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

londonlassinthecountry are you a health professional? I am and prescribe in exactly the way suggested, also based on the evidence that poster has sited.
But this thread is yet another example of why nobody should ever, ever take medical advice from MN. People speak with such authority with mentioning their background and certainly with no way of proving it. Please don't follow my advice, or anyone elses! Go and see your own GP, please, OP.

*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*

Same here. If i miss my dose i cant keep my eyes iopen!

I'd be shocked if they'd infuse with haemaglobin so high. My ferritin is always in single figures but they dont infuse until my HB drops to seven (70) in the UK, which is usually around every six months.

I’m supposed to take 3 a day but I only take two. One in the morning, one in the evening.

The doctors are happy with this as it’s begter than none

I will try to get an appointment tomorrow. Thank you to contributors. I asked for advice! I am aware my haemoglobin is pretty good - I know it's under 120 but I know it's not dangerously low. It's the ferritin of which I've appeared to empty out to keep my haemoglobin higher?

I'll try a tablet tonight as I skipped yesterday. Wish me luck!

Floradix is a hebal supplement but keep monitoring. Can't they inject?

I did ask for an injection but the said they don't do them anymore. I asked because I've taken iron before and I've not enjoyed it (understatement!) Also they prefer to try oral iron before an infusion. Ideally I'd like to avoid medical intervention and I suppose I wondered about others' experiences of not managing the directed dose.

I don't think, for me, there's enough iron in Floradix.

Just checked and it was my iron saturation that was low when I was put on tablets. Says it was 15% and should've over 25%

What does that mean, @Ollivander84 ?

Not entirely sure! My ferritin was fine but I lost a lot of blood so the saturation was low
The ferrous fumerate worked pretty quickly but I was conscious to take them with vitamin C and no tea

I think the vitamin c points are important here as the more you absorb the less time this continues for.

Also key to take it not close in time to drinking tea or coffee as either the tannins or the caffeine (can't remember which) reduces iron absorption.

From the POV of the symptoms, could you consider relief such as simethicone for wind, buscopan or mebeverine for stomach cramps. You'd need to look into any interactions though!

They more than likely wouldn't transfuse you any iron with hb that high. My hb was 56 and have 3 units of blood every month when pregnant, even then it won't go past 80.
The liquid iron and spatone definitely helped me op

I've bought spatone. Apple flavour with added vitamin C.

Thanks for all your discussion. The duty doctor is giving me a ring too.

Have you tried Feroglobin, i have been taking these and no side effects whatsoever

I have the exact same problem. Doctor agreed ok to take Floradix and Spatone each day. In addition to this, medication to lessen periods, is needed. If you have a copper coil they likely are too heavy to keep levels steady. I've also given up tea, and coffee is down to one a day. I drink hot diluted apple juice instead. Good luck, my levels were around 5 ( based on symptoms last time tested when at 3) and managed to get them to 33 in a few weeks doing the above.

I’m taking two spatone a day. Anyone know how long it would take for my ferritin levels to improve?

Funnily enough, I was taking Feriglobin for a while before all this got diagnosed. I wonder if it kept my hg up and my ferritin depleted anyway due to skipping so many meals?

Wish I knew that @JellycatElfie ! That's kind of why I started the thread... If I take one 200mg ferrous sulphate then how long might it be? I have a blood test in less than two months to train for!!

My level is 7, too, so we’re two of a kind! The consultant sent a repeat level on me after 3-4 weeks and the lab rejected it saying it wasn’t clinically indicated. So I’m guessing they don’t usually check it so quickly. I’ve noticed an improvement in symptoms since I started the spatone, but I’ve also been trying to have lots of salad.

So JellycatElfie are you just taking two spatone or do you have tablets too? I'm trying two tablets a day from today and tomorrow two tablets plus a spatone. It'll arrive from Amazon tomorrow.

I'm a bit concerned about my chest aching but the Dr was not interested in that as such. He was interested in getting as much iron in me as possible until my blood test. I think I read it takes 3 months for red blood cells to form, so a testing time shorter than three months is unnecessary.

How are you getting on now OP? Just read your thread and realised it's been about 3 months so wondered if you'd managed to get your iron levels up? Also, have you discovered the root cause of your low iron levels?

Hope you're feeling better

I am hugely better. You are so lovely to ask. I had a blood test about a week before Xmas and my ferritin had just over doubled! That is just 15, but still. My Hb was 133, I think.

I honestly put it down to spatone as I was so negligent with ferrous sulphate due to its side effects

So I am officially not anaemic. And not coeliac. Was probably temporary due to the copper coil I have fitted (and now my diet is better too) xx

@FennyBridges ah yay! I'm so pleased for you!

I've been taking ferrous fumerate intermittently for about a year now and think I'll switch to Spatone after reading this. So thank you x

Go back and ask for the liquid iron. It's called Syton and works really well.

I'm finishing my box of spatone and then just eating meat at least four times a week. I've bought two boxes from Amazon and it's worked wonders.

I've literally taken about 14 ferrous sulphate tablets. Maybe I needed the initial whoosh of iron they gave me, but for me spatone did the trick I think. And an improved diet.