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Original poster

Anaemic. What can I do?

25 replies

Becaroooo · 19/04/2012 18:44

Been to GP today for results of some blood tests I had done a couple of weeks ago.

My iron level is 9...less than it was after ds2's delivery when I lost so much blood I collpased! Sad

I feel like roadkill (my reason for going to GPs in first place - she is referring me to gynae too) and I am feeling pretty sorry for myself tbh. I have 2 young dc and need to get better, I dont want to be in bed by 8pm every night like I am now Sad

Since the tests I have been on floradix iron tablets (I had an inkling it might be anaemia, but didnt think it would be so bad) but havent seen a difference yet in 2 weeks of taking them...I get 14mg of iron, + vit B12 and vit C from them per day. Is that enough? What else could I take?

Any other tips?

She is testing me for coeliac too so am going to try and so gluten free for a while to see if that helps.

OP posts:
DidISayThatOutLoud · 19/04/2012 19:09

Hi, anaemia sucks!!! I was on 3 iron tablets a day through both pregnancies and midwife told me she'd never known anyone to be on more than 2...

I also suffer with really ridiculous periods so (on the advice from my midwife 6 years ago) I try to increase my vitamin c...but also stop drinking as much Tea.. it completely absorbs the Iron that you put into your body.

It seems to be working for me, as well as eating lots of Oranges, I switched to drinking more pure Orange juice too... if your not a tea drinker then my advice sucks... hope it helps though! Feel better soon xxx

CatsSleepAnywhere · 20/04/2012 06:11

I used to have anaemia. Treated it with iron tablets and orange juice. You could try eating high energy foods like bananas. Marmite is also good.

Hope you feel better soon.

BellaOfTheBalls · 20/04/2012 06:21

Apricots, green leafy vegetables & believe it or not very dark chocolate (70-80% coca solids) are the highest sources of iron from food.

Also Spatone is supposed to be good!

callow · 20/04/2012 07:00

Don't go gluten free until are definitely sure you don't have coeliac. It will give a false negative if you are. You need to have plenty of gluten in the run up to the test.

I was iron deficient last year. Mine was due to a poor vegetarian diet and blood donation.

The doctor gave me iron tablets for 3 months, then I had another blood test to check my levels had come up. I was then off tablets for 3 months and am due another blood test to check I am improving.

I started to feel much better after about 8 weeks on the tablets. I also went back to eating meat. Although it was only picked up when I went to donate blood. I was tired but it had been so gradual and as a single working mother I just thought that it was normal. I did notice I was extra grumpy though.

Original poster
Becaroooo · 20/04/2012 07:08

Hmm...I was wondering about that! Might wait til after the test. My mum is coeliac...can it run in families?

I have another BT in a months time.

Thanks for all the replies x

OP posts:
canuck43 · 20/04/2012 07:16

Fersamil Iron Tablets, Rec dose 3 a day, I took 6 and my Doctor said that was OK after being told by hospital consultant I had raging anaemia. Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
Becaroooo · 20/04/2012 07:26

I am taking floradix tablets - 2 per day...might just up the dose!!!

OP posts:
gingeroots · 20/04/2012 08:49

Take iron tablets with fruit juice and not at same time as any diary products ,milk ,cheese etc as the calcium prevents the iron being absorbed .

Original poster
Becaroooo · 20/04/2012 09:09

thanks

OP posts:
lazydog · 21/04/2012 02:46

14mg of iron? Seriously?

I'm anaemic due to very heavy periods and the iron tablets that I have to take (either one or two per day, depending on my levels, which are checked every 3 months) are 300mg of ferrous fumerate, which contains 100mg of elemental iron.

Even when my ferritin level is fine (i.e. my stores are good) and my Hb is at what I've been told is the low end of normal at ~120g/L (or 12, in the units you've been quoted) I still have to take one of these every other day, just to maintain! That's more than you're taking now to try and treat the condition. You are very anaemic right now - as bad as I've ever been. I'm really surprised and shocked that your doctor didn't prescribe proper iron tablets, rather than leave you to use an over the counter supplement. You'd probably stay anaemic for years at that rate!!

LilQueenie · 21/04/2012 02:58

I took pregnacare as well as a an iron supplement from holland and barrett and was back to normal in 3 weeks

lazydog · 21/04/2012 03:02

Becaroooo - Don't just up your number of Floradix tablets as you may then get way too much of the vitamins it also contains.

