Should I wait longer for iron tablets to work or go back?

[Snowflakes1122]

On Friday I had medical management for my missed miscarriage. I was 13 weeks but baby died 11 weeks.
Anyway, had major complications and went into shock and lost 2 1/2 litres of blood. Was put on a drip and sent for an operation.

My haemagobin came back at 4, but they retired later and it came
Out of the critically low to just anaemic. It was boarder line with needing a transfusion, so they said if I felt ok I could avoid it and get home (I really wanted to go home by then, so I opted for the iron tablets and home)
Anyway, it's four days since it all happened. Been on iron tablets 3 days, and I am so breathless going to the loo and I am constantly dizzy unless laying down. I'm getting palpitations too.

Should I give it longer for them to kick in, or would I be unreasonable to go back and see if I need the transfusion I was trying to avoid? I can't be like this as I've kids to look after and dh is working. Never felt so weak.

[Snowflakes1122]

I should mention I stayed in overnight and they retested the blood the next day and it came back just anaemic for clarity.

[shinynewusername]

If you are getting breathless and dizzy with minimal exertion like this, then you need to see a doctor today.

(I'm a doctor)

[CantChoose]

Sorry for your loss
Iron tablets will take a long time to work. You wouldn't expect to see much improvement yet, unlikely any at all.
If you're that symptomatic I would contact them to arrange transfusion. Many hospitals have a day center you can attend to have this rather than a full on admission.
Hope you feel better soon.

[junebirthdaygirl]

I was 8 and they said a transfusion if not gone up in 2 days. That's horrendous to be 4. The symptoms are dreadful and scary, l remember that.Could you call the hospital or GP to describe them? Are you taking iron morning and night? Be careful if you are on your own with small children as you could faint.
I'm sorry about your miscarriage. To feel physically so dreadful at such a sad time makes it twice as hard.

[Snowflakes1122]

Thank you for replies. I'm on iron 3 times a day. Also bought that Floaradix stuff.
They tested my levels three times. They came back at 4, then 9 then last one was 8.2.

Will call the ward. Although I feel panicked about the idea of going back there. Still feeling traumatised as I lost consciousness and room filled with medics. Utterly terrifying.

[midcenturymodern]

I was 4 and felt noticeably better after about 3 weeks on 3x210mg ferrous fumarate (sp?) in so much as I wasn't breathless going up one flight of stairs or feeling dizzy. It was about 4 months before I started to feel well. I would go back to see what they can do because, as you say, you can't be in that state with kids to look after. I cut out tea and coffee and took vit C to help with absorption. I also ate loads of black pudding because animal sources of iron are easier to absorb

[Wolpertinger]

Go back (also a doctor). Iron tablets take a long time to work and you can't realistically hang around waiting falling over and being short of breath while they kick in over several weeks.

[Snowflakes1122]

midcenturymodern

Sounds similar to me. That's what I've been prescribed. I think I need to be patient then.

This heat probably isn't helping my low bp either.

[Snowflakes1122]

Thanks for doctors replies-will be calling them.

[Mouikey]

Might be worth seeing if they can do an iron infusion - gets it in quick smart... as others have said tablets will take a few weeks to get going and you may need to look at other types of iron if the ones you have aren't helping much.

Sorry to hear what has happened x

[Bluewombler2k]

As well as calling the docs just to be safe, you could try buying Feroglobin tablets and use those instead of the prescribed ones. When I was pregnant my iron levels dropped but the ferrous tablets made me constipated (sorry tmi), I changed to Feroglobin and my levels went up really quickly, I still take them every other day. I think Boots sometimes does 2 for 1 on them too.

[shinynewusername]

As well as calling the docs just to be safe, you could try buying Feroglobin tablets and use those instead of the prescribed ones

Please don't do this. Feroglobin has less than a 10th of the iron that is in prescribed tablets.