Any doctors in the house? Or just anyone with experience of taking iron supplements, really.

[BrandNewDocs]

I'm 50. Still have regular and quite heavy periods (not concerningly heavy).

I recently had a blood test and the results came back that my iron level was low. Like 9 low!

I have been taking prescribed iron supplements for just over a week.

When will I feel the benefits?

I just wondered what other people's experiences are and what to expect. Thanks.

I felt the benefits really quickly! I hadn't been aware of being anaemic, but once I got on the iron I noticed I was much more effective in the gym, needed a wee less, and didn't sweat at night as much. And my bloods improved really quickly too.

(Just brace for .... a different aesthetic when you go to the loo)

Haha, yeah, I know what you mean!

Thanks, that sounds great.

I looked online and it said to expect to notice less tiredness after 2-4 weeks but I feel that, after only a week, I can already feel some improvement in that respect.

Previously, I was too tired to eat, too tired to go out, always trying to get an early night so that I'd feel better tomorrow, falling asleep on the sofa at 7pm needing a nap...

I just realised that I've not fallen asleep on the sofa for the last two evenings.

I'm not sure what else to look out for tbh.

I have a long history of heavy periods an endometriosis.

I was on iron tablets and despite eating them with a meal and low dose, bad stomach pains, black stools and absolutely crap.

Then placed on iron syrup etc and various other things. Exactly the same rolling around in stomach pains etc

hard black stools

then came off prescription iron and starting taking slow release iron and a multivitamin and my hrt after dinner but before bed and never had an issue. It’s a shame as I could get free prescriptions but this was a total game changer

These are what I take gentle iron and have changed my life

I’m sure you already are but worth pointing out the specific things to follow with taking them, which things stop you absorbing it properly - dairy etc. There’s a page on the NHS website about how to take them for best results. I’m always on them and buy them in bulk for very low cost from an online pharmacy. I hope you feel much better soon. Did they check your B12?

I felt better really quickly, within a couple of weeks. It made no difference whatsoever to my periods though.

I’m not sure when you’ll feel the improvement but I know we don’t book a repeat blood test for 2 weeks because that’s how long it takes to show improvement in your blood results

Hi, thanks. Yes I know how to take them. So far, no side effects other than a bit of nausea the first couple of days. But I'll keep an eye on it.

I had a full blood screening and have a follow up appointment next week but the surgery texted me about the iron and left a prescription for me to pick up so I'm assuming everything else was OK 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm not expecting a change in my periods. I just added that information for context and in case anyone asked.

That's helpful. Thanks.

My next appointment is with the GP not for a repeat blood test. I'm guessing that'll come though.

You will need to take them for as long as you have heavy periods.

Tablets should stock up your iron stores but as soon as you stop them, you will be losing iron again and eventually will end up where you are now.

When I know my iron is low I take Feroglobin liquid, I find it works so much quicker and you don’t get the black sticky poo. Thats what works for me anyway.

@Januaryfalls interesting. I saw these in H&B last Saturday and wondered if they would be suitable for me.

I have taken iron tablets twice in my life and both times I have barely slept due to the stomach cramps. I took Spatone for years but that really just keeps you on the cusp of being alive 😁

I don’t have periods anymore due to a hysterectomy 10 years ago but bloods say my level is quite low.

I might give them a try.

I was low and felt awful as well. I was about 27 and after several weeks went to 34? I kept going ,stopped and now I take a few before and after periods I hope this is a good straget

My iron was really low, despite taking the tablets. In the end, the doctors sent me for an iron infusion drip at the hospital. Instantly bought my levels up to an optimum level and I felt better almost instantly. Only took half an hour too. Worth asking about if the tablets are taking too long.

I always take my iron tablets with a slow release vitamin C tablet - no idea if this is useful but the doctor recommended it. The Vit C is supposed to aid iron absorption. Not sure if you're on the high dose (Ferrous sulphate/phosphate) tablets but they are the ones to solve anaemia. When I get anaemic it usually takes a couple of weeks of tablets for the palpitations/shooting pains to stop completely. It's quite a gentle process, more of a case of looking back and suddenly realising you feel stronger than a few weeks ago, than an immediate power boost!

A last note - when I went to the Dr last time, she made me take a much lower dose of ferrous sulphate than they used to advise. one tablet every other day instead of 2 tablets per day. She said the body won't hold on to excess iron so there's no point taking loads, and a steady dose will cure the anaemia in only a little longer but without giving you the horrible constipation/rabbit dropping effect

It’s always about three weeks for me from really low levels to starting to feel human so hang in there. Periods do seem to get less heavy once you get your levels up too. Not sure how that works!

Iron absorption is higher if you eat or drink vitamin c, instead of taking a vitamin c tablet.
Drink less tea as tea can also lower absorption.
Gentle release iron is better on your whole system but I don't think doctors are allowed to prescribe it because it takes so long to change NHS guidelines so all doctors and nurses I have spoken to don't even know about it but you can search for studies online.
Have you had your thyroid checked recently? I have always been low iron but when I felt most exhausted I got my bloods done and they told me I also had hypothyroidism as a contributing factor

Im having the same problem. I bought the betteryou iron spray. So instead if a tablet, its a spray on the inside of your mouth. Stopped the digestive pile up. Same dose. My periods are a joke so ive been doig this for months and not seeing a difference, so have found a private IV infusion as im like a walking zombie, hair falling out. I know the nice guidelines have changed and if your iron is below 30 and your symptomatic and having trouble taking tablets they should refer you for an infusion.

You need to be around 70 just to get healthy hair growth. 100 is optimal.