Should I just give DD (13) iron tablets?

[PaperSky]

DD is 13 and has been complaining for a few months of being lightheaded and dizzy, seeing spots etc. she gets quite heavy periods so I thought she might be a bit anaemic. She’s also been really lethargic, she usually quite energetic.

Took her to GP for bloods, he’s come back and said her iron is low, but because it’s within ‘normal range’ he won’t prescribe tablets, just advised to eat spinach and other iron rich foods.

But the problem I have is that her level was the very lowest for the normal range - can’t remember if he said 15 or 50, but he said it was bottom of normal range.

So surely, even if it’s within ‘normal ranges’ it may not be optimal for her, if it’s the lowest number in that range?

Debating whether to just order some, but no idea which ones to order.

Just not nice to see her walking about looking so pale and quite frankly sickly looking. She’s always saying she’s tired too.

Can anyone give advice on the best thing to order for her?

Second the sytron, my DS has that and it's not bad tasting and only makes him constipated if we give him a triple dose which we have to do every few months.

My daughter experienced similar symptoms... doctor suggested Floradix which has definitely helped her. It's not delicious but we both take it together and she says she feels better for it.

And she has spatone sachets in her wash bag for convenience

I give my 15 year old dd1 an iron tablet every other day to help avoid the constipation issues. She was also prescribed tranexamic acid for her heavy periods (as have I). It's shit being female sometimes!

I had extremely low iron while waiting for a gynae op, they wouldn't operate until it came up and I was going to have to have a transfusion.

Couldn't stomach the tablets so massively overhauled the diet, there's lots of info online. I thought I was eating enough iron rich foods but clearly not as when I went back they said they'd never seen it improve so quickly. I was constantly bleeding due to the gynae issue, never had iron problems before that. One of the things I did was drinking kale smoothies and adding it to pretty much everything I ate which helped a lot, avoiding dairy due to calcium blocking uptake of iron and also took vit C supplements.

I hope she gets some relief, it makes you feel awful. And if she's suffering that badly with periods I'd ask for a referral, it's common but it's not normal for it to affect her so badly. We're constantly expected to get on with it, but it's not fair, especially as she's so young.

@StuckintheRutt only 14mg but if she’s just in the lower range then that plus diet adjustments might be enough. Iron tablets have horrible side effects so I’d try that first.

I’d also want it to be investigated but I have low ferritin and my gp won’t investigate, attributing it to my heavy periods (despite me not having heavy periods). I’ve given up because apparently my gp knows better what the cause is than any tests can show.

Spatone was exellent for me. Not huge amounts of iron but well absorbed compared to tablets and don't cause the constipation - which meant I was happy to take them consistently. I take 2 sachets sometimes too, which also helps.

I buy effervescent vitamin C tablets cheaply from Aldi (The pink top tubes are my favourite). So a vit C, a couple of Spatone sachets topped up with water. Keeps my iron up fine (well one Spatone mainly, only used 2 for a month when I first started). My GP was surprised at how well the the Spatone worked

Another vote for spatone, my blood is a tiny bit out of the normal range but Dr said I’m not anaemic, just that I’m a bit anemic 🙄so I have 2 spatone sachets a day (pregnant lady dose) and now I no longer fall asleep at 3pm 🙄but you know, iron not a significant issue 🙄

Just to add re spatone- I was prescribed iron tablets post caesarean as iron levels were v low. I didn't want to take them as they made me constipated (not ideal when you have an abdominal wound and very bruised). The doctor laughed at me and told me spatone wouldn't work. I took 3 sachets a day with orange juice and guess what? Iron levels went up. Always surprises me when doctors are negative about it. It's a supplement, not homeopathy!

dc get a multivitamin containing iron for the same reason.
plus vit d3, which is recommended for everyone in the winter months.

if she doesn't improve with otc supplements you need to go back to the gp. and possibly a referral to gyn.

Feroglobin in a good iron + multivitamin and comes in either pill or liquid form, that’s what I have myself. My teen DD currently has multivitamin + omega 3 gummies and separate iron gummies as she find them easiest to take.

I take Floradix or Boots own version (cheaper). I have 20 mls with a glass of orange juice, it’s got the vitamin B complex in it as well as Iron.

Not sure what happened to my post - I just said my teen dd takes a multivitamin and iron, and recommended a brand (not floradix but similar)