Aibu to ask about ferritin, short cycles and ferrous fumarate side effects?

[seriouslynonames]

DD 15 has low-ish ferritin. 21 I think GP said.

Ferritin and a bunch of other bloods were checked because I asked GP about how frequent her periods are and whether it was a problem to have such a short cycle/why it was so short. It's usually 21 days max, so she has one week of bleeding, two weeks off. They aren't super-heavy but they do go on for a full week. So I guess it's not that surprising that her ferritin is low.

She's had periods for over 2 years now so it's not just early days settling down.

She also had a pelvic ultrasound which GP said showed nothing of concern.

So I still don't know why her cycle is so short but GP has prescribed ferrous fumarate, one every other day, for a month or two (he said a few weeks but the number of tablets prescribed would last about 3 months I think).

I know this can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhoea. Not ideal! And she obviously has school, sport and volunteering activities, duke of Edinburgh hikes coming up.

So I am looking for advice on how to minimise side effects.

My questions are:

• how soon after taking it would she throw up (I know - and hope - she might not at all, but good to know if it's usually within 2 hours for example, or could be at any time after taking it, so she can avoid taking it just before she leaves for school or whatever)
• aside from taking it with food (avoiding dairy, tea/coffee, eggs) are there any other tips for minimising side effects?
• does the iron mouth spray actually work? I know it's a lower dose but I want an alternative if side effects from tablets too much
• how unusual is a 20/21 days cycle? It seems to be at the borderline of normal, but obvs having an extra 4 ish periods a year isn't much fun

Thanks for any insight!

I have taken ferrous fumarate and have many friends who have taken various iron supplements, and all generally found that the ferrous fumarate produced fewer side effects than ferrous sulphate. So this is probably why the doctor has prescribed this one, and she may not have any side effects at all. Except it makes your poo go a funny colour.

Take it last thing at night before she goes to bed with 1000mg Vit C. I occasionally have side effects if I take in the morning (it goes straight through me) but almost never if I take before bed.

I'm constantly on ferrous fumerate for life due to ongoing iron deficient anaemia for so long., It doesn't cause me any nausea or sickness but causes black poo and I believe it can make people constipated, I didn't have that issue. I take it before bed with vitamin c. My period was every three weeks and really heavy before starting it. Since I've been taking it it's gone to 25 to 27 days and lighter, hopefully itl benefit her the same.

Her cycle could become longer as she matures. 15 is still fairly young and her hormones probably haven't settled yet on the other hand if they were 28 days and shortened, it could be due to the low ferritin. Mine was definitely linked.

my 16 yr old daughter has ferritin level at 7 and has been prescribed ferrous fumerate. She takes it before bed and hasn't had any side effects other than darker poo.

Sorry I don't know about the cycles.

Iron Bisglycinate is a better form to take.
it has to be taken with vit c, on an empty stomach and every other day
there is a long list of food to avoid on an iron day (google is your friend) I avoid caffeine, tea, coffee, dairy and anything high in phenols, eggs.
it is really worth researching how little iron is really absorbed from supplements and where in the gut.
Her iron can also be low if she is actively growing.
aim to get it above 70.
good luck! X

Thanks all
@Forty85 her cycle was definitely more variable for the first year with the occasional longer cycle, or skipped cycle. But since it became more predictable it has been as short as 18 days, but more usually 20/21 days. Good to know there is a chance that boosting her ferritin might lengthen her cycle

Thanks for the tips re vit C and taking at night. Will also warn about the colour change!

Thanks @MyAgileUser
I will try iron bisglycinate as the alternative if the ferrous fumarate doesn't go well. Good to know there are more things to avoid to help with absorbing it.

I've just started taking ferrous fumarate again and have never had any side effects other than changing the colour of my poop!

I actually tried ferrous sulphate about two weeks ago and it made me so unwell that I almost had an accident in the street

I took ferrous fumarate for years some years ago and it didn't hurt my stomach at all

How is her diet- meat consumption good?
she is young to be anemic. Has she had a celiac test. Anemia can be a sign of celiac

At 1 tablet alternate days she shouldn't have any side effects other than black poo. The horror stories tend to be from when practice was to give higher doses - these turned out not to be more effective and made people give up taking the tablets early.

With a 21 day cycle and heavy periods she would have to have a very iron rich diet to keep up with the loss. So she may need to carry on long-term to avoid going back to where she started.

Thanks @Ritaskitchen
Her diet is pretty decent. We eat a fair amount of red meat but I could definitely add more. I think she had a coeliac blood test when she was about 6, due to some tummy troubles. These days her bowels seem pretty normal and regular so I had assumed all ok with earlier blood test being negative. Having said that my MIL is coeliac so perhaps there is still a possibility.
If dairy is something that stops iron being absorbed I wonder if the ludicrous amount of cream cheese she eats could be contributing to any dietary lack of iron. I don't think she'd be too happy if I suggest cutting down on the cream cheese though 😬😆

I have taken Ferrous Sulfate for long periods of time to up my Ferritin levels (mine were at 34, they should be 75-100) and had absolutely zero side effects whatsoever. Took it every day after my evening meal with a vit c tablet. Don’t drink coffee an hour before or after (it affects absorption) and it was life changing for me, my energy levels and mood improved no end!

I sometimes get side effects on ferrous fumerate. I can get stomach cramps a few hours afterwards or sometimes it just goes straight through. I couldn’t tolerate ferrous sulfate at all.

My periods are two weeks on 12 days off. I started the mini pill to stop the periods and have managed to get my ferritin up to 33 from 10 after 2 and a half years. It’s a long slog.

Thanks @DollyTots glad you have made progress. My ferritin is also on the low side so I think I might try either FF or the bisglycinate form alongside DD in solidarity, especially if as @VanGoSunflowers say it should be 75-100.
It's weird that you only sometimes get side effects and some people get none at all. I hope DD is one of those lucky people!
It sounds like it might be best to test it in the evening, after a meal (with no dairy etc) and with a vitamin C tablet and hope for the best.
Thanks all!

Another vote for bisglycinate (also called gentle iron), I am side-effect free with it and studies also show it's absorbed better and less inflammatory.