Hello everyone, I cannot tell you how relieved I was to find this board!
I have been "officially" anemic for about 2 years. My first PCP sent me directly to the hospital for a 2 unit transfusion, it helped, but only for about 3 weeks. I then went back to my old PCP who was monitoring my dropping iron levels, she then referred me to a hematologist who immediatley had me begin IV iron once a week for 4 weeks. My original count was a 5.9, I am now up to 10. Sounded great to me, however, I have not felt any better. The side-effects from the IV iron are so severe and almost incapacitate me. She reported that I need at least 5 more treatments of the IV iron because my ?? was a 2 out of a 100???? Basically that my bones are not absorping the iron. I feel worse today as I write this then I have probably ever felt. It takes everything I have to get out of bed in the morning and daily tasks like grocery shopping are enough to sent me directly to bed! My hair is shedding, it has for years, just more now, my toungue hurts??? My body aches and my head pounds.
Anyone out there with anything similar? I thought i should be feeling MUCH better, but I keep feeling worse and worse!
Sorry to go on and on, any feedback would be so very much appreciated!:)

I am sorry tht you are not well. There are a lot of us on this board that can understand where you are coming from. Having a ferritin level of 10 is still way too low. My hematologist wants to keep me at least 50. I too have been suffering from anemia for almost three years. That is when I was officially dx. My ferritin at that time was 2. I just went for another round of IV iron, this time Venofer. Which does not take as long and no pre medication. The only disadvange of Venofer is that you may have to go back more ofter for IV. I had Infed about 6 months ago. After that infusion my level was 89. We were so pleased, but less then 6 months, I had lost over half of my iron. My hematologist said at this rate, I would not have any ferritin in 6 months. So their reason for topping off my tank. Yes if your ferritin is below 70, your hair will fall out faster. I noticed that when my level was around 50, my hair also started to fall out again. I thank God that I have a dr who is on top of this. My pcp, gyn, and gastro all don't seem to be troubled as long as my ferritin is above 10. That is why you need to see someone who knows blood, ie hematologist.
You really won't see any improvements until your ferritin is at least above 50. At this point, on one seems to know where my iron goes? I just had surgery for sinus and from all the bleeding even small for the past three weeks, I can tell that everything is pretty low. I was told it could take a week or two before, I will get my engery back from the Venofer I just got. Hang in there, once you reach around 50, you will see some change in you energy level.

I just wanted to say that you're not alone. I always feel like crap.... Always feel out of it, I can't focus, etc... It's awful... It's good to see that we're not alone though...

Hi. After quickly reading several messages regarding anemia and iron infusions I felt compelled to post some info. I've noticed very little mention of a significant issue. First, if NO blood loss is found, the culprit could be a production issue.... Bone marrow isn't able to do it's job. A reticulocyte count shows immature red cells and should be elevated if the bone marrow is responding to the anemia. If not, the question that should be raised is what is inhibiting the correct response? I have found several folks with heavy metals in their systems (lead, mercury, aluminum, arsenic, and/or cadmium) and this suppresses the normal production of cells. IV Chelation is the FDA approved way to clear the burden. Then the anemias resolve on their own over a period of weeks. Testing for heavy metals is best done with a urine collection. Ruling out this surprisingly common issue (as well as the possibility of a drug suppression) has helped a fair number of folks who look deeper for the answer. Check out ACAM.org for more info. Good Luck.