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Original poster

Iron Infusion

27 replies

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 22/05/2025 13:49

I am having an iron infusion in a few days on the NHS.

My ferritin is 23 and my platelets are raised so they need to address the iron levels to see if the platelets will come down.

I have IBD and can’t even tolerate OTC iron tablets so there is no point trying prescription.

Anyone who has had one, how long before you noticed a difference (I am currently cold and exhausted most of the time).

Anything I should know about the process and did you feel worse before you felt better?

OP posts:
Billybobidy · 22/05/2025 13:51

I had one privately a few months ago. My ferritin was 3 and I could barely function. I started feeling much more normal after around 2 weeks. It honestly felt like a miracle!

sandrevolutionary · 22/05/2025 14:21

It will take a few weeks for you to notice the difference but it should help you feel much better. I can't think of any reason why you'd feel worse before then, at least not as a result of the infusion anyway.

It gave me a metallic taste in my mouth but I think that's quite common and it only really lasted while I was having the infusion. I think there can be other mild side effects on the day but I didn't really have any issues. Certainly no memorable ones.

The process itself is very easy and doesn't take long. They will monitor you in case you have any reactions (e.g. hives) and give you medicine if required (e.g. IV antihistamines). But it should be pretty uneventful.

They'll book you in and go through some paperwork and initial observations, get you set up in probably a reclining chair, and then cannulate you and start the infusion. I can't remember the obs intervals or how long they keep you for observation afterwards. If everything is okay they'll remove your cannula and let you go.

I hope you're feeling better soon.

QueenSmartypants · 22/05/2025 14:22

I'd say about 3 weeks, although family thought they saw a difference earlier than that. I have them for the same reasons as you do.

Original poster
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 22/05/2025 14:24

Brilliant thanks for this information. Glad it’s worked for you.

OP posts:
Doeschangingwork · 23/05/2025 19:09

I had one 2 months ago. I was also at ferritin 3, and had developed anaemia and hair loss (which is permanent now 😥). Low levels due to extremely heavy periods. The week I got the infusion I reacted quite badly, felt very very fluey, threw up, could barely move from bed for 2 days. After 5 days I felt better. The infusion itself was easy. Longer term, I think I’ve improved slightly but need to do blood tests to check. Jury’s out for me. I had the coil put in since then which has really lightened my periods but my moods are now very extreme so don’t know… I’ve been unlucky perhaps! I also can’t tolerate iron tablets but I think you do need to take something to keep the levels up.

Bluespecs · 23/05/2025 19:18

Same as Doeschangingwork, my ferritin fell to below 3, I couldn't climb the stairs without seeing stars and my hair became so thin (sadly permanently for me too Doeschangingwork). I had the infusions in 2022 and within 3 months my ferritin went from 3 to 140 and now sit at around 40.
I am prone to aura migraines and found the infusion triggered a two hour aura (usually only lasts 20-30 mins) but I just went to bed and felt much better the next day.

Good luck with it all, hope it goes well for you.

QueenSmartypants · 23/05/2025 19:32

@ChazsBrilliantAttitude I should probably qualify that I wasn't hugely low on iron, but I've been pushing my GP in recent years to refer me for an infusion as soon as it is found to have dropped below. Otherwise, we're just putting off the inevitable while I get worse!

zenas · 23/05/2025 19:36

For me it was about the 10 day mark that I felt alive again. I was on the floor following a serious gastric bleed. Action stations, transfusions, worried looks - I was out of it so didn't care. I got the infusion some time after discharge from hospital, maybe two or three weeks, can't remember.

Thankfully, I never looked back. OP the feeling of "coming back" after the transfusions and Iron drip is like a flower opening up in the sun. You will feel amazing. Good luck to you.

Original poster
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 23/05/2025 21:25

Tomorrow’s the big day so I’ll update you all afterwards. It’s really helped to hear from others who have already had one.

OP posts:
ncforschoolhelp · 23/05/2025 21:29

I've had 7 or 8; ferritin also was at around 3. I find it takes a few weeks to feel better but you really do feel miles better.

Natsku · 23/05/2025 21:45

I had two last summer (my ferritin was very low, 6 I think, maybe lower but weirdly I didn't really notice it, perhaps because I've been on and off anaemic since my teens), first one was fine and started to feel some improvement after a couple of weeks. With my second I kept getting pain which meant the nurse kept having to stop the drip to make sure I wasn't getting any complications but I wasn't, everything was fine except pain

Angrymum22 · 23/05/2025 21:57

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 22/05/2025 13:49

I am having an iron infusion in a few days on the NHS.

My ferritin is 23 and my platelets are raised so they need to address the iron levels to see if the platelets will come down.

I have IBD and can’t even tolerate OTC iron tablets so there is no point trying prescription.

