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Anyone know how long it takes for iron tablets to 'kick in'???

9 replies

yosammitysam · 26/07/2008 20:53

Hi,
Just had my (very beautiful!) ds3 and had another pph as I did with ds2. Had a transfusion last time but this time my hb level was 8.6 which is apparently very low but can get away without tranfsusion- so they let me go home with iron tablets. Am feeling crap though! I started taking them on Thursday morning and I'm just wondering when I'll stop feeling so totally washed out- realise will feel washed out anyway with night feeds etc but this is different! Do I give it a week or so? Don't know how I'll cope if its any longer esp with 2 very lively older ds's and the summer hols upon us...Anyone got any advice???
Cheers x

OP posts:

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sweetkitty · 26/07/2008 20:56

I'm the same well apart from the pph, my iron was 9.6 the day after DD3 was born I have been on iron tablets for a week, feel a little better but still washed out, some nights I struggle to stay awake past 9 but it may be having a newborn I don't know.

Sorry that doesn't help you just wanted to say I know how crap it is with two other LOs to look after too.

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ThingOne · 26/07/2008 21:02

They can take 2-4 weeks. What sort are you on? Ferrous fumarate make you less constipated that ferrous sulphate. The latter are normally prescribed as cheaper. If you don't like them ask for the better ones!

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moocowme · 27/07/2008 20:48

you feel washed out because your iron is low. your body cannot get enough oxygen around without a good supply.

get some spatone it is soooo much beter and faster without the side effects.

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anonymama · 27/07/2008 20:52

Spatone - iron without constipation. (Tastes like s* though!)

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Spidermama · 27/07/2008 21:01

I found floradix works really well and is very easy to absorb. I highly recommend it if you're feeling washed out. They sell it in health food shops and in chemists.

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spongecake · 27/07/2008 21:18

hi- was on iron tablets after cs and blood level of 4. no transfusion though. for about 3 months. mw told me i would feel better after 50 days. a mad mw told me to take supplements as well which my doc was furious about as they would have made me ill -can;t remember why now.
i ate loads of spinach (lightly pan fried as its lovely hot or cold for when you have to abandon it) and had a sip of red wine daily. i was told to take it really easy, so i did, ie no mental tidyng or long walks/ huge shopping trips.
good luck, and hope you feel better soon.

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ThatBigGermanPrison · 27/07/2008 21:19

statone is good - dump t in fresh orange juice and wash a steak down with it

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BetsyBoop · 27/07/2008 21:26

Had a severe PPH after DS, now almost 9 months, and have only just come of the iron tablets it's taken an age for my levels to get back to normal, & I felt totally washed out for months... (sorry not what you wanted to hear) Was trying to eat an iron rich diet on top of the tablets too.

My Hb after PPH was 8.1 so I escaped a transfusion by the skin of my teeth (my hospital do it for