Feeling awful 10 days after Iron Infusion. Is it normal?

the reactions you describe do happen to a lot of people after infusion,but as your case is a young child maybe go to a&e to be on the safe side,they can give your daughter anti sickness medication.

I have had 3 out of 4 venofer iv's. Symptoms are, random weakness, random nausea, random but annoying muscle cramps, random moments of feeling unwell, most days very sleepy. I have very few moments of feeling energy and when I do its not really much. I had to reschedule my 4th venofer iv a week out to see if I feel better. I can do my chores and care for my kids but most days I feel like I am dragging. Another symptom Ive noticed is feeling shortness of breath. Nothing crazy but very bothersome especially when I cant sing at church. And last, I had 1 episode of an anxiety attack. Heart rate went up to 93 (normally I am between 60-70). I had cold sweats, nervousness, fear and this lasted from 1115am until 4pm. Hasnt happened again Thank God but it was horrible. I am hoping all side effects go away soon. Just want to feel normal again. I pray the same for all of you as well. God bless.

Hey everyone!

Just thought I'd share my experience on the topic.

I'm 20 years old by the way (if that helps anyone), and I received my first transfusion on the 3rd of July. It was recommended that I should have the transfusion over any tablet supplements because my iron levels were as low as 5. The iron transfusion I was recommended to received was 1000ml of CARBOXYMALTOSE within half hour. With the transfusion I received on the 3rd, My boyfriends dad took me so I had some well know support as I had been told about the anaphylactic shock that may occur and it made me quiet nervous.

So on the day of the transfusion, the first vile in was going okay, until about 3/4 of the way, I had to ask the nurse to stop as I started getting hot flushes over my face and my jaw went tense, and my stomach was flooding with what I believe was anxiety, but nothing like I had felt ever before. After some water, undoing my jeans and slipping off my shoes, we went forward and I finished the last quarter of the first and made it through the second one with no more troubles, apart from a very light tingle sensation all over my body and even then that wasn't as distressing and was very easily manageable. Afterwards, I had my heart rate checked and waited for about 20 minutes and was cleared to leave at about 2:30. My physical health felt wonderful, but I will admit, my paranoia played up a little. A synthetic iron inserted into our blood streams? We all fear the unknown.

I pushed the negative thoughts away, told my anxiety where to go and focused on how different I felt, it was better, my boyfriends dad took me for lunch and noticed a new bubbly me. Well, he didn't see me that night when the side effects decided to pay a visit at about 7:30. I'll mention now as well, nobody informed me about what side effects may occur. My anxiety shot through the roof when they all came to join the party, and after tossing and turning I ended up crawling into bed with my mum at about 10pm because I couldn't shake this awful feeling that if I slept I wasn't going to wake up. I felt a little safer, as she's currently undergoing her Enrolled Nursing studies so I knew she could monitor me.

My side effects from the first night were-

• fatigue

• nervous energy

• nausea

• hot flushes

• dizziness

• metal taste on the back of my tongue ( my poor mother woke up to the god awful sound of me with my fingers in my throat trying to pull the build up out)

• I had an extremely hard time getting to sleep, as mentioned before this was paranoia, I couldn't recognize my body.

Day 2 arrived, symptoms didn't leave so it was a trip to the GP around lunch time. Checked my vitals, everything was good apart from my pulse that was a little fast but nothing to worry about. I asked my GP if anyone had died from an iron transfusion, my body was still screaming at me that something felt off. After a laugh with him about my paranoia, he was honest, and said there have been deaths caused from this, however if we were to have this reaction it would be instant or within the first hour. He also reassured me that it's the same risk we take from the second we open our eyes and I left with feeling at ease. Giving me a medical cert to take the week off work, informing me to rest or keep busy, just to ride it out and take each day as it comes. No straight answer.

Later that afternoon I was bed bound. I had no energy but my anxiety was peaking still. I couldn't do anything but lay in bed and listen to mind and soul meditation on youtube to calm myself. I was still experiencing majority of the side effects from the night prior, this was also the last night I had the terrible metal taste, it hasn't come back yet (touch wood). I couldn't sleep, my boyfriends mum has had 2 transfusions and I spoke with her, though she was fine the first night of her last transfusion, she agreed the second night was odd for her. She gave me the health direct phone number (AUS) ‭1800 022 222‬ and once I spoke to a registered nurse who was an absolute gem, I finally slept.

Day 3 came, still fatigue and had nausea but the rest of symptoms went away. However a new symptom came around and it felt like someone was sitting on my chest. This was making it hard for me to regulate my breathing, but I eventually got it under control as the day went by. I was still feeling extremely uneasy, HOWEVER, day 3 is when I found this forum, and knowing I wasn't the only one struggling helped me sleep a lot easier.

Day 4, the heaviness on my chest past, but was replaced with chest pains. Only had about 4/5 through out the day. Everything else was more bearable, my anxiety and nausea was still was off and this was one thing that didn't go at all that I really found the hardest to deal with.

