Iron deficient / anaemia

[DorisLessingsCat]

So I had a blood test and got the results today, apparently my iron levels are very low and I'm severely anaemic.

No identified cause, I have a good diet, am a normal weight and haven't noticed being any more fatigued than normal. It's possibly heavy period related so I've come away with tranexemic acid and iron tablets.

Just asking if anyone's been in the same situation and what was the outcome? TIA

[boringisasboringdoes]

I was anaemic and had heavy periods then I got a Mirena and no more periods & felt so much better. Now if I see photos from that time I can see how tired/pale I looked and didn't realise

[DorisLessingsCat]

The doc did mention Mirena but I've heard the horror stories, and also I don't need contraception, so I didn't countenance that.

How long did it take for the iron tablets to kick in?

I have a really pale complexion anyway so I haven't noticed myself looking any worse than usual!

[Lucyslampost]

I discovered I was anaemic when I went to give blood and they didn't want it after the iron test! Doctor's blood test confirmed I was v anaemic and I'm on iron tablets. I had been feeling very dizzy and tired, exhausted going up stairs and with occasional palpitations but had just ignored all that, so things fell into place a bit.

I'm now about three weeks into iron tablets and feeling a million times better. I have a follow up blood test at the end of next week, but I think it took about a week for the iron to kick in properly, and I've been eating lots of leafy green veg etc.

Hope you feel better soon -- it's absolutely horrible!

[MargoLovebutter]

I really struggle to maintain my iron stores - not really 100% sure why. I've had to supplement with iron most of my adult life and I'm regularly tested and cannot stay at a decent level unless I continue to supplement.

Some iron tablets are really hard on the guts, so see how you get on with what they've given you. Most GPs prescribe ferrous sulphate because it is the cheapest option but that can be the toughest on the guts. If you find you struggle, ask for ferrous gluconate or fumarate. My favourite is chelated iron bisglycinate, but I'm not sure you can get that on the NHS. Take the iron with Vitamin C, as this aids absorption.

Did they test levels of Vit D, B12 or folate too? Often these are low too. If you go back for a retest you might want to ask them to do these as well. If they did test them, as for print outs of the results, because the levels may be very low but just in range, in which case they won't get flagged, but low levels are not the same as optimal levels.

[DorisLessingsCat]

I don't think I've felt overly tired, breathless, lethargic etc., so I'm excited to see how I'll feel in 3 weeks time!

My B12 is also very low, so apparently I might need injections. I can't remember about folate! I'll ask when I have my follow up in 3 weeks time.

I do have a low iron level generally and had to have supplements when I was pregnant.

The tablets haven't been troublesome yet but this is only day two, so thank you for the advice.

[mnthrowaway2099]

I take the contraceptive injection, so I don’t actually get periods anymore but even without menses I struggle to maintain iron stores too! I’m not anaemic but have low ferritin from time to time so take ferrous fumarate for about 3-6 months a year to keep my ferritin topped up.

Like you, I didn’t notice being more tired than usual when my levels were low. I guess I got used to it and it became my new normal, as after I started to take them I looked and felt better. There were even little changes like increased hair growth/less hair falling out etc.