So exhausted - hb is 75 and ferretin 3

[mummytomumtobro]

I rang 111 2 weeks ago due to being absolutely bone deep exhausted and having palpitations and a fainting episode. Ended up going to A&E where they did bloods that came back as haemoglobin 75 - this is severely anaemic but 70 is the emergency limit to be treated on the day.

They sent me to the gastro HOT clinic who I saw within a week and I have a colonoscopy and gastroscopy booked for next week.

I was also told I should receive an iron infusion within a week. I haven’t heard anything, so called up and spent 3 hours being passed around all the departments but getting nowhere - I still don’t know if I’ve been referred properly or not for the infusion. Called my GP and they couldn’t tell me anything. Also no appointments for 3 weeks to speak with GP or get another blood test to see if it’s dropped further. Rang PALS to complain and they apparently don’t take details over the phone - have to send an email which they will look into after 10 days.

I feel horrendous. My bones ache, I have a constant headache, I’m so so so exhausted - sleep makes no difference and I still have palpitations and racing heart rate.

I don’t know what more I should do. I don’t want to waste resources or sit in A&E for 24 hours again like 2 weeks ago just to get fobbed off.

Does your GP have an econsult system where you can ask for help? Our GP often has a wait of several weeks for appointments but if you fill in an econsult you normally hear back quickly.

If you’ve had no treatment then your Hb might now be at the level for treatment on the day.

If you can’t get in at your GP I’d go through 111 tomorrow. They may be able to book you an appointment with your own GP, most GPs keep appointments back that can be booked by 111.

Have you started any kind of supplementation? There’s a lot that you can buy online or over the counter. If you’re on Facebook there’s a really big group called the iron protocol that has a lot of information and you can ask questions to people who are going through this too.

I’m sorry OP, your levels are so so low you must feel absolutely terrible.

If you have some spare money you can get iron IVs privately. We did this for £140 for DH when the NHS were going to leave an adult man with ferritin 11 for 8 weeks while waiting for an appointment.

with a ferritin of 3 no wonder you are feeling awful

I think that's extreme enough they will do a transfusion, are with another poster you might be even lower now if not been treated

Have you been offered oral iron. I'm in ferrous maltol which is prescribed only and lactoferrin (online) and have got my ferritin level up to 65 from 11 after years of never going above low 20s. This combination hasn't given me awful side effects