However I feel as though I should mention the mental struggles I've faced since the transfusion, and only since it. A week prior, I was bursting with life (even though I was iron deficient) I was making plans on my career, getting my life together, I had underlying stress from some issues with my partner, but I felt like the life was really sucked out of me after this. It was getting unbearable, and when I found this forum, I read it and re-read it. All 132 comments. Everyone who shared their story helped me through the worst time of my life, and I'm just hoping I can help someone else. Let me assure you, it gets easier! I'm still weak, and worn out, but I am pushing through.

It's now the 8th of July, only 5 days I can feel myself again, my mind is starting to settle and I believe its up hill from here. Hang in there, it's one of the hardest things I've dealt with but I just kept pushing. YOU CAN DO IT GUYS, take care of yourself, monitor your symptoms. I'll post an update in a month, don't hesitate to reach out to me, I wish I didn't have to go through this alone so I will help anyone I can! XO

This is normal, Iron infusion has many side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach aches, diarrhea, constipation and so on.

GUYS-

after 3 weeks I finally went to the hospital, I've seen 3 different gps, 7 times over the last couple of weeks and I wasn't getting anywhere! I complained about the nausea, dizziness, extreme anxiety and the constant feeling I was dying, problems with my bowel movements, pains all over my body, headaches, and they all kept telling me it wasn't the infusion. The one who gave me the infusion saw me 3 times afterwards and on 2 occasions just told me it was depression and encouraged me to just get anti depressants to deal with this. Today I went and spoke to the pharmacist where I got bought it from, I wanted to fill out a side effect form, so he was the first person to listen and suggested going to the hospital. Had a few errands to run before I had time to go to the hospital but I had the most awful anxiety attack and couldn't put it off any longer. 6 hours well worth it. I had a nurse asses me, followed by a doctor who informed me how unnecessary the infusion was for my situation! Though I had low iron, tablets would have been sufficient for me (I was told an infusion was the only way to bring my levels up fast and the tablets wouldn't be enough by the first gp presenting my blood results)

Have had my vitals checked, chest, urine and bloods, doctor was pleased to announce my health was out standing, especially shocked herself after realizing what I was suffering with.

So with that being said, I've had my system flushed now, and I genuinely feel like myself now. I can expect to feel a little ill still for the next week at least, but have been encouraged to go back if symptoms don't go by then. Still weak and have a touch of anxiety but I have self control over my mind again. Will never ever get this again!!

• Thank you again to everyone who's shared their experience, and I hope my experience can help someone else! DON'T STOP UNTIL YOU HAVE ANSWERS. YOU KNOW YOUR BODY BETTER THEN ANYONE ELSE!!! If I had only known then what I know now.. Always do your research, and please leave the infusion unless you can't take oral Supplements!

Hang in there guys and girls xo

to anyone new following this thread theres a ton of cross over in here theres iron infusions for anemia and theres ones for low ferritin which is blood stores. diff infusions but listed throught this conv as same things. just to join the group. i had 4 prior ferinject 30 min infusions no problems, just had monofer on friday and been ill in hotels since sunday. i knew i should not leave but the world kept telling me i will be fine it says 1-2 days recovery. so far cost me £300 in alternative hotel arrangements. feeling sick, full could not eat, dizzy, heart palpitations now passed, funny taste, reflux, stomach pain and headaches from hell. temp passed yesterday at last. keeping toast down now but still feel green etc n exhausted slept soooo much

Hi there,

Can anyone please tell me if they have experienced these side effects when pregnant?

I am currently 27 weeks pregnant with twins.

4 days ago I had 1000mg (two vials) of Ferinject administered within about 15 minutes dues to low iron from my pregnancy.

All felt fine until a few hours later I became very fatigued and had to be driven home from work. That night I went downhill - hot and cold flushes, whole body aches to the point where I’m practically immobile and the heavy fatigue. Not fun combined with my pregnancy symptoms! The next day this continued and I was vomiting as well.

My Obstetrician said it was fine for me to take Onadestrone to control the nausea and I did my best to eat steamed vegetables and fruit for the babies.

I have been trying to manage the severe body aches with Panadol and heat packs, it has been particularly bad due to a slipped disk in my lower back playing up the week prior. I’ve had acupuncture and cranial Osteo in the past week to try and manage that but in the meantime have taken to spending the last few days on a thin mattress on the floor of our lounge as our pillow-top bed is too soft and I cannot get comfortable in an other position.

So the vomiting has stopped, though the hot/cold, fatigue, headaches and body aches remain. My Obstetrician seems to think I picked up a flu or a bug but reading on here I’m not so sure... The babies are kicking away and I’ve taken advice from here to have probiotics, vitamin D, food with phosphate and keeping my fluids up to ride through it.

I’d be keen to hear and advice or experiences anyone might have had being pregnant and getting these symptoms from the infusion please? I can probably cope with most of it, just the body aches are so bad it’s been debilitating.

Thanks in advance Kyla