I am self medicating with iron tablets 🙄 Any doctors about?

[FennyBridges]

I've posted a thread before (30 days only) about my ferritin level and haemoglobin (7, and I've forgotten the latter.)

I'm having a hard time with iron tablets. Gluconate makes me feel so sick and sulphate gives me major digestive issues (wind, constipation and bouts of diarrhoea, which is random!) I am completely unable to take three a day. I'm averaging one. Last week when we went away I had to stop for four days as i wanted to not be nervous that there wasn't a toilet near and I wanted to not be plugged and and/or bloated.

Obviously my levels won't rise as quickly as they should, but they won't go down, surely? I've thought about going to the Dr again but I don't see the point. I'll just be whingeing about the effects of the iron tablets. But my legs are achy and my wrist hurts. My fatigue is not as pronounced but then I'm having two weeks off work (holiday - back on Monday.)

Is one tablet enough? I've had two steaks in the past fortnight too. Hoping for advice xx

I can investigate Floradix, fumerate and bisgycinate (thank you all for the advice).

With gluconate I used to wake up at 4am to take a tablet, then take one before bed. I could never take another in the day because of the nausea - I couldn't stand upright at work. It was awful.

I'm not coeliac. I've probably just been rather stupid and skipped too many meals. But that's another thread entirely.

Floradix is really good

Evidence is starting to suggest that daily or even every other day is sufficient particularly when taken with orange juice. No need to take more than one daily.

@lass I was given an iron transfusion aswell and reacted badly too, I now have to have blood transfusions instead

Like I've said before, you need to get back to the GP. It sounds like the issues with your iron levels and why you're experiencing problems with the iron tablets are related to your issues with eating. You need proper medical advice.

My GP prescribed Sytron syrup after I failed to tolerate ferrous sulphate and ferrous gluconate. I was able to taking that a bit better and managed to take it twice a day.

@MunchyMunchkin are you a medical professional?

My daily would be one ferrous sulphate 200mg with food. I'm supposed to take three.

I got on well with Spatone, liquid iron. Put it in a glass of orange juice and down the lot, helps with absorption

I’ve tried all the tablets and sytron liquid. All of them give me an upset tummy with really nasty side effects. I would try spatone which is pricey but the only thing that’s gotten rid of my muscle aches. Also, a salad once a day made with spinach, cucumber, tomatoes and peppers and a filling of your choice is a really good idea. I mix spatone with a teeny bit of Tropicana orange juice.

Yes but it’s not my specialist area.
One tablet once a day with orange juice.

You can get apple flavoured spatone. My dh will not take the unflavoured one.

These ferrous fumarate are so cheap and don't give me any side effects
rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F172175420874
For £2.79 I'd give them a try

I can tolerate 1 lot of Sytron liquid a day - my prescription is for 2x but I can't cope.with the side effects of that much daily. I take it with a vitamin C tablet and a banana. My iron levels came up and have stayed up on this.

You need to go back to GP and ask for a different iron formulation.

I really really recommend iron bisglycinate. It has changed everything for me and is really easy in the stomach.

I was fine on the fumerate (sp?!) one when mine was low

I take an iron supplement too and I don’t feel nauseous afterwards like some PP, or need to take it with orange juice etc to make it bareable. I wonder why I don’t react baldly too

I'm fine on any liquid iron but can't take the tablets. I often mix the liquid with orange juice (or orange squash - probably not as good but cheaper!)

I take 2 every day now without anything.
If i don't within im asleep at my desk

@Munchy

How can you say one is enough?

There are different doses and if someone is low they may need a high dose.

This isnt good advice

Ask to try ferrous fumerate and for a coeliac blood test.

I swear by spatone to get my levels up - my iron can dip because of heavy periods and I don’t get on with iron tablets. A sachet a day in orange juice makes a massive difference to my energy levels, hair loss etc.

www.hematology.org/Thehematologist/Diffusion/8265.aspx
Here is the evidence. Basically there is only so much iron can be absorbed in a day.

Spatone worked for me when I had low iron when I was pregnant. I was prescribed tablets but was going to find it a challenge to take 3 a day avoiding tea, and other restrictions on when/ what to eat/ drink with them, never mind the probable horrible side effects. I mentioned to the midwife I was using it instead (bought it in Boots) and she said she did too and it works well. More easily absorbed and just one a day.

Like you I can’t tolerate the tablets but took spatone twice a day for a few months and got my ferritin from 7 to about 28. Still low but a significant improvement and I did feel better for it.

You need iron infusion. I had a Ferratin level of 8 last week, got referred straight to acute care and had an infusion last Thursday and one today.

You could go to A&E if doctor is not supportive. Not sure why they are fannying around with pills with a level that low.

Hope you get it sorted :)