Anyone had an iron infusion?

[Vinosaurus]

I'm due to have an iron infusion due to very low ferritin levels tomorrow and was just wondering if anyone's had one before?

I'm a bit worried about side effects - watched a YouTube vid yesterday by someone who had one recently and they mentioned feeling really fluey (body aches etc.) a few days after. I'd be fine with this normally, but I'm starting my uni placement (operating theatres) on Tuesday and need to be in a reasonable condition!

Any advice gratefully received.

Bump for the morning lot

I haven't had one but I also watched a YT video of someone having it (she is just a vlogger but had to have iron fusion for whatever reason) and she said that she felt much better and the next day her colour had come back (she was very pale beforehand). Hope it goes OK for you and you get minimal side effects x

I've had 3. Never had any side effects. Iron tablets do very little to improve my ferritin levels. Last time I had the infusion my levels went from 28 up to over 100 at the next blood test (about 6 weeks later).
The infusion it self only takes 20-30 mins but be prepared to wait for an hour afterwards. They check blood pressure and keep an eye out for allergic reactions.

Great - thanks all, you've put my mind at rest a lot. Really glad to hear your levels went up so much imisswaitrose.

Yes - very few side affects - felt a little bit fluey the next day but nothing bad. With mine they did one small infusion over 15mins to check for allergic reaction and then a larger one that went in over several hours. Worked a treat!

I walked out thinking “This is great! I can breathe!!!!”

I’ve had one- no side effects and I felt much better within a week having struggled with anaemia for years.

My mum had one a few months ago and it was close to miraculous how much better she felt afterwards. I think any unwanted effects were minor in comparison to how dreadful she had felt before.

Aghhh - I'm getting super excited now! Been suffering for over a year now and tablets just didn't cut the mustard.

I have had 2 and had no side effects following either. Good luck, I hope it all goes well for you too :-)

I could do with one of these! I have injections every 3 months for life and I only really get 2 months worth of benefit from it because a month before I feel crap again!

I've had two, one just after giving birth and having a big PPH and the second, together with a transfusion, a few weeks later after a further big bleed.

I didn't have any side effects but did feel lots better both times. Only thing I would say is that both times the fluid was really cold and I could feel it circulating, wasn't bad, just weird. I got an ice-cream headache the second time!

So just had it. Unfortunately 5 minutes in I had a pretty dramatic reaction - not full blown anaphylaxis but an allergic reaction that closed my throat, sent my heart rate through the roof (150 at its worst), made me go bright red all over and pretty much pass out. They were there with oxygen and hydrocortisone very quickly and eventually it calmed down. They did manage to get the rest of the infusion in - just with a lot of hydrocortisone and at a snail's pace - so that's something!

Honestly thought I was a gonner when my throat was closing up and all I could see was stars.

I was going to say I had a reaction with my last one.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much improvement afterwards. Just given to give me a break from tablets and transfusions.

I'm sorry Springtrolls, it's not fun at all - and then not to have felt any better must have been really frustrating.

That throat-closing thing is anaphylaxis. I’m sorry!!!!

My DS1 is due to have one tomorrow for the first time. He's been on iron tablets for 2 years and the docs have decided they're not cutting it.
He's already in hospital so hopefully any side effects will be picked up quickly, we keep getting warmed that it's not very pleasant. Fingers crossed it goes well for him.

Hope it went well Titslana - no reaction I hope? My dr said that I'd see the benefits within about 6 weeks, so 4 weeks to go.