Hi I really need some help.
I had an iron infusion on the 22nd of March and since Thursday im feeling so bad: full of nausea, dizziness, headache and almost fainting.
Is it normal?
i think i have to go to hospital..
How did you get on at the hospital. Hope ur okay.
Hi,
Thanks.
They gave me something for the nausea and told me was probably from migraines 
...So Im taking the medication for the nausea and feel better but im afraid once it finishes it will come again.
They only gave me for 2 days.
So I dont know. I have to wait and pray, i guess.
Thanks
Fear of the unknown is always a worry. My iron infusion caused some symptoms for a few days, but the my anemia symptoms started getting better. I am actually hoping for a second infusion because I can't take oral iron anymore. Good luck. Many people have your back
Hello.just wondering how are u feeling now? I had my iron infusion exactly 3weeks ago...and still feel awful. 3 days later after infusion my blood pressure and temp gone up,felt so much discomfort around heart area that had to do COG and chest xray in A&E.All this settled now but feel nauseous and dizzy.apparently my sodium level is down now.Its crazy....but dr is not giving me any answer.
Hi
Sorry to hear you'r not feeling well.
Im better now but took me almost a month to start feeling normal again.
Now im good but i had a bad time after the infusion.
The doctor also didnt give me any answers.
I had to rest and take care of myself with medication for nausea and headaches.
Hope you 'll feel better soon.
Maybe will be faster for you.
Regards
Hi.Really appreciate your reply.And good to hear you are well now.At least i know all this dizziness and nausea will settle with the time. Worst thing you can not get any answers from Dr's.So frustrating.But glad i found your post as not much info available on side effects after infusion.
Many thanks again.
Keep healthy and happy
Luba
It takes me about 3 weeks to be back to normal, but I don't get the symptoms you describe - you should definitely tell your GP.
Hi everyone
I had an infusion a week ago. I had all the symptoms being described here and now just contact nausea.
This discussion is the only one of its kind I can find! everyone i’ve spoken to has said they’ve only been unwell for a day or 2 afterwards. Even the nurses said it’s strange for me to still feel unwell. Did you say it took you all about 3 weeks to recover ? I don’t think I ever want to have this done again !!!
It sounds as though we are all different. I’m so sorry it was such a dreadful experience. Maybe they can try a different form of iron. I have ferinject which so far has been fine.
i’ve heard the first time is the worst and you’re usually ok if you need to go back. I was told by the nurse that the hematologist will be prescribing me medication before i get it done if i need to have it again
I had my first infusion in november on the 14th and the second one on the 28th it’s now January 12th and I don’t feel that it’s done anything at all 😩 I have a blood test today before seeing the consultant again on the 24th my level was 3 when I had my first infusion I didn’t realise how low that was! I’m still out of breath, get dizzy and so so tired, I’m really at my wits end. I’d just like to know if there is light at the end of the tunnel, I can’t take oral iron and eat loads of iron rich foods anyway, I just want to cry all the time as no one really understands this feeling, every part of me aches 😩
How are you feeling now? I just had my first round of iron infusions today. Feeling kind of dizzy and nausea right now. I know how you feel when you say no one understands. My husband just doesn’t care about how I’m feeling it’s rough.
No better, I didn’t have any reactions to the infusion at all (except for hating the stabby nurse who tried to get the canula in the 2nd time, she got told to leave me alone!) I had bloods taken last week and seeing my consultant next Wednesday to see if my levels are up at all, off to buy liver and more kale later! Hope yours works better, I think I just need more! With a level of 3 😳
Just began iron infusions Wednesday. I expected the symptoms to last just a day or so, cramping, exhaustion, iron taste in back of throat (bleehh!), nausea but it seems to be constant. Headaches kicked in yesterday almost borderline migraine-ish. I feel worse than I do on a normally bad day with anemia/low hemo. I have 5 more weeks of infusions, I wonder if its going to feel like this nonstop till Im done? Awful.
JB13,
Can I ask why you were put on these iron infusions ? Can you give us some background, if possible ?
My gut instinct says if you're getting a reaction as strong as that, you maybe shouldn't be getting infusions, and I'd hold on the next weekly one for a while - after all, iron / Haemoglobin take-up, and loss is considered a relatively slow process, so postponing it for a few weeks shouldn't matter - unless your GPs can give you a good reason why you need them so quickly.
