Iron deficiency anemia

[Mumma02]

Can anyone describe the kind of symptoms they had when their iron was around an 8?
Current levels are;
Iron - 8
Transferrin Saturation - 10.3% (reference is 20-50%)
Ferritin - 25
HB hasn't recently been tested but has also been above the threshold.
I have so many symptoms - trying to work out if they are linked to this.
Thanks.

Breathlessness would be the main one for me .

When my levels were 8 I was very tired, pale and quite out of breath. I think I might have had palpitations too.

Achy legs, breathless walking about especially uphill or stairs, wanting to eat raw veg especially broccoli all the time, tightness across chest and palpitations. Also heavier periods ironically (they’ve lightened since I got treatment so was defo caused by this) and I’ve since read this is a symptom of low ferritin. Had this for quite a while now with hindsight. When I got to 7 it got worse and vertigo type sensations and tinnitus started too, no idea why I didn’t go to the doctor earlier I’d previously put it down to gaining weight and being 40+, but that’s what triggered me to go to doctor. I hope you get treatment. I had two rounds of iron infusion and it was brilliant.

I have just been treated for an Hb of 5.8, I had palpitations, tinnitus, breathlessness, chest pains and severe fatigue. I am a HCP and thought I had long Covid, and blamed myself for not being fitter ! I have had 3 units of blood and 2 iron infusions. I was still working, just feeling absolutely dreadful. Had bloods taken and the on call GP phoned that evening to tell me to go straight to hospital for a blood transfusion. Feeling a million times better now!

This is currently me. I went to the drs as I couldn’t complete a full days work. Felt beyond exhausted. Asked for bloods and I am at 8 - informed ‘quite low’.

I am generally physically fit but am definitely more out of breath on exertion, crazy tired. Have had pins and needles. Palpitations.

I am waiting for surgery and wondered if it was because of my condition. It seems not.

I feel like I’ve just been left. Bought some supplements and have been shovelling spinach etc.

I was diagnosed back in January. I think I was on 13 if I remember correctly. Was mainly due to really heavy periods and passing clots. Nearly fainted a few times from the fatigue and feeling weak. Very pale and no energy at all. Nails also kept splitting, something which I've never had before!

Was put on twice daily doses of iron tablets until recently, when I have dropped down to one a day. It has also helped slow down the blood flow on my period as well!

Ferritin is important wrt the symptoms. This is a useful diagram.

Had hb levels of 4, had to have blood transfusions.
Exhausted, shaky, cheat pains, very cold, extreme thirst, heart pounding with any exertion at all, dizzy.

Covid on top of Crohns hammered my Hb and Ferritin, needing an iron transfusion.

Crushing fatigue, weakness, breathlessness, loss of interest in anything, dizziness, palpitations and high blood pressure were all linked.

Ferritin of 38 and still had plenty of symptoms- breathlessness, huge amounts of hair loss, easily fatigued, tingling hands and feet. Anxiety! Felt better so soon after supplementing, would recommend the Iron Protocol Facebook group for info on how to take iron best, but push for an infusion if you can.

Thank you all, I have asked for an infusion but they want to retest my HB before agreeing! I go on holiday on Wednesday and can't get in for a blood test before then so guess I'll feel awful while being away now too. I have days when I don't feel too bad - I wonder if the body gets used to running on empty sometimes? Other days I have terrible fatigue and no energy, I'm always pale. Have had pins and needles, burning feet, headaches, breathlessness, palpitations, tachycardia, air hunger, chest tightness, nausea, problems regulating temperature and weakness as well as very heavy periods. I can't believe how awful this can make you feel!

Also episodes of feeling like I'm going to faint and some dizziness and low blood pressure. Seems like it's all linked!

I am sorry you are going to have to go away feeling like this.
Yes, I think the body has bursts where it copes.
Couple of days before I went into hospital I had an extremely physical day, walked for miles and kept going on total empty.
Day I went into hospital could barely hold head up.
I really hope you get your transfusion soon, you will feel so much better.

I got some sachets from Boots btw to boost my levels. I wish I could remember the name.. they were around £14 and contained iron infused water that you drank with orange juice. They never gave any of the nasty side effects iron tablets gave me. X

If you want to fast track addressing low ferritin levels it’s possible to go to a private iron infusion clinic. I went to the Iron Clinic in London - cost a bomb at about £800. Only adding this because I wasn’t aware & it’s useful information if you can afford it though unfortunately the cost can be prohibitive.

I’m currently sitting at 2.
im exhausted just getting out of bed.
I have to stop and rest when I was my hair in the shower.
working is agony, I have hip, feet and back pain after 60 minutes of work and chronic malaise.
my memory is so bad I forget what day it is almost every day.
chest pain, tinnitus, cramps, pins and needles.
my doctor says I’m not in serious need of an infusion yet 🤨
unfortunately even if I did qualify for an infusion I can’t get one don’t locally. The closes centre is 12 hours return trip and will cost over $1000

You need to get your Ferritin, folate, B12 and Vit D checked out as well.

As you can have a normal Hb but be iron deficient and I have been struggling with feeling terribly for a long time. Was always told you aren’t anemic because Hb levels are normal.

Due to my hand going numb they have checked everything and they are all way below the low end of normal.

Due to having other conditions I’m waiting to be referred to Haemotologist.

So you can have Iron deficiency with a normal Hb.

My blood tests showed low iron of 12 whilst 16 to 40 is borderline for NHS measures and anything below 15 is low. GP brushed it off so did I. Just agreed to take some iron pills. But ever since low iron I have been getting tingling feet which drives me into anxiety mode as I now think I have some serious neurological issues. I do get very heavy periods. I just hope it’s iron deficiency and nothing else. I hope you are better now.