Tired, tender and upset stomach

[dippywhentired]

I have been feeling more tired than usual for several months, noticed my hair was coming out more than normal and have ridged nails. I have also noticed that I often have an upset stomach as well. Went to the doctor who did a blood test and said I am mildly anaemic. He gave me a perfusion of iron last week as he said iron tablets take longer to work, and I have to have 2 more. I asked for possible reasons that I should be anaemic and he said it's because of periods. I have had periods for 20 years, given birth twice and never been anaemic before (also periods are not particularly heavy as am on the Pill).
Anyway, since having the iron last week, I've had an upset stomach every day (not going more frequently than usual) as well as bloating and tenderness of the stomach. Could this be a side-effect of the iron perfusion, or have I got something like Coeliac disease, or some other intolerance? Google has scared me! I haven't lost weight recently and there is no blood in the stools. Am going back to the doctor on Thursday. Any advice greatly appreciated!

Hi I have been on iron tablets and had the same symtoms as you.I wasn't going to the toilet more but when I did felt constipated etc. Google is terrible because you always look for the worst.if you are concerned then speak to your doctor about your concerns. But I think you are just getting side effects. That probably didn't help a lot but I didn't want you on your own x

Oh dippy. You have just described what I'm having as symptoms.
I went to the docs about being mega tired, and off he sent me for blood tests, only to be told my glucose is a little up, and to diet basically saying I'm fat so, for the past few months I have been watching what I've been eating, and I'm still knackered, and am still having weekly bouts of diarrhea. Although, get regular headaches too.
I'm going back for a second opinion, with a different doc if I can.
Will watch your post with interest.....

Thanks for the replies, am glad I'm not alone. My sister has now scared me by saying I should get myself checked for ovarian cancer. Aaaargh! I will post again when I've been back to the doctor on Thursday for my next iron perfusion. I'm reluctant to have it to be honest as I've felt worse this week than I have for months. I did have bouts of upset stomach before, but not every day, and I didn't have this awful tender stomach and feeling sick.

cut out gluten (mostly wheat) and you will be amazed how well you will feel and read up on it, gluten free diet changed my and my ds life, I never knew how unwell I was until tried the diet (lost 2 sizes too)

But nightcat, I don't notice any difference after eating bread, cake, etc. Would this still be a possibility? Also, I have always been a size 8-10 and have not lost/ gained any weight recently, so could I still have an intolerance? I do think my anaemia has more to do with me not absorbing enough iron rather than anything to do with periods. (And I eat pretty healthily, eat meat, etc. so don't think I'm missing it from my diet)

Most definitely yes as it's the question of build up over a prolonged period of time, you dont have to have upset stomach instantly or always, it's not that instant
Its only when you leave it for years or decades, then it progrssvely gets worse and can get quite severe
My ds is not celiac and never even had much in a way of stomach upset, but he was lethargic, tired, had headaches and progressively more, I joined him on the diet and I am a total convert.

Ah, I was going to ask if it can affect you without actually being Coeliac.

Am also wondering if it is the Pill that I'm on as I changed to a different one in the spring and apart from the upset stomach, a lot of my symptoms feel like early pregnancy - tired, nauseous, etc.

i think the pill can explain the hormonal symptoms but not iron deficiency

Have just googled side effects of the Pill that I'm on, and one of them is diarrhoea. So, that could explain why I'm not absorbing the iron in my diet properly. I'm going to come off it anyway when I've finished this pack. Am hoping that is the cause and not something sinister!

What pill are you on?
I've been put on Yaz recently, so wondering if that might be a cause now.

I'm on Mercilon. I used to be on Femodene and had no unwanted side effects at all, but they don't have it here.

Longdistance - just googled Yaz and side effects can be cramping, bloating, diarrhoea, headaches and elevated glucose.

Bloody hell, will stop taking it then. My doc was dishing them out for free, as you have to pay for the pill here and saying how wonderful it is. Although, my periods are very short, like almost non existent.

Back to the drawing board I go.

Well, went back to doctor, he told me my symptoms since having the iron last week wouldn't have been a side effect of the iron. As it was IV, it bypasses the gut. Despite Dr Google saying different about IV iron. Funny how my tummy was better by yesterday but after this morning with the next dose of iron, I've had gripey stomach ache again. Anyway, he said I should stop the Pill if I think my problems all started with that, and I'm to go again in 3 weeks.

It's like going in circle sometimes. I hate having to go back to gp's, especially when you tell them you researched something. Surely they can't know every side effect to every medicine????