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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if this is an emergency?

257 replies

Soitis83 · 01/03/2025 20:56

Posting here mainly for traffic.

The last week or so I've felt terrible. Finally took an iron tablet and felt so much better.
Problem is that better didn't last very long so I took another one..then another and then another. All together 80mg, one packet is mixed with other things and one is just 20mg.
I've convinced myself I'm going to die. Please someone reassure me I'm going to be okay

OP posts:
Zippidydoodah · 01/03/2025 21:21

maybe the ambulance is for MH reasons….

Original poster
Soitis83 · 01/03/2025 21:20

StillweriseLH · 01/03/2025 21:19

Of course they did. Because 111 follows a checklist, and you said “overdose” didn’t you? Or told them you’d taken too many tablets. It’s a flag on their system

likewise if u ring 111 and say “bleeding from a head wound that won’t stop” you’ll got told A&E or ambulance before you can explain you pinched your skin with the tweezers when doing your eye brows and you keep dabbing the blood.

Edited
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I didn't say overdose at all. I told her the exact amount at the exact times taken

OP posts:
DragonBalls · 01/03/2025 21:20

This does not make sense.

I can’t believe 111 would send an ambulance. They must have thought you sounded unreliable in your account of what you had taken.

I know health anxiety doesn’t have to make sense, but surely some common sense can cut through…

Birdwordie · 01/03/2025 21:20

I'm sure you can get iron infusions at 1000mg in one sitting, I don't think 80mg is going to do much harm, but best to get checked out anyway. Could you notnget a taxi to your a&e? It would be much quicker. I wouldn't overthink it if you can help it (easier said than done I know)

Original poster
Soitis83 · 01/03/2025 21:20

Lileas · 01/03/2025 21:18

This. I'm no medical expert but I'm pretty sure taking 4 over the counter iron tablets doesn't constitute an ambulance coming out or a medical emergency. I'm struggling to believe that this is true!

I was on prescription does iron tablets before, 3 times a day. I can't remember the dose but pretty sure it was a lot more than what the OP has taken. Iron tablets don't instantly make you feel better either. This whole post is just completely bizarre.

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I can promise you I'm no troll. The ambulance surprised me too I just wanted advice. Maybe it was a placebo effect? Either way it definitely made me feel better, not 100% but better than I did

OP posts:
StillweriseLH · 01/03/2025 21:19

Soitis83 · 01/03/2025 21:15

I called 111 for advice and she said she's sending an ambulance

Show quote history

Of course they did. Because 111 follows a checklist, and you said “overdose” didn’t you? Or told them you’d taken too many tablets. It’s a flag on their system

likewise if u ring 111 and say “bleeding from a head wound that won’t stop” you’ll got told A&E or ambulance before you can explain you pinched your skin with the tweezers when doing your eye brows and you keep dabbing the blood.

Original poster
Soitis83 · 01/03/2025 21:18

nevertrustanyoneagain · 01/03/2025 21:16

What on earth have I just read?? I take 200mg iron a day. A tablet won’t instantly make you feel better. Did you use the word overdose and that is why you are getting an ambulance?? I begged for one two weeks ago with an unconscious husband and after three hours they sent a taxi !!! He was in hospital over a week but no ambulances!!

Oh my gosh ! That's awful I'm so sorry. No I didn't say overdose. I was very matter of fact with what I've taken at what times

OP posts:
Lileas · 01/03/2025 21:18

Hercisback1 · 01/03/2025 21:08

What?

None of this makes sense.

Iron tablets don't work like that, you don't instantly feel better.

This. I'm no medical expert but I'm pretty sure taking 4 over the counter iron tablets doesn't constitute an ambulance coming out or a medical emergency. I'm struggling to believe that this is true!

I was on prescription does iron tablets before, 3 times a day. I can't remember the dose but pretty sure it was a lot more than what the OP has taken. Iron tablets don't instantly make you feel better either. This whole post is just completely bizarre.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 01/03/2025 21:17

I certainly don't think you need an ambulance if that makes you feel any better....

Surely the body just pisses out any excess vitamins? It doesn't absorb everything in them and it doesn't sound like a massive dose anyway.

CatCaretaker · 01/03/2025 21:17

I take galfer every day. 305mg ferrous fumarate every day, as a maintenance dose. When my iron was low I was taking double that (on doctor's orders).

Also, iron tablets don't work instantaneously.

