Iron Deficiency Anemia: At what ferritin level do you get infusions?

Hello @brittanylee and welcome to Connect! It sounds as if your fatigue is hard for you to deal with. You don't mention your age or any other health issues which might be impacting the anemia. Are you taking other meds?

I'm not sure what diagnoses have been ruled out by your medical team, however, are you aware that iron deficient anemia can be caused by abnormalities in the digestive tract?

Here is a link to an article from John Hopkins regarding various reasons for iron deficiency anemia,

Have you been referred to a gastroenterologist for a thorough check of the upper digestive tract? If not, this might be a good next step. I have a friend who had this same problem and an upper endoscopy revealed Celiac Disease. Following a gluten-free eating plan took care of this problem.

How long has this anemia been a problem?

Have you read the discussions in the group regarding iron depletion due to the covid vaccine?

Where is the discussion. Idevelopedit after receiving vaccine

Here it is - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/iron-depletion-in-blood-and-covid-vaccine/

Hi all. I have low ferritin (19.2) (range [30 - 400] but high serum ion level (230) range [59-193]. Iron Saturation Blood Test (64%) range [15%-45%]. I have to mention that I was discovering this during a regular blood test. Also I have to mention that I drink daily a lot of green tee (~5 small cups) and I'm doing a lot of sport ( sweat a lot). What do you think ?

Eddie, did you talk to your doctor about the results of your blood test?

brittanylee @brittanylee

I have had iron injections in past when my ferritin level dropped to 8. This was after gastric bypass surgery and body was not absorbing enough protein.

First the provider recommended Vitron-C and monitoring the amount of protein I was eating. It was not enough to raise iron level.

Drs. did order upper and lower GI tests to make sure there was no bleeding causing the low iron levels. Then I was referred to a hematologist who ordered the infusions.

Eventually I was able to maintain iron levels without the infusions.

It is important to find cause of low iron levels, not just treat the symptoms.

It is frustrating, providers are not eager to order infusions.

Good luck,
Laurie

Iron deficiency anemia. Could this be something else? Ferritin is 7. My daughter has 10 areas flagged will be getting infusions next week. What numbers should I be concerned of?

Hello @jamislp and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It is great that you've joined Connect as your daughter is going through this to get support!

First, you will notice that I have moved your post into an existing discussion on this topic which you can find here:
- Iron Deficiency Anemia: At what ferritin level do you get infusions?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/iron-deficiency-anemia-is-terrible/

Members such as @roch and @hopeful33250 may be able to come in and share more with you, and you are also welcome to click the "View and Reply" from this notification and review the whole discussion as well.

In the meantime, do you want to elaborate a bit on the flagged areas you've been made aware of?

@jamislp
Iron infusions are treating a symptom (low ferritin), it is important for you / daughter to ask about what could be causing the low ferritin. In my situation it was due to malabsorption after GI surgery.

You mentioned 10 areas flagged, I guessing you are referring to other blood tests.

When my ferritin was low, other blood tests were effected.
- Hemoglobin, protein in red blood cell
- Hematocrit - concentration of red blood cells
- RBC - number of red blood cells
- WBC - number of white blood cells
- There was also one dealing with the shape of cells

When the low ferritin (iron) was treated, the other numbers recovered.
I had an infusion 3 months ago and will have blood retested next week.

Laurie