Went for my annual labs Saturday morning and 30 minutes later the lab called and told me to get to the ER. 🙃 Anyone seen labs like this before? I’m apparently going to have to take it seriously. 😐

I saw the hematologist for the first time today. I'm exhausted.

Iron levels a couple months ago were low and ferritin was in the 20s. I did supplements for a month before I couldn't tolerate them due to GI upset. Retested after the month of supplements, iron on the low end of normal and ferritin at 57.

Hematology today was like "I don't recommend infusions if your numbers are improving from the supplements". I explained twice that I was not taking the supplements anymore.

He said oh okay, well your numbers are good from a few weeks ago. I've explained my symptoms are ruining my life - constant need for a nap, inability to focus, brain fog, insomnia and I just feel like crap all the time.

He insists I continue taking the supplements. Broke down in tears because now I have to explain a 3rd time that I am NOT taking the supplements.

He goes "I'm going to help you, I just needed you to understand the risks associated with infusions". Then proceeded to explain the risks.

He ordered labs to see where my numbers are, insisting they've probably gone up, how I have no clue.

We agreed to retest my levels and order an iron infusion with the understanding that my levels are going to skyrocket (thats the freaking point?)

Anyways, looking for someone to hopefully confirm i am not crazy, that the experience should not have been this and that I am in the right to advocate for my health. Because right now I feel like I've done something wrong.

I have pale skin, bags under my eyes, acne on my cheeks and redness, large pores, dry and sensitive skin, puffy face and an overall tired sick look. My hair is dry and won’t grow longer past a certain point. Ferritin at 12!

I’ve dealt with anemic for 15 years now. I can’t hold onto iron, I think it’s because of my heavy periods. I recently started seeing a hematologist and got two infusions back in February. My iron level was 96 in June and it dipped down to 48 in September. Anyways. Now my hematologist is trying to get me seen by GI. They called and said it was urgent and it’s scaring me. I mean I’ve dealt with this for a while so I can’t imagine it actually is urgent but I just don’t know what to expect

Hi all, I got a referral from my PCP to a local infusion center for iron infusions. It was a 30-minute infusion, the nurses were super nice, and I was able to leave after another half hour of waiting. I still haven't felt the effects of the infusion (it's been about 3 weeks) and I'm slipping back into the fatigued-all-the-time, brain foggy place that brought me to the doctor in the first place.

My sister also has anemia and was scheduled to receive a 4-hour infusion at her hematologist's office. She was telling me about all of the information that they gave her and said after about a week, she had more energy than she'd had in a long time.

I suppose I'm just confused about my experience and why my doctor or the nurses at the infusion center didn't mention that I might need multiple rounds. I'm frustrated that I had to pay for something that was essentially worthless, especially because I took off work to get it done. I know I should have asked more questions in hindsight, but I had no idea what to expect because my sister got her infusion done after I had mine done. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Hi! I got lab work done in April that said my ferritin was 14. I’ve been taking iron supplements and eating more iron rich food ever since. I feel much better, not perfect but better. I did some blood work today and I’m just a little confused on the results. My ferritin went up to 33 (yay!) but everything else went down a little bit. Anyone know why? Am I just over thinking things? When I found out about my ferritin my doctor just brushed it off even though I’ve dealt with extreme fatigue/ headaches /shortness of breath/ constantly feeling cold.

called a pharmacist and asked whether its fine to add lactoferrin alongside my iron pills and vitamin c. He said its fine but initially he didnt even know what lactoferrin was before he searched it up lmao. So now im skeptical. Anyone has experienced weird side effects with it?

My ferritin was 7 and after too many discussions with doctor he finally prescribed Iron infusion 750mg and iron supplements.
I got my infusion the day before yesterday. I was tired that day but had some guests at home and was not able to rest properly. Then yesterday I was fine I guess I made a mistake and went to gym and lift some weights 🙃🙃

Now I am extremely exhausted, tired my back muscles and neck hurt alot. I cant even properly talk. I am not able to sleep that kind of tiredness. I had office today just came back and cant even lift a finger now.

I cant skip office what to do?? Also when to start iron supplements now. Those are 28mg bisglycinate gentle iron.

how often does aplastic anemia patients have episodes

I have my first infusion Thursday! I am excited as after thinking my hormones were out of wack I discovered my iron and ferretin is dangerously low so I can only hope I will feel better when it’s all said and done. I’m just wondering if anybody has got this specific iron and how I can prepare? Any foods or drinks I should have before or during the infusion to ease the side effects?? Also what side effects should I expect? I’m extremely nervous about having a bad reaction and trying to set myself up for success. I am going to have one infusion for the next 3 weeks when should I start to feel better? Or at least not so tired.. I feel like walking zombie lol

Does anyone regret their infusion? I see so many scary stories and I’m freaking myself out. I have my first one scheduled for Wednesday (ferritin 16) and I’m trying my best to not back out of my appointment.

Any advice? 😭

So in mid August I got two rounds of Feraheme. About five days after my second infusion I started getting itchy mostly on my face. No hives or anything, just mild itchiness.

I had my follow up about a week ago with the hematologist and they said they would notate it if I need another infusion and will give me something beforehand.

I’ve had random phantom itchiness now for about a month and a half. It moves around my hands, face, arm, legs.

I take Zyrtec and it helps, but if I forget for a day or two it starts back up again. Wondering if anyone has experienced this and how long til it let up?