Anyone who has had one, how long before you noticed a difference (I am currently cold and exhausted most of the time).

Anything I should know about the process and did you feel worse before you felt better?

My ferritin was less than 10 during pregnancy ( 20yrs ago) so had infusion x2 just before having a c section.
It was entertaining, because of the risk of a reaction I had to have it done on the Labour ward with a full resuscitation team in attendance. It may be different now since they had to use a form that was approved for use during pregnancy.
Pre infusion my iron levels were 8.3 and I was very pale, almost translucent and felt dizzy most of the time. About six weeks after the csection I looked like I had had a fortnight in the Caribbean. It was October so not due to sunbathing in the uk. My energy levels were high and early motherhood was great.
It’s not instantaneous but you will definitely feel the difference within a few weeks.

Angrymum22 · 23/05/2025 22:05

Also re iron tablets. My iron levels dropped when I took them. They caused gastritis which the doctor felt was actually stopping iron absorption.
Once I had DH I had the Mirena coil fitted until I was well past menopause. Pre pregnancy I was chronically anaemia due to endometriosis. My gynae said that my body had just got used to low iron which was why it had never really been investigated. But pregnancy just put too much strain on my body.

Curioustoknow1 · 23/05/2025 22:23

I had one on Tuesday as my ferritin was 2. Got to have another one on Wednesday. I know it’s only been a few days but I don’t feel any different at all. Was hoping I’d have more energy & wouldn’t be as short of breath, but nothings changed at the moment. Hoping I’ll notice a difference after the second one. Good luck! 🍀

Original poster
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 24/05/2025 17:10

Thanks again everyone. The infusion went smoothly apart from my slightly dodgy veins meaning the cannula needed effort to place. I have a spectacular bruise but luckily only a tiny bit of skin staining.

Fingers crossed it does the trick.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 24/05/2025 17:16

Curioustoknow1 · 23/05/2025 22:23

I had one on Tuesday as my ferritin was 2. Got to have another one on Wednesday. I know it’s only been a few days but I don’t feel any different at all. Was hoping I’d have more energy & wouldn’t be as short of breath, but nothings changed at the moment. Hoping I’ll notice a difference after the second one. Good luck! 🍀

Best of luck for next week. Hope you feel better soon.

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 15/08/2025 12:30

Bumping this thread to ask how you got with your transfusions. Did they help at all? Any complications and if so, do you regret the iron infusion?

I've been struggling with anemia for ages, maybe years? But in the past year I've been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and now they're also taking my anemia more seriously. I've tried ferrous fumarate, sulphate and gluconate (?) , tablets and I struggled a lot with GI issues, and they didn't help anyway. So I've been referred and accepted for an infusion, next month.

I'm feeling like pure shite, so hopeful that it will make a difference, but aware that there can be side effects.

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 15/08/2025 13:31

Bumping too as my dd has low ferritin and is always exhausted so wonder if it's worth the cash to go private.

TheSpottedZebra · 15/08/2025 13:36

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 15/08/2025 13:31

Bumping too as my dd has low ferritin and is always exhausted so wonder if it's worth the cash to go private.

Has she tried iron tablets? You can buy ferrous fumarate over the counter.
That might be a good place to start if you haven't already, as they're very effective and safemifshe can stomach them.

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 15/08/2025 13:39

@TheSpottedZebra
Yes she does but they upset her stomach so I can only give them afew times a week and it's take months and months this to get levels up this way
We tried spatone ferrous sulphate. Now Thorne supplements 2/3 times a week plus a multi vitamin with Iron

Original poster
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 15/08/2025 15:50

I definitely felt better afterwards. Less tired, able to do more and my nails stopped breaking. No side effects apart from some random brown blotches that have faded

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 15/08/2025 16:06

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 15/08/2025 15:50

I definitely felt better afterwards. Less tired, able to do more and my nails stopped breaking. No side effects apart from some random brown blotches that have faded

Ooh that's encouraging! Obviously I've read up on the risks, but I'm pretty excited that I might feel better soon!

Did you have any hair loss prior, and did it halt, or grow back?

Original poster
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 15/08/2025 16:32

I wasn’t suffering with noticeable hair loss. Mainly I was just knackered. Everything was effort.

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 15/08/2025 16:36

Yep, that's me now.
But with less hair, I guess!

Thank you for answering, and glad it helped.

TurquoiseDreamCatcher · 15/08/2025 17:51

Billybobidy · 22/05/2025 13:51

I had one privately a few months ago. My ferritin was 3 and I could barely function. I started feeling much more normal after around 2 weeks. It honestly felt like a miracle!

Please can I ask where you had it done privately? Mine is 27 and I’m fed up of feeling like death.