Essentially, if you're now feeling worse than you were before, I'd listen to your body signs, and halt the infusions for now - they can always restart them if you really needed them. Some more background info would help here, but even without that, the signs I'm seeing are that you don't need them.
Hey incredible people!
So I have my iron infusion on Wednesday (now Sunday) and I am experiencing the absolute s**t of it!
I have had several infusions before but we usually only do one vile of the infusion. This time the doctor did 2 in one sitting. The infusion was painless and I was fine until Friday night.
My symptoms include;
No sleep- can’t get comfortable, restless feet, twitching muscles
Running a fever! Yep- hot cold you name it!
Muscle aches everywhere!
Nauseas - I don’t eat bread but I have been the last few days trying to setting the acidity in my stomach.
Migraine like head ache - panadol helps
I’d swear I was pregnant with a alien that wants to kill me-
I had a red wine to take the edge of last night and it did help. At least I got to sleep- just didn’t stay asleep.
Everything hurts- I haven’t had the diroreha just yet- but that must be next as my stomach has aches for days!
I usually love my iron infusion as I regain momentum in life but this time I think I overloaded my system and it’s dealing with the consequences.
I’ll be getting some anti nausea medication today see how that goes. Also a gym and running lover and not being able to move is killing me.
Absolute horrible experience makes me not want to go back haha. And if this is any indication of morning sickness- I will never be having kids- nope!
Hope everyone is finding the silver lining. Xx
Hi everyone,
Yes I agree this is the only discussion I could find in regards to iron infusion. I had my first one last week and before procedure it was explained to me what side effects may occur, some did happen but they were short lived by the time the infusion had finished. Halfway through the infusion I got chest pain, I told the nurse and was asked to take my angina spray, that eased the chest pain, then it reappeared 15 minutes later, GTN took care of it again, now I'm getting chest pain 3-4 times a day since the infusion I still felt sick after and I was informed that it all will be short lived, I'm still feeling sick and the chest pains, I have sore /achy knee joints, feels exactly the same as the side effects from Statins, I'm also experiencing the sweats at random times, sometimes profusely and for no reason, Indigestion and intermittent pains in the back, I have spent the last 5 days in bed, no energy and feeling weak, opiate based pain relief is the only thing that relieves the knee and chest pain. one doctor explained to me that the side effects should of gone and the iron should be starting to making me feel better not worse by now and should get to our emergency room. Another doctor told me that everyone is different in how long side effects remain with some patients, he said to try and hang out for a couple of more days.
I called the manufacturer / supplier of the iron used for infusions, their medical rep explained to me that the symptoms I described can be side effects from their product although very uncommon something like < 1 /1000 patients and the symptoms you and some others are experiencing are common side effects but should be gone with in a couple of days < 1/10 patients. Because I'm experiencing chest pain he had to fill out an uncommon side effect form and report it to both his company and a copy to my cardiologist, no identifying information was needed just a post code , state and an address to where they can send the copy to treating cardiologist.
I can't put up with this anymore and can understand everyone's frustrations in here. I can't get into my GP so I think a trip to hospital is warranted today.
That's my experiences with an iron infusion, I have another one next week, if I'm still feeling like this I don't think I will agree to have it, I can't put my body through this again.
This sounds awful. I’ve not had any of the pain you describe. They say the reactions are rare but perhaps you are one of them. I went into anaphylactic shock when I was given Monofer in an infusion. Apparently that was about 1 in 10000. Yes if you are that one, that’s no consolation! I had been given the iron infusion in the brand Ferinject without complications or side effects. I was given Ferinject again and have had Ferinject about every 3 - 4 months without side effects and great effectiveness.
What I’m saying is, perhaps they could try a different brand of iron infusion. Good luck. I certainly would be wary if another dose of the same after your experience and I don’t understand why they’re not really taking it on board. I’d go back to the person responsible for that infusion and ask to meet with them. There’s usually a phone number for the consultant (if you’re in the UK) on the appointment letter.
Let us know how you get on.
Had my infusion today & feel so horrible. Pain down my arm, nausea, lightheaded, short of breath & headache 😩 also feels like I can hardly walk, no energy whatsoever. Hopefully it doesn’t last to long