What you want is a MUCH higher dose of iron (mine's 300mg "ferrous fumarate" - I misspelled it, above) and that may need to be prescribed - I'm not sure?

As others have already said, take it with fruit juice, avoid any dairy within an hour either side of taking them (I think that's the timescale I was told?) and cut right back on tea and coffee. All that will increase how much iron you absorb.

But do make sure that your levels are being checked regularly while you're supplementing with high dose iron as too much is very harmful - it's not something your body excretes if you take too much of it.

lazydog · 21/04/2012 03:16

I've Googled the tablets Canuk43 mentioned www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/22093/PIL and they are 210mg ferrous fumarate, which is approx 70mg elemental iron. They would be way more appropriate, in my opinion, but obviously you must check with your GP.

Thumbwitch · 21/04/2012 05:38

Coeliac disease can definitely run in families, yes.

Original poster
Becaroooo · 21/04/2012 07:55

Oh, OK.

Didnt realise I needed that much.

Can I get ferrous fumerate otc or do I need a prescription?

OP posts:
Original poster
Becaroooo · 21/04/2012 08:17

Have ordered some fersamel (sp?)

Thanks

OP posts:
QuickLookBusy · 21/04/2012 08:20

Agree 100% with Lazydog. You must get the proper medication. Over the counter iron will not cure your anaemia. You have to get a prescription from your dr.

Also agree with taking it with orange juice so it is all absorbed and you shouldn't get tummy upsets.

I had a blood count of 8 and my ferritin level was 10 so was on the same dose as Lazydog. I took them for about 6 weeks before I felt an improvement, and took them for about 6 months altogether.

I felt like a new person so get down to your dr and get that prescription.Smile

Original poster
Becaroooo · 21/04/2012 08:22

have ordered some ferrous fumerate - 210mg tablet - should be here mid week. Do I take it with orange jiuce???

OP posts:
HecateTrivia · 21/04/2012 08:27

I have to have a b12 injection every 12 weeks (my stomach does not produce enough of something called 'intrinsic factor) and daily folic acid. Perhaps your doctor should be arranging that? Depends on the reason for your anaemia, of course.

It's not enough to know that you ARE anaemic, you have to know WHY you are, in order to take the correct action.

Original poster
Becaroooo · 21/04/2012 08:28

yeah....GP only did the basic fbc.

Am going to see a gynae on tuesday and I am going to ask for more detailed bloods to be done...am I absorbing iron and if not why not? My aunt needed B12 injections...god I feel like roadkill Sad

OP posts:
QuickLookBusy · 21/04/2012 08:31

Beca I would just double check what you are ordering. When I ran out of my prescribed tablets and thought I could pop to Boots to get some I was told by the pharmacist that I couldn't buy anywhere near the dose I needed over the counter. She said I would only be able to get them via a prescription. This was a couple of years ago so maybe that has changed, bit please check what you are buying and that the site is reputable.

Yes you should take with a small glass of orange juice as it means the iron is all absorbed. Also don't drink tea straight after as it stops absorption.

QuickLookBusy · 21/04/2012 08:35

Beca do you have heavy periods? That was the cause of my anemia and now take tranexamic acid which has stopped me losing so much blood and so I'm no longer anemia.

Hope you get to the bottom of yours quickly. You really will start to feel so much better when you do.

lulu05 · 21/04/2012 08:39

There's a limit to how much iron your body can absorb so alongside iron tablets you need a diet rich in iron, vit c and avoid stuff which limits iron absorption (tea because of the tannin i think). So loads of red meat, cereal fortified with iron, green leafy veg. Mine was 6.4 after DS and I felt dreadful but after two weeks of really going for it with iron intake I felt much better. By 6 weeks it was back up to 12 (it had been 14 before ).

Iron tablets do vary and it might be worth a trip to a health food store to ask re other formulations. I took ferrous sulphate but there are better. Also I think it's better to take the tablets on an empty stomach if this doesn't upset your stomach too much.

lulu05 · 21/04/2012 08:42

And you really have my sympathy - it scared me how awful I felt when I was anaemic.

Original poster
Becaroooo · 21/04/2012 10:29

Thank you

I have ordered the stuff recommended on the NHS website so I think it should be ok? Its 210mg which is a hell of a lot more than I am on now!!! Smile (I order various meds/supplements from amazon and they have always been fine)

Just feel awful and have done for a long time...am cross with myself for not going to the GPs sooner.

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