how long until iron tablets work?

[used2bthin]

I am anaemic and started tablets saturday for it, Iam on two a day. I actually feel worse though, really tired, hot and irritable and headachy. I keep getting out of breath and last night I felt like I couldnt relax due to not being able to breathe properly. Maybe I feel worse now I know there is a reason for how rubbish I've been feeling?

Oh and weirdly I keep thinking about and wanting to eat vinegary foods, even just vinegar would do tbh, can't get enough of it!

My hair is awful and keeps falling out and my skin is bad too all chapped around my mouth and nose so I am hoping the iron will also help with that. I've got enough tablets for 100 days but hoping to feel better way before that??

Sorry to tell you this but 4-6 weeks.

you will feel breathless if you are anaemic as you have notgot enough haemoglobin to absorb oxygen. Has the doc given you folic acid to take at the same time

Thanks argh long time! Been up in the night with bad stomach cramps and blacked out at one point as got up too quickly trying to reach the toilet!

Not got folic acid but am not pg if that makes a difference?

The bad stomach cramps could be the iron tablets. I can't take them and when I was pregnant with dd2 I was put on an iron drip for 8 hours. Felt better almost straight away.

Iron injections take effect much more quickly that tablets - leave your bum a lovely shade of purple though!!

Thanks been dozing on the sofa, feel so tired still, and a bit concerened at how close I was to fainting as am a single parent wth a dd with a medical condition so have arranged a phone appointment with the dr later today. Not sure he will do much but just in cae he offers a quicker solution, you never know. It would certainly be nice to eel better before my holiday next week, not going to be much fun if things don't change soon.

do you know what your haemoglobin is usedtobe

only just seen this, sorry alypaly! I'm not sure, the doctor didt sound overly worried. My outh ulcers cleared up but now have got them again and still feeling a bit rubbish so going to go to the doctor again I think. I must be very run down but the iron tablets arent helping as now Ihave stomach cramps all the time.