Iron infusion

[MissMoneypenny2024]

Hello!
Has anyone been offered this recently? I’ve had very low ferritin my whole pregnancy and was recommended ferrous sulfate (which I hate and has given my awful constipation but I’m still going with). It hasn’t made a difference to my ferratin levels, it keeps dropping. They doubled my dosage and still no impact even after 5 months.
Just had another blood test at 34 weeks and again my ferritin has dropped lower.

i was hoping I’d be offered the iron infusion but I’ve just been told they don’t offer it other than ‘critical’ circumstances anymore.

I’m so tired I can barely remember my name at the end of the day, I’ve started getting nervous driving cos I’m worried I’m going to fall asleep at the wheel. I feel so emotional that they won’t offer me the infusion - so, wondering if…

a- have other people been offered recently and if so, were your levels super super low (I’m on 11, which seems very low if I look at the charts but maybe I’m just pathetic!)

b- has anyone done it privately? I don’t want to go against NHS advice if it’s a health thing, but if it’s a cost thing I would be willing to pay just so I can face getting out of bed in the morning!

It’s so tough having low iron.

I can’t remember what my levels were, but I two infusions in pregnancy in 2021.

I’ve also had it done privately in around 2016.

I hope you can get something sorted and feel better soon!

I had an iron infusion during pregnancy in the summer of 2022. I had a serious health condition at the time and was having my bloods monitored every week. I don't know what my iron level was at the time.

In my experience of the healthcare system, those who shout the loudest (politely!) get the treatment they need (unfortunately). I think you need to be insistent that it is required. Keep going back to them and don't stop until they do something about it. Your iron levels will drop even further when you come to have the baby !

27 years ago now 😅 by my mum's iron was down to 10 when pregnant with me and she had 2 other children to care for. She was never offered anything over than iron tablets that didn't do much! She's been on and off iron tablets her whole life since pretty much.

I currently take the iron tablets but I was only 109 at last check so not all that low really! Can't imagine how tired you must be feeling

My ferritin level was 8 at my 28 week blood test. They suggested taking ferrous sulfate tablets which I have taken in the past as I’ve had issues on and off with low iron since I was 16. I have been taking two types of liquid iron as I find they don’t give me stomach issues and I also have paid for a private IV. At my 32 week blood test my levels are still low at 16 but they have gone up which indicates what I’ve done is working. I’ve since had another IV and am taking spatone and a liquid iron supplements mouth spray every day.

I quite honestly just want to get my iron levels as high as possible for the baby comes because I know even the standard post birth bleeding with lower my iron levels again.

My haemoglobin and red blood cell count etc are also all low but they have gone up since the last test even if they are still outside of normal range I’m taking it as a win.