Iron deficient and Vit d deficient, how long to see improvement?

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

It's dd. Her Hb was normal at 11 but ferritin low at 7. No idea what her vit d level as receptionist didn't mention that but the prescription included Vit d and they tested her levels when they did the full blood count.

She feels like crap, tired, breathless, random pains, no energy and has done for a while.

Sadly at 15yo it's all a big drama and she's googled anaemia and now decided she has every other symptom, depression, brain fog, feeling cold all the time. . I'm not sure how much longer I can take this.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Meant to say she obviously now has iron tablets and Vit d tablets.

[Davinaaddict]

As I understand it, it can take 3-6 months for both to recover, but she may feel better before then. I'm 3 months on after a vitamin d deficiency was discovered and don't feel much better, but they won't retest until the 3 month mark for me so I'm back next week to see where my bloods are up to.

[lljkk]

How does anyone have Vit. D deficiency with the fierce sun we've had recently.

[junebirthdaygirl]

I had very low iron on birth of dd. Had to take 2 tablets a day with the threat of a blood transfusion if didn't improve within a few days. She won't be up to par for a while but after a few days she will be a tiny bit better. She needs to persist with them. Kiwis are good, red meat especially liver but she may not agree to that. Its a horrible feeling being low in iron, a sort of breathlessness and dizziness and COLD!

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Thanks everyone.

Hopefully going on the pill to sort her heavy periods out will help with the anaemia as well.

I think the Vit d is probably a chronic thing and I've read that most UK people are deficient to some extent. So your levels fall to sub optimal levels between Sept-may and then you've got 4 months to try and boost them up again. It's probably worse for kids who spend all day at school and teenagers who spend all weekends in bed or in their computer

She's recently had a week in Italy and even that hasn't helped!

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

She's mesnt to be having bloods redone in Nov but she's not keen in the idea!

[littleducks]

In pregnancy i boosted my iron levels quickly with max dose spatone in orange juice, sprinkling pumpkin seeds on everything and cutting down on tea/coffee

[buttertoffee]

had low ferritin. took 2-3 x /day Ferrous sulphate. started to feel better after 4/5 months to feel better and see a significant improvement in ferritin levels.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Blimey, I'm really hoping it doesn't take months!

We were meant to be going out today and she couldn't get up. Was just crying saying she was too tired and her head hurt.

[Nearlyhadenough]

2 1/2 weeks ago my ferritin level was at 5 - taking iron tablets and eating red meat and leafy green veg has helped minimally.

I can sympathise with your DD. Luckily I work in a school so am on holiday for another 4 weeks.

Everyone around me thinks I am making it up!

[Dontlaugh]

This happened me and I had iron injections. I felt better after the first one! I think it was a course of 6? Or maybe 4. Was a while ago but it was amazing. They are expensive so are not offered as a first recourse. There's also iron infusions (on a drip). Also expensive. But they work much faster.
I will say she's young, relatively fit and healthy so the oral option should be ok but will take at least 3 months to see an improvement. Unless she has underlying health issues (I do) or can't take oral iron then she should be fine with the tabs, painfully slow as it is.

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

She's just decided two weeks ago to turn vegetarian as well so sadly red meat not an option. she will eat spinach actually.

I've ordered higher strength Vit d tablets. Dr had put her on 800iu twice a day but Google suggests she should be on 4000iu once a day minimum and to take in the morning not evening.

nearly. Hope you're feeling better soon.

[SkyLucy]

I had exactly the same problem. I took two Galfer tablets a day (iron), and my ferritin levels rose by 2 points every week. I had hair loss due to my low ferritin and I hate to say that even four months after taking the pills, my hair loss didn't stop. (I had to stop taking the pills because I got pregnant!) The cause of my low ferritin was 10 yrs of vegetarianism plus horrendously heavy periods.

The vit D problem was rectified very quickly. Prob was (again) being veggie, being incredibly fair, and being stuck in an office all day. I took two Boots vit D pills each day, and was told to stop after 3 months because my levels were too high!

Persevere, and I'm sure your DD will feel better soon. And no good comes from over-Googling!

[Dontlaugh]

Oh also meant to add re vit d that to boost levels then 4000mg per day as per pp is right. Maintenance dose is 400iug or maybe 600 here but in US it's much higher, a friend of mine goes with the US recommendation and swears by it.

[changingnameforthispost]

I can't comment on the iron levels, but after 3 months on 1 vit D 20000 mg per day ( GP advice) I started to feel much better, and now the sun is here am not taking them at all, but will recommence in the Autumn.
I can't begin to tell you how rotten I felt, so achy and tearful I could barely walk without massive pain.

[JulieJuniper]

lljkk - there's growing concern about low vit D levels because of the campaign to cover up and use high factor sun screen to prevent skin cancer, so people aren't getting enough sunlight to produce vit D naturally.

I followed a couple of threads here last year about vit D and paid to have blood tests. My first was in October last year and came in at 60 nmol/L (50 being the minimum for "adequate" and 220 being "high"). I took 2000 IU daily, then checked again at the end of April, when it was 160. I then dropped down to 1000 IU daily, but will go up to 2000 IU again from September/October.

Probably everybody varies, but that might give some idea that, at least for me, after six months I reckon my levels were good. (Though I'm old, overweight, and don't go out much, plus I smoke, so it quite possibly took me longer.)

I did notice an improvement in mood and energy level fairly soon after starting the vit D supplements which has continued.

[Davinaaddict]

That seems like a really low dose of vitamin D the GP has prescribed. My doctor prescribed 20,000 iu twice a week for 8 weeks. My level was 17nmol/l, so I've had some making up to do!

Have a read of the Vitamin D Council website if you want to read up on it. It's really interesting. And there are loads of threads on here as well

[EreniTheFrog]

Has your DD been researching non-meat sources of iron? Spinach has a lot less than its reputation would suggest. Much better are dried apricots, hummus, baked beans, cashew nuts. I had very low Hb and ferritin in my last pregnancy, so do sympathise.