How accurate are home iron tests

[AnemicShemic]

Hey, so i know I’m very anaemic, gp test came back at 7.6g per dl. Not offered any transfusion but given iron supplements. After 2 weeks of taking them I thought I’d check with my fora 6 Hemoglobin tests (they’ve pretty much been accurate before, maybe 1 g out but still within gps tests)
it’s come back as 5.1g per dl. So I rechecked on different finger (washed hands etc) and it came back as 5.6. 😕

how accurate are they?
should I go to drs for repeat iron tests? (Even though it’s only been two weeks)
and why aren’t I improving!
I’m having usual iron tablet fun-black poop (sorry) stomach pains feeling sickly. So nothing out of the ordinary.

thank you for reading.

Anybody? Please

It’s a bit soon to be expecting miraculous increases tbh and a finger prick test isn’t going to be as accurate as a lab test using a blood sample.
If you are suffering side effects try getting some high strength Iron Bisglycinate, you can get 40mg ones I think. They have better bioavailability than ferrous fumerate and you don’t get the awful side effects.

Thank you! Especially for the recommendation. Side effects are awful.

Im not expecting miraculous results yet but wasn’t expecting to go lower. That’s of course if the test was accurate.
I did think the anemia was down to heavy ish periods but now wonder if there’s something else going on. Back to the gp I guess if nothing improves.
Sick of feeling so drained.