Iron Levels

[Mumma02]

Been feelig awful for a long time! Horrible symptoms including breathlessness at rest and on exertion. Tachycardia episodes, pale skin, chronic fatigue, feeling weak etc.
Blood tests back today.
Iron - 8
Ferritin - 25
Transferrin Saturation - 10.3 (should be between 20 and 50)
Unsuccessful attempts with supplements for over 2 years now. Does anyone know at what point they would consider a transfusion? Are these levels that bad?

Hi, OP,

8 is low and you should definitely be on iron tablets. I have been down to 7 twice, once after a post partum haemorrhage and once after a series of horrific periods and in both cases a transfusion seemed to be a choice rather than "you must have this". What you can have is an intravenous iron infusion which I have also had in the past. But a year ago I got from 8.5 to 13.5 in three months on iron tablets so it is doable that way. See what the GP says?

Iron tablets are a bit miserable to start, made me feel sick and gave me hideous poos, TMI sorry! But symptoms eased after a week or so.

Hope you feel better soon. GP should be looking for underlying cause - mine is horrid periods - or you'll just get low again if that isn't fixed. Hope that helps!

Just adding - I mean iron tablets from the doc rather than supplements you can buy - much higher dose.

I was in a similar position for years and iron tablets didn’t work. My iron was 4 and I rang the doctor every day until they referred me for an iron transfusion. They can’t refuse you with iron so low. Tell them how badly it’s effects you. My iron levels are slightly better but I’ll have to get another transfusion soon.