A writer shares her journey with low iron, and how she swapped pills for iron infusions.
Here’s what happened to her symptoms.
In fact, it was far lower than whats considered healthy for a woman in her late 30s.
Instead of taking iron pills, I continued to take myprenatal vitamins, which contained some iron.
Instead, a few years later (after a successful and healthy pregnancy and birth!)
I wound up with the same exhaustion.
a hematologist with theAmerican Society of Hematologyand associate professor of medicine at theUniversity of Minnesota
Again, my doctor suggested over-the-counter (OTC) iron pills, so I gave them a try.
Id been warned about constipation (a common iron side effect) but was hit with debilitating nausea.
So I quit taking them and instead vowed to eat more steak and spinach and explore homeopathic options.
By the summer of 2024, I wasnt just exhaustedI was depleted.
Turns out I am.
First, what are iron infusions?
One is that somebody tried taking iron pills and just couldnt tolerate them because of the side effects.
The other is because the persons body is not able to absorb iron, she adds.
This can happen to people with underlying health conditions likeceliac diseaseandinflammatory bowel diseaseor to people whove hadgastrointestinal surgery.
a hematologist with theAmerican Society of Hematologyand associate professor of medicine at theUniversity of Minnesota
According to Dr. Marshall, there are several differentformulations of IV iron, the most common beingiron sucroseandferric gluconate.
Your exact dosage will also vary from person to person and the level of your deficiency.
The number and frequency of iron infusions you need can also vary.
She also told me they wouldnt likely be effective at treating my deficiency.
Ive never seen that work, Dr. Kramer says.
This mirrored Dr. Marshalls response when I asked the same question.
She compared low iron levels to a nearly empty fuel tank.
The tank is running low, so to speak, but the car is still running, she adds.
Its very hard to refill a tank just by eating a lot of iron in your diet.
Before the infusion, the nurse drew two vials of blood for some lab work.
The infusion itself was quick, only about 35 minutes.
I didnt have any side effects except for dark urine, which the doctor told me was normal.
(For context, some people can experienceside effectslike nausea, headaches, or allergic reactions from iron infusions.
If you have an allergic reaction, your doctor may suggest taking Benadryl before your appointment.)
My ferritin, red blood cell count, and hemoglobin were higher than theyd been in years.
This brought up the question: Why hadnt doctors suggested iron infusions before?
Turns out the treatment is largely under-prescribed.
Why are iron infusions under-prescribed?
Dr. Kramer says physicians who dont specialize in hematology can have misconceptions about iron infusions.
Some people think theres something extreme or drastic about IV iron, she adds.
Because of that, IV iron got a bad rap, she adds.
But it was discovered that the additives in the formulations caused the problem, not necessarily the infusions themselves.
Cost is a barrier
Money is also an issue.
Iron deficiency can be missed
Lastly, iron deficiency can be missed or dismissed altogether.
Some doctors also dont include an iron panel instandard bloodwork.
She was an avidCrossFitterbut couldnt even get through workouts anymore.
Martinez eventually discovered her iron deficiency while trying to donate blood.
Iron pills made Martinez sick.
But thankfully, after seeing a hematologist, she started iron infusions, which made her feel better.
It was like night and day, she says.
Advocating for yourself is extremely important (and its okay if it feels hard at first).
Sometimes, you might feel like your doctor isnt supporting you the way you hoped.
In cases like this, its a good idea to venture to find a hematologist.
(Considering how common iron deficiency is, chances are someone you know has a recommendation.)
Remember that you are your own best advocate.
If youre not feeling right, you have to trust yourself, Martinez says.
But dont attempt to play Dr. Google, even if you have access to all of your lab results.
Only a trained doctor can accurately interpret test results.
Thats like a leaky bucket that youre pouring water into, Dr. Marshall says.
What you’re gonna wanna do is fix the leak.
Tawfik, Yahya M., et al.
Absolute and functional iron deficiency in the US, 2017-2020.JAMA online grid Open, vol.
9, 24 Sept. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.33126.
Behera, Vineet et al.
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