Can I have an intravenous iron infusion privately?

[theverysuccessfulone]

Will it cost a fortune?

I have low iron levels but tablets don't work. (it's my second pg and I spent the first one feeling crap and constipated). GPs usually say "it's normal to feel weak" - of course, because they are not the ones feeling weak!

I've been taking spatone 2x or 3x a day, plus red meat, eggs, green leaves, everything. I'll have a blood test this week, and if my iron levels are not good I would like some treatment that works, for a change!

I may push for an infusion on the NHS, but since I'm not dying I think they will not want to offer me one. (although my iron levels are not too low, I may not be able to give birth in the birth centre if they drop a little bit more)

Has anyone here had an infusion privately? Where could I get one? I can't pay for it if it's too expensive. We have just got private health care, I wonder if I can get it covered?

Many thanks for your help!

Have you had an infusion before? I only ask because significant numbers of people go into anaphylactic shock when they have one (me included). So many in fact that a doctor has to sit by your bedside with the adrenalin ready for the first 20 minutes of the infusion, in case you stop breathing. So, I'd be very reluctant to have one while pg if I hadn't had one before, particularly if the doctors didn't want me to have it.

If you've had them before, then the case is v different.

If you need one it will be offered on the nhs. If you don't need one a private doc wouldn't do it either. Iron infusions have quite a risk attached.
Sorry you're feeling rough. Do you make sure you take your iron tablets with a big glass of fresh orange to help absorption?
Have you tried ferrous fumerate rather than ferrous sulphate? The tablets will work if you take them regularly and re absorbing. But it will take a month or so before you feel better.
Good luck

You can, but you'd need to see a private doc to do it, who might. It recommend it anyway. If you feel that bad, it'd be worth seeing a private haematologist for a full work up. Mine picked up veryow b12 levels and on e I'd got that sorted my iron sorted itself out.

You can get anaemia from other deficiencies than iron - vitamin B12 and folate - so getting those levels checked may be beneficial. Also thyroid function problems can cause tiredness.

Vitamin C helps you absorb iron. Are you eating enough fruit/veg too?

How low is your iron? Do you know what your last results were?

TruthSweet and BagOfHolly do you know whether they check B12 and folate when doing an FBC? I'm having regular blood tests and my iron's now gone up to 10.6 at the last test. I don't know whether they've checked my B12 or folate though.

I believe it's a special request as any blood form I have had, has had B12/Folate written on in it (even if FBC has been ticked).

They don't test for it usually unless you have 'form' for it - I have had pernicious anaemia in DD3's pg and had folate anaemia last year (and am on anti-epileptics which deplete folate levels over time) - or you have anaemia symptoms but good iron levels (get ferritin levels checked too if you are worried).

I know my ferritin was 10 at the last test. I'll ask about it when I have my bloods done next, thanks.

Hi, thanks a lot for the answers.

My haemoglobin levels are usually borderline (I went to give blood before I got pregnant and was just above the minimum level). Last time I had a blood test, about 3 months ago, my haemoglobin was 10.9, but MW said that if it drops below 10.2 I won't be allowed in the birthing centre, which worries me.

I tested for thyroid function a few months ago (in the first trimester because I was too tired) and it was ok.

Didn't test for B12 and folate. Can I just ask the MW to test for that as well?

And I do eat fruit and veg, I take iron supplements with orange juice, I never have coffee, tea, calcium-rich food, fibre, chocolate, anything together with the supplements.

I tried iron fumarate but it goes straight out (I get constipated and my stools get black, which doesn't happen with iron sulfate). I tried Floradix but it gives me heartburn.

I'm not from the UK, and back home people just get iron injections (not infusions) during pregnancy. I don't understand why this is not an option here, and why they insist so much on the tablets (which, as I said, didn't help at all on my last pregnancy).

I think I'll be tested tomorrow, hope the supplements have worked, but I would like to have an alternative in case they haven't...