Can I ask for an iron infusion?

[Xhaustedd]

Due to discuss blood test results with GP tomorrow as they've commented I'm anaemic. I had significant blood loss recently and I feel absolutely awful. Ferritin is 20 (I've had lower than this in the past), RBC is 3.6, haemoglobin is 106. I do not want to take iron supplements for 6 months for a minimal increase. I want an instant increase. What is the likelihood of me being given this if I request it?

All you can do is ask GP? Yea

GP couldn’t do you an iron infusion, nor request that specifically.

You’d either need to be under Haematology as an outpatient - not likely with simple explained anaemia that could be treated with iron tablets. The other option is sending you in to Same Day Emergency Care to see Acute Medicine - but they may not do this unless they’re very concerned.

I'm a year into iron tablets and still anaemic and under your levels, it's a PITA!

The GP say the transfusions have side effects and people don't always retain it all anyway but I'd quite like to try!

Interested to hear what others have done.

Interested to hear what others have done

Suffered.
Nice guidelines say ferritin under 30 should be treated but my Dr even stopped my prescription of ferrous fumerate last year when my levels got to 20, despite me still feeling awful. I’ve been taking them for over a decade in total.
I’ve bought my own but I’m frequently googling cost of private iron infusions. Out of my reach unfortunately.

I had an iron transfusion for chronic anaemia. Took 2 weeks to kick in but it made realise I'd been unwell all my life! Lovely to walk up the stairs without huffing and puffing, to not have the weird heart palpitations and tiredness. Definitely ask the GP, say its impacting your life and you need the energy back etc....

I eventually managed to get an NHS iron infusion when my ferritin dropped to 2. Unfortunately it didn’t really make much difference and my levels are now back down to 12. My GP says that’s fine as it’s ‘in range’!

Iron is rarely given as an infusion due to the high risk of anaphylaxis .It has to be given slowly and under supervision and monitoring of vital signs so ideally in a hospital setting .

Last post has scared me and think I'm going to take the long route of supplements

You will need a hospital referral for an infusion - you may as well ask the GP - I have found them beneficial

I've been low in ferritin for about 20yrs, I take iron tablets most of the time. DD unfortunatley seems to be the same, if not worse. Doctors can be really dismissive of how bad low ferritin can make you feel. I've been through phases of having hair loss, palpitations, breathlessness, exhaustion. DD has a diagnosis of CFS, but I'm suspicious that the symptoms are from her low ferritin.
Have got nowhere with the option of a transfusion. Our haemoglobin is fine. Paediatrician said he never prescribed them for low ferritin.

I (eventually) received 2 infusions last year after having iron levels of around 6/8 despite 3x ferrous fumarate/ day for 3 years. That's 3 years of falling over, worrying I might pass out crossing the road ... I lost my job, (as I couldn't remember my own name). I'm disabled anyway & I felt SO ill.
Apparently they cost the NHS £800 per time? Mine made a huge difference. Levels halved in 6m but have stayed around 20 since. Keep pushing (but also look for WHY your iron is so low & check B12 & vitamin D levels too)

Extremely unlikely to get an infusion with those results. Are they investigating why your levels are so low? Do you have heavy periods? Any chance of coeliac disease?

I’ve had three iron infusions. Absolutely no issues or side effects. Enjoyed the sit down in peace and quiet to be honest!

I requested one when I was pregnant as I just couldn't take the side effects of the tablets any more. No harm in requesting one

I get them a few times a year as i have stage 4 endo and Systemic sclerosis. I have pulmonary fibrosis so the breathlessness from the anemia means i am at serious risk of lung issues. I do get side effects and feel really fluey and rubbish for about 2 weeks after, but then that clears and I feel much, much better.

Do make sure you’re taking enough vitamin c as that will help absorption

DH attends a renal clinic and there they give iron infusions regularly for people with kidney disease (he doesn't get side effects), so while @schnubbins is correct to say that it is best administered in a hospital setting she is wrong to say that they are rarely given – in certain circumstances they are given often and consistently. As pp have said, they should be looking into the reasons for your low iron levels, anaemia can be just a catch-all term when used by GPs, you really need to get referred to a specialist clinic.

iron infusions come with a (small) risk of severe allergic reactions and should only be given in a hospital that is equipped to deal with this swiftly.

you can ask your gp for a referral, it sounds like you would be a suitable candidate.

good luck!

I am sorry you are struggling. I have been doing some research and it seems GPs are woefully incompetent when it comes to ferritin levels. There is a group on facebook called the iron protocol. It mainly consists of menstruating women or women of menopausal age complaining of distressing symptoms such as significant fatigue, breathlessness, hair loss, headaches and palpitations but being dismissed as their ferritin is "within range". When in reality, optimum ferritin should probably be above 100, and women can be symptomatic with low ferritin with levels as high as 75, some even more.

I am currently awaiting my ferritin results back, I am hoping for an iron transfusion, but I don't think they will do that unless my levels are under 3. I don't think they are going to be that low. My GP has been very dismissive, I told her how heavy my periods are (about half a pint a month), how I'm needing to nap every afternoon, brain dog, palpitations, etc. She tried to suggest it was mental health related which I 100% know it isn't.

For years I have always just felt I was a 'low energy' person, I saw people doing things and thought how on earth do people have the energy. I dismissed by need of having naps all the time as just enjoying sleep, and my inability to retain new information and concentrate on just being a bit dim. Recently it has dawned on me that I did not use to be like that, in fact in my early 20's sometimes I would have so much excess energy at the end of the day I was restless and had to exercise, run or walk to burn it off, now I'm exhausted by just sitting here!

It makes me wonder how many women who have been told that they have depression, anxiety or chronic fatigue just have ferritin / iron that is below their optimum amount but have been dismissed as it is above their guidelines for intervention. There are women on that group who say that if their ferritin dips below 100 they start to get fatigued and depressed, and there are women in the UK who are allowed to walk around with numbers of 5 and told it is nothing to worry about!

The facebook group offers good advice but it takes a while to get numbers up with supplements. I would persist in trying to get an infusion though, I am planning to pay privately, it is not something I can afford comfortably, but I am desperate to feel better. If this were not an option, I think I would just nag and nag the GP until something was done.

It’s awful how low the bar is for women and low ferritin or haem. My ferritin was 5 a few years ago and I felt like I was dying a slow death, the difference when the numbers rise into the 20s is incredible, even got a bloody promotion at work after years of feeling like death!!

@medianewbie that was my experience all because my gp fobbed me off for years making out I was a hypochondriac! Saw another gp and she read my numbers and said I don’t know how you are standing/walking etc!! I have a few ‘lost years’ because of chronic untreated anaemia, feeling dizzy, developed phobias of falling or fainting, constant brain fog. Went on ferrous sulphate for a year and felt like a new person!!

Had chronic anaemia for a while and begged for an infusion to no avail then had a period that lasted 2 months, ended up in hospital requiring an infusion AND a blood transfusion (very frustrating as I can’t donate blood anymore).

recently had my levels checked and they are low but “not low enough” for an infusion so just waiting and hoping it doesn’t go the same way. I’ve been taking ferritin and iron supplements for years now 😭 hope you have more luck op.