I'm not sure this helps answering any of your specific questions, but I'll give an idea of my iron-level situation and what happened to me.
About two years ago, I had reached 40 transfused prbc units(about 250ml per bag) and started 1.2 ml/hour sub-cu Desferal to get back from a ferritin level over 2000ug/L down to around 1000. I lasted about one week before having a severe site reaction and needing to discontinue that treatment.
I've been on Exjade since than, but have recently developed kidney stone problems, so because of the possible side-effect of Exjade on kidney function my hematologist has stopped that treament for now. Last week I had 128th transfued unit and my ferritin level is around 820ug/L.
I think we're all lucky to have more than one drug to keep elevated iron level under control.
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