if that’s what I want I’m not having one. Try and continue with the supplements. I’ve said that my gp agreed low ferritin will make me feel poorly and she said that we’ll have to agree to disagree on that, she thinks I wouldn’t be aware my ferritin is low. I have repeat scans for baby on Friday then Wednesday. I

Re b12 and folate - I didn’t have them done today. Just the fbc and ferritin.

Dd has low ferritin and feels awful. Similar symptoms to you.

Rcog say hb of 10.5 or above is optimal in pregnancy so yours is lower. Which puts you at higher risk of a pph in labour. You’re unlikely to get it up to 10.5 in 4 weeks if you’ve been on iron since August. Even without a pph you will lose blood at birth a drop your Hb lower again.

I specifically asked about this at my appt, she said she’s confident my hb will have risen. It was originally 96, then 104, then 98 again!

I’m really at the end of my tether, the consultant has a good rep within the hospital and I’ve asked the midwives if they’d be happy to be treated by her and they said yes although her bedside manner isn’t great!