Low iron - struggling to breathe

[Nathansmommy1]

Just wondering for anyone that has had shortness of breath due to low iron levels, once you started back on the iron tablets how long was it before you started to feel better?

I have had anaemia for a few weeks now. I started on a double dose of iron two weeks ago and feel better the past few mornings. Come late afternoon I usually need a nap. I find eating steak really helps too. I have it once a week though am not keen on meat but it definitely gives me a boost. Any big exertion has me out of breath but 2 weeks ago walking from one room to another had that effect.

3.5 weeks before i noticed any difference

Does your GP know you're having shortness of breath? How low are your iron levels? When I was that bad I was offered a blood transfusion.

Thanks, glad you are starting to see improvement I only started on the double dose on Thursday so itl prob be another 2 weeks for me to see some improvement. I'm getting the shortness of breath without even exerting myself, I could be just sitting on the couch or even now at night time when I'm asleep, it's so frustrating! How many weeks are you?

I only felt better once I got a blood and iron transfusion. My levels were dangerously low though

Out of curiosity Studentnurse, what was your haemoglobin score when it was dangerously low?

I'm wondering how low your levels have to be for them to give you more than iron tablets (iv iron, transfusion etc...). I gave birth 10 days ago and hb was 84!! They've just said I should keep taking the iron tablets I was already on. But they've now made me so horrendously constipated!!! And it may take 6 months of this to get to normal levels, of expected rates of hb increase is anything to go by.

Wish they'd tried to sort it with an infusion/ transfusion. Can I now request this??

I know how horrible it is OP.

And it's extra horrible as you look normal, maybe a bit paler but have absolutely no energy and can't catch your breath.

Didn't get in pregnancy though but due to v v heavy periods post-birth. Same symptoms as you, couldn't walk up the stairs in my house without having a rest halfway through.

I had to go in for transfusion (like Fatted) which made me better temporarily until I changed contraception. Can't remember the level but it was very low.

Wish you luck. Don't hesitate to contact the docs if you're not improving .

I was in hospital this week trying to figure out what was causing the shortness of breath and that's when they discovered it was down to iron being low and put me back on a double dose of the iron tablets. I guess if I see no improvements over the next week or two I'll go back again. Just feeling really sick with it again this morning so feeling miserable

I think if you are short of breath and pregnant I would suggest you call 111 for advice. I think even without being pregnant struggling to breathe would suggest you need to see someone to check things over.

:physhicskate I had a late miscarriage in October last year and due to that I had really low iron levels. My levels were down to 62 and had 2 bags of blood which brought my irons up to 84 and was sent home with iron tablets at that level.

@physicskate

My levels were 107 at 14 weeks and I was out of breath often. Mine improved after about two weeks

48

Why?

My level was 49

@physicskate they wouldn’t normally give you a transfusion unless your haemoglobin level was below 80 as otherwise the risk doesn’t outweigh the benefit. You could ask your midwife about iron infusion but that also has a risk of anaphylaxis so they probably won’t be keen, sorry.

The good news is that, due to the physiological changes, the iron tablets should be more effective now that you are no longer pregnant.

I do sympathise though: my Hb was 85 after delivery and I had a third degree tear so constipation was definitely a big worry. Lactulose helped a lot in balancing out the iron tablets.

PS. Congratulations, glad your long awaited little one is finally here!

Cheers @Darkstar4855!

It was more the infusion I'm remotely interested in... I've stopped the iron tablets for a few days (until my episiotomy - and haematoma on my perineum- heals a bit more and I figure out how much of the pain is still from my pgp and not constipation related). Trying to increase my iron uptake through food and then will titrate up my iron tablets a bit more slowly.

The lactulose is not agreeing with me at all. It either does nothing or makes me shit myself...

But if this is the price I have to pay, so be it!!!