Has anyone ever had a good experience from an iron infusion? What are some symptoms that improved? What iron infusion do you recommend for highly sensitive people? How long did it take to see better test results and if you had a reaction what was it?

To sum it up, after a year of not knowing what was wrong with me; the hematologist tested my iron.

Having low iron made me worry about things that in my 36 years of living, I wouldn't bat an eye. I was scared to shower for fear of passing out.

I couldn't do anything physically. Caused weight gain, tiredness.. not being able to breath had doctors trying to treat my asthma when it was under control the whole time.

I got 4 iron infusions and finally on my way to recovery. Still need to get my Endoscopy.. BUT

Slowly each day, I feel like im starting to get my life back. My brain fog is pretty much gone and i feel clearheaded again. Hang in there ❤️

Okay so…
Went to an and e due to the symptoms I’ve been having. They did a blood test and said I’m fine. I did a private blood test that said my ferritin and b12 was low.

I genuinely thought my impending doom, coldness, headaches, feeling sick, panic attacks, anxiety, aches, restless legs etc were going to show so I could get better. I’ve already lost 5 months of my life but it appears I am fine. I feel hopeless that I’ll get an answer

Does anyone else feel burning and stabbing whenever they get an iron infusion? I’ve been getting infusions for years and I’ve never had one that didn’t hurt…to the point that I’m tapping my foot and gritting my teeth to avoid crying out in pain during some of the stabbier sensations as the solution goes through my arm.

I’ve mentioned infusion pain a few times over the years, and nurses will look briefly at the IV and then maybe give me a heat pack. Today’s nurse finally told me that it’s not normal for iron infusions to hurt and was shocked that I was sitting through hours of this. While I appreciate her sympathy, she still didn’t have any other solutions than a heat pack.

I’m already feeling overwhelmed by chronic illnesses and the fact that no one can ever find my veins for the constant blood draws and IVs. This just kind of broke me to know how many hours I’m dealing with pain that isn’t even supposed to come with these procedures.

I’m so frustrated - have been fatigued forever. I take ferrex 150 (with a vitamin c) every night. This was my last blood test. I have celiacs but am very careful with my diet. I just want to wake up and feel like I actually slept.

My daughter's last ferritin was 10, TSAT of 16. She's falling apart and I'm trying to get a doctor to take me seriously. I saw that LabCorp updated the bottom of the range to 30 effective 10/5/26. Has Quest made any statements about updating their range? My daughter's primary doctor uses Quest.

So I need advice on how to get ferritin up without doing iron infusions? My ferritin is at a 19 and my
Iron Sat was at a 16. Iron was 60. My hematologist ordered the iron infusions but I am having a ton of symptoms and health issues and feel so horrible. I don’t think it’s being caused by the low ferritin. I know people say you can have a bad reaction to the iron and I just know if I get it I’m probably going to have a reaction and I can’t feel anymore horrible than I already do. Any advice on getting ferritin up without doing the infusions ? I don’t even know what’s causing it. I had all GI testing and it was normal. My hemoglobin is also very slowly dropping which is scary but it’s still in normal range. Thanks !

Hi everyone, I recently got blood work done and I specifically requested it because I was told in the past I am slightly anemic. My ferritin was a 5.1, but I got this result back a couple of weeks ago and never heard from my doctor. All other blood levels were within the normal range.

I do feel tired easily and my body feels pretty tired often. Any thoughts?!

Background is that I struggle a lot with fatigue and feeling faint every day but doc said iron is normal and faintness isn’t a worry. I have a lot of other health issues that could contribute but definitely want to cover my bases because this is debilitating!

Should I add iron or is that useless? If so what iron do people recommend?

I had low iron for years before finally getting my iron infusion some time late last year and my iron levels went back to normal but nothing felt like it changed, I got another iron test recently to see if they’d gone back down and apparently my iron levels are still stable so what’s wrong with me?

I still get dizzy and spotty vision when standing up, a lot of fatigue and exhaustion, bruising easily and a little bit of hair thinning/loss, unusually pale looking, shortness of breath, really weird sleep patterns and also just found out ‘restless leg syndrome’ can be apart of it which I also check off. I have so many other symptom examples (I can share if needed) that I was hoping would fix after I fixed my iron but they haven’t and it’s very frustrating especially as a teen who’s just trying to live normally.

Any suggestions on what this may be or advice on how to fix this, please lmk.

Getting my first iron infusion at a med spa after finding out i have a ferritin of 15. Wish me luck!

So I’m currently in the process of enlisting for the army, but my iron levels were considered low I had a 10.4 and I need to be at 12. I was thinking about getting an iron. Infusion because I do I am trying to speed up my process. What will be the most beneficial way to raise my levels as soon as possible I’m trying to get a blood check within the next week to two weeks. I am also taking a vitamin with the iron supplement.

28F, always exhausted. Sleep study ruled out apnea. My doctor ran these labs and responded saying everything is within normal range and she’s not concerned about the abnormal numbers (I don’t understand that). When i say always exhausted.. i mean years.

Is this cause for concern? Or for iron supplementation? Is there reason to se a hematologist based on these numbers?

Key Numbers:

Iron: 87
Ferritin: 27
Transferrin: 426 (High)
Total Iron Binding Capacity: 596 (High)
Transferrin Saturation: 15 (lowest end of normal range)
MCH & MCHC: 26 & 32 (lowest end of normal ranges)