StillweriseLH · 01/03/2025 21:17

Soitis83 · 01/03/2025 21:15

I know I definitely have low iron as I'm my last pregnancy she said I was very low. I'm not sure how they made me feel better so quickly. But honestly, I do have massive health anxiety

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Yeah we guessed that.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 01/03/2025 21:16

Soitis83 · 01/03/2025 21:12

I was quite surprised myself. I can't get there myself as I have three young children here

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And? What's going to happen to them if you miraculously need to go to hospital?

polkadotpixie · 01/03/2025 21:16

That seems like a massive overreaction by 111 for 80mg of iron...I'm supposed to take 630mg every day!

Also, iron doesn't work to immediately make you feel better, it just doesn't work like that

happytobee · 01/03/2025 21:16

DrummingMousWife · 01/03/2025 21:13

an Ambulance for 80mg ?! Wow. I didn’t think that would be logged as urgent enough for an ambulance to be honest .

If someone has taken an overdose (even a very minor one) if they won’t take themselves to hospital and 111/999 has been made aware they then have to send out an ambulance as a duty of care.

Elderly people fall and lay on the floor for hours in their own urine and defacate because there is so few ambulances.

StillweriseLH · 01/03/2025 21:16

Soitis83 · 01/03/2025 21:12

I was quite surprised myself. I can't get there myself as I have three young children here

Show quote history

Well what difference does an ambulance make then? Or are you treating it like a home visit?

you’ll still have three children with you if they decide to take you to hospital. Which I doubt will be the outcome.

nevertrustanyoneagain · 01/03/2025 21:16

What on earth have I just read?? I take 200mg iron a day. A tablet won’t instantly make you feel better. Did you use the word overdose and that is why you are getting an ambulance?? I begged for one two weeks ago with an unconscious husband and after three hours they sent a taxi !!! He was in hospital over a week but no ambulances!!

Original poster
Soitis83 · 01/03/2025 21:15

happytobee · 01/03/2025 21:14

You took 4 (low dose / multivitamin) iron tablets over a course of a day and have called an ambulance… what a waste of resources ?

I called 111 for advice and she said she's sending an ambulance

OP posts:
Barrenfieldoffucks · 01/03/2025 21:15

Now you know a little more, do you still think you need an ambulance?

I'm thinking this doesn't quite ring true...

richardosmanstrousers · 01/03/2025 21:15

I was quite surprised myself. I can't get there myself as I have three young children here

And how does an ambulance make a difference?

DivorcedMumOfAdults · 01/03/2025 21:15

If you are able to get to A&E then take the packets of what you have taken and go there if you are worried wait for ambulance is too long.

Original poster
Soitis83 · 01/03/2025 21:15

TeenLifeMum · 01/03/2025 21:12

If you have low iron or ferritin then you need to take 250mg tablets of iron (ferrous fumerate) - I was prescribed 4 a day. It takes 2 weeks to start feeling the difference and definitely isn’t an immediate pick me up. Hope that’s a helpful guide for you.

Ask your gp for a blood test but make sure it includes ferritin. Mine went down to 6 and I felt awful.

I know I definitely have low iron as I'm my last pregnancy she said I was very low. I'm not sure how they made me feel better so quickly. But honestly, I do have massive health anxiety

OP posts:
happytobee · 01/03/2025 21:14

You took 4 (low dose / multivitamin) iron tablets over a course of a day and have called an ambulance… what a waste of resources ?

DrummingMousWife · 01/03/2025 21:13

an Ambulance for 80mg ?! Wow. I didn’t think that would be logged as urgent enough for an ambulance to be honest .

Original poster
Soitis83 · 01/03/2025 21:13

Barrenfieldoffucks · 01/03/2025 21:11

Agreed, iron is not a pick my up like caffeine or whatever!

I think the issue here is more around your anxiety, and understanding of risk. Have you done any research into standard medicinal doses etc? Am guessing not. Similarly, I'm guessing you didn't tell the call handler you'd taken 4 vitamin tablets, but just described it as 'an overdose of iron'?

I'm meant to take 600mg a day as standard...80mg is not ambulance material.

I told them the exact amount from the exact brand

OP posts:
TeenLifeMum · 01/03/2025 21:12

If you have low iron or ferritin then you need to take 250mg tablets of iron (ferrous fumerate) - I was prescribed 4 a day. It takes 2 weeks to start feeling the difference and definitely isn’t an immediate pick me up. Hope that’s a helpful guide for you.

Ask your gp for a blood test but make sure it includes ferritin. Mine went down to 6 and I felt awful.

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