Ferritin of 6 and Haemoglobin of 9 after a blood transfusion

[Flatsfromnowon]

Hello, seeking advice on what I cam do. Please note I cannot afford a private iron infusion.

IFollowing bleeding for three weeks I was given a blood transfusion.

My discharge letter from hospital said for GP to refer to me for an iron infusion so I had a blood test for the referral to b made.

Results as in my title line but GP referred on normal pathway and my telephone appt (?) Is scheduled for 23 Dec later this year. Today GP refused to make an urgent referral as results not bad enough.

I feel so so ill - breathless, dizzy, heart palpitations (but not sure if I am imagining these) and brain fog.

Please can you give me any tips on how I can increase my iron when I cannot tolerate iron tablets.

Im scared I am going to give myself heart failure. I work and am a single parent so need to carry on.

I do have a referral for a hysterectomy but as yet no date. My heavy bleeding is caused by adenonmyosis and my mirena coil was not replaced due to clinician concerns.

I am on my knees and dont know how much more I can take of this.

I am bleeding heavily again so likely haemoglobin will drop again.

Relationship with GP has completely broken down to the point I am too embarrassed to go back and my notes make clear that they. It is clear they think I am unhinged.

Thanks for reading.

Apols for typos.

I had a huge blood transfusion 16 years ago after a massive internal bleed, my DH made me eat liver nearly every day, my iron levels were fine a few weeks later. It's hard to stomach but it worked.

Yes, am trying a lambs liver salad tomorrow with a pomegranate dressing! Had black pudding and spinach for tea tonight.

Have you tried ferric maltol (ferracru) tablets on prescription? Usually your gp can prescribe these if you have been unable to tolerate, I’m not sure whether it’s , 2/3 kinds of oral iron. It’s much gentler on the stomach and prescribed to patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Realistically though at those levels I am surprised that you can’t get an infusion sooner, can you ring the departments you’ve been referred to to say you’ll take a cancellation.

Can you afford a private consult with a haematologist?
If so, go on your local nhs trust website and read the information about all the haematologists. Then google them to see if they do private work.
Choose a couple and read the reviews. You need one that works at you local nhs hospital.
Make a private appointment and take your blood results. Explain that your gp has refused an urgent referral.
The outcome will be a letter and hopefully your nhs referral can be expedited by the consultant.
Alternatively, can you change your gp?
Can you speak to PALS and ask them to facilitate speaking to the haematology admin team. They should be able to look at your results. They really need to share your results with the gynae team.
If you have a good mp they can sometimes help.

The team that discharged you should (and could) have organised the iron infusion if they thought it was necessary.

Well yes this is what I am assuming GPs are working to as well but hospital only treated my low haemoglobin and referred me to GP.

So if you have any tips on how to increase my iron to up my ferritin so I dont feel like death warmed up please share!

I am going to change GP but I am also going to email the point of contact on my hospital discharge letter to see if that might help.

Im on quite a tight budget but if the above doesn't work, this might be a next step.

Thank you

Im not sure I have tried these. It can't harm to try!

Iron supplements + vitamin C, dark leafy greens, an Iron fish boiled in your water and iron rich red meats.

If you feel worse go to A&E.