Advice on how to take ferrous gluconate anyone?

[megcleary]

My ferritin has been low since I had dd 11 months ago, the GP put me on ferrous gluconate and said take one a day. Few months later blood test and it hasn't improved, they said I had been taking it wrong and that tea reaaly inhibits it being absorbed. So on I go another few months, next blood test no improvement.

Went to see GP had a lovely locum who said no wonder you should be on three a day.

I would like to start feeling less tired and irritable soon, what is the best way to take this drug does anyone know.

Thanks

[megcleary]

bump

[canyou]

Take one every second day, prune juice, orange juice to avoid constipation
If like me the reading is 6 I do try to take the 3 a day with orange juice and def have prune juice and fibre [flax seed etc] I try to drink liquorish tea as well

[canyou]

Oh and peppermint tea to help settle your stomach and a laxative helps

[megcleary]

Cheers.

[boysrock]

Take it after food with orange juice and avoid tea with your meal of ferrous gluconate.

The orange has vitamin c so helps it to be absorbed and taking it after food helps to avoid it irritating your bowel.

Good luck its horrible stuff to take.

[canyou]

Do they have a cause? I started cerazette and not having a period has helped it means my count is around 10 now and I feel human. And exercise will help constipation even if it is the last thing you feel like doing, also stomach massage to help get things moving

[megcleary]

The cause is pregnancy they say and will add orange juice to shopping list.

[MummyAbroad]

caffeine isnt the only thing that prevents iron from being absorbed, dairy products do too, so dont take it with a glass of milk. I found it easier to take it just before bed with a glass of orange juice (Vit C helps iron to be absorbed) However after a while I had to switch to slow release iron tablets like these, because everything else made me really constipated.

I also found that I got a higher iron level when I added a multi B Vit, I believe other B vitamins help iron to be absorbed too - perhaps you could ask your doc about this?

[SkiBumMum]

Have you tried Spatone?

[canyou]

Lol at least you know that there is an end in sight and a snuggly LO as well.
Really MummyAbroad I will keep that in mind but makes sense as VIT B is found in meat products along with Iron pity I am veggie

[megcleary]

I did try Spatone but the GP said the iron in it is not enough and would take too long to increase my level ( he then put me on one iron tablet a day which did nothing and another GP said take 3...sigh).