to think my docs should act a little faster?

[HackneyHoney]

28 weeks pregnant. Bloods came back with (VERY) low hb levels. I'm breathless just talking and wake up breathless in the night and attributed this to my bump, but was told that level of breathlessness was not normal and due to my blood results. I'm exhausted and feel so utterly unwell. Midwives weren't able to write me a prescription however told me I needed to get one from my gp that day (Tuesday just gone) as my results were so worrying.

Phoned my GP and it just redirected me to 111 all day. Phoned them yesterday and they said the bloods hadn't come back yet. Phoned them today and they told me to try again on Monday. No docs appointments and I'm struggling.

I know how shit it is for GPs. My dad is one. Even he said they should write me the prescription.

I also find it unbelievable that nobody has mentioned diet. All the way through my pregnancy and even now. First thing Dad told me was to eat green leafy veg, eggs etc. That's another matter but he said it needs raising as I could've started to increase hb levels already without the prescription by eating these things and at least helped a little in the mean time. Nobody has ever advised me of this.

AIBU to wish for a faster prescription considering I don't need an appointment? Or am I just pregnant and miserable and need to wait my turn?

You can buy iron tablets over the counter. I'd just buy some and start taking 2 or 3 per day.

Oral iron takes a while to raise haemaglobin. It therefore isn't an on the day emergency. I also think basic self care means you should be eating a good diet when pregnant, and not trying to defer that responsibility to HCPs.
That said you do need to see your GP/Obs ASAP with the results as some need IV iron or even transfusion.

too I need prescription strength tablets unfortunately. OTC is 14mg ish and prescription is 200.

@ThioSuxTube don't want you to misinterpret - I'm not trying to defer anything. My diet has generally been good. I presented with severe anaemia and nobody mentioned certain things that I could be doing to prevent this from happening again. This is my responsibility of course but only once I know that this aspect of my diet needs changing. Only going from what a family member who is a GP has told me but he says advice surrounding diet and lifestyle is often poor in the NHS and this should always be the first thing mentioned, as opposed to just 'go and get a prescription'

My hb level is 7.0 but should be above 10.5. Not sure what that means thought.

I bought 200mg over the counter from my pharmacy in my last pregnancy.

(Packaged as ferrous sulphate)

soy oh really? Midwives advised I needed a prescription but will try the pharmacy in that case!

Yes I've bought the 200mg tablets over the counter before too

@TooQuietSaidRoobarb I take back my earlier comment and am already on my way to pharmacy!

I'm really surprised nobody talked to you about diet during pregnancy. I was given a book called Ready Steady Baby in both of mine about pregnancy with various bits of info about diet. I'm in Scotland though so maybe it's different?

You might be able to get otc higher strength, have you spoken to a pharmacist?

Also (and apologies for the multiple posts) but by the time your levels are that low then diet isn’t going to do a huge amount to help.
I only found out mine were severely low in my last pregnancy when I bumped into an acquaintance who was a midwife and she took one look at me and said ‘you’re anaemic, get yourself a blood test’. Due to my history, in my currently pregnancy I have been tested every 6 weeks to check my iron levels (currently at 10.5 at 21 weeks!)

@SoyDora thank you. To be fair I've tried to eat healthily throughout. But have had morning sickness for 20 weeks so I eat what I can and when I can. But will definitely be stocking up on Kale especially once my iron levels are back up. I really want to try to give birth in MLU and they won't accept you with low iron levels either.

Thanks folks.

I’m concerned as to the reason you have such a low Hb, OP. Have they confirmed that it’s a microcytic, iron deficient picture, or could you have, for example, pernicious anaemia, which requires B12 injections and won’t respond to iron therapy?
Have you previously had very heavy periods, or a deficient diet? Anaemia isn’t a diagnosis per se, it’s a sign that you need investigating to find the cause.

Yes I know the feeling, my sickness has just stopped at 21 weeks but until now red meat and green leafy veg were the last things I could stomach! It’s hard when you desperately want to eat healthily but everything makes you throw up...

I've just had this op. I'm 37 weeks now.

Had my bloods done at 28 weeks. Didn't see midwife again until 34 weeks - 3rd dc so fewer midwife appointments. 34 week appointment midwife said 'oh your iron is extremely low and probably dropped even further now over the last 6 weeks'

I was wondering why the hell no one had contacted me. I did ring the gp to ask for the results and got told they were fine. Clearly not. Midwife said there must of been a mix up somewhere. Meanwhile I'd spent 6 weeks feeling exhausted and not knowing I needed medication.

Had latest blood results back yesterday and iron levels are even lower. Now on different iron tablets and was also advised to buy some spatone which is quite expensive but supposed to be very good - might be worth looking into.

Just seems it's easy for them to miss these things. Hope you feel better soon op x

I can't believe no one is taking action if your Hb is 70 (or 7.0 in old speak), you are symptomatic and any tablets don't work immediately. I would have thought you should be reviewed clinically by either GP or midwife.

Also, OP are you vegetarian? Because red meat is a much better source of iron than kale. You would boost your Hb much faster if you put a large steak on your plate with that kale!

Take liquid iron, starting today. It seems to work really quickly ime as someone who regularly has anaemia. Try Ferroglobin (Boots own liquid iron) or Floradix. Just increase the dose recommended, to get it to the level you need.

The iron rich syrup you can get is better absorbed than the tablets and kinder on the stomach. Not sure of the name but the pharmacist would know.

Yes, Floradix

@Babdoc my periods were awful when I came off the pill a year prior to ttc. Unbelievably heavy. I also don't eat much meat as I just don't like it and don't like the industry, same with eggs. But that's my personal choice and should have supplemented this in other ways. I just never thought about it.

The pharmacy said I need to see my GP and they can't give me prescription strength without a prescription...

@dottycat123 I did mention this to the receptionist but I guess she probably doesn't understand what that means, and if she does isn't in a position to make a call. They said they hadn't received my results yet but I can see them on my online notes but apparently this is only for midwife and not GP use. I guess I will have to wait until next week!

It might be worth asking for a telephone consultation with GP, if they want clarity around results GP can ring the pathlab where they were taken.

That’s strange, I was given it with no issues. In fact DH has also bought it for me OTC, he just said it was for his pregnant wife.

dotty I tried that and they said I need to call at 8am to get an on the day appointment (this was at 8:15 after being on hold and all appointments were gone). It's hard. They're so busy and run down. As long as this is unlikely to harm my baby I am okay to feel unwell and wait.

soy they said I needed to speak to a senior pharmacist who was busy and would be all morning. I'm going to try another pharmacy this afternoon (I'm in the sticks!)