Advice on how to take ferrous gluconate anyone?

[megcleary]

My ferritin has been low since I had dd 11 months ago, the GP put me on ferrous gluconate and said take one a day. Few months later blood test and it hasn't improved, they said I had been taking it wrong and that tea reaaly inhibits it being absorbed. So on I go another few months, next blood test no improvement.

Went to see GP had a lovely locum who said no wonder you should be on three a day.

I would like to start feeling less tired and irritable soon, what is the best way to take this drug does anyone know.

Thanks

bump

Take one every second day, prune juice, orange juice to avoid constipation
If like me the reading is 6 I do try to take the 3 a day with orange juice and def have prune juice and fibre [flax seed etc] I try to drink liquorish tea as well

Oh and peppermint tea to help settle your stomach and a laxative helps

Cheers.

Take it after food with orange juice and avoid tea with your meal of ferrous gluconate.

The orange has vitamin c so helps it to be absorbed and taking it after food helps to avoid it irritating your bowel.

Good luck its horrible stuff to take.

Do they have a cause? I started cerazette and not having a period has helped it means my count is around 10 now and I feel human. And exercise will help constipation even if it is the last thing you feel like doing, also stomach massage to help get things moving

The cause is pregnancy they say and will add orange juice to shopping list.

caffeine isnt the only thing that prevents iron from being absorbed, dairy products do too, so dont take it with a glass of milk. I found it easier to take it just before bed with a glass of orange juice (Vit C helps iron to be absorbed) However after a while I had to switch to slow release iron tablets like these, because everything else made me really constipated.

I also found that I got a higher iron level when I added a multi B Vit, I believe other B vitamins help iron to be absorbed too - perhaps you could ask your doc about this?

Have you tried Spatone?

Lol at least you know that there is an end in sight and a snuggly LO as well.
Really MummyAbroad I will keep that in mind but makes sense as VIT B is found in meat products along with Iron pity I am veggie

I did try Spatone but the GP said the iron in it is not enough and would take too long to increase my level ( he then put me on one iron tablet a day which did nothing and another GP said take 3...sigh).