Floradix and Vit D

[iamred]

Do I need to see a doctor before I take Floradix and vit d supplements?

I never know with supplements how long you should take them for? Forever?!

interesting - I was taking these together recently! I think they’re safe to take together. I knew I was low in vit d so was taking that and one tablet of floradix a day for about a month

Thanks, I hadn’t actually thought about any issues taking them together, more just taking either of them full stop! Do I need doctor approval to take them?

I’ve never really understood how supplements work long-term, as in if they make you feel better or you can feel the benefits, does that mean you’re basically stuck taking them and will go back to feeeling crap if you stop?

You should see a doc before taking any supplements. Particularly ones containing iron.

Too much iron can be the cause of health/heart problems, just as much as too little.

Disagree. You would waste a GPs time. If everyone who took a supplement saw their GP first no one with any real illnesses could get an appt! FFS!

Why do you think you need supplements? If you think you are ill, or lacking in something, the first thing to do is address your food. It's far better to eat the food than pop the pills. The only exception to this is Vit D and There is plenty of advice online- proper advice if you look- about Vit D supplementation and the highest safe levels which are HUGELY higher than anything most people would take.

Floridex is mainly iron so again, it's safe as along as you use within the guidelines. But again, if you eat a healthy diet with iron in it and aren't losing a lot of blood with heavy periods, you are unlikely to need extra iron.

Supplements are exactly that; they are there to plug a gap in the diet. They are't medicines or there to make you feel better, unless you are deficient in the first place.

I am tired a lot, I work full time and feel exhausted once the kids are in bed. I know this is normal with small children to an extent but I’m not sure I should feel this tired tbh.

On a weekend afternoon I always feel like I need a nap!

My libido is shot to shit.

I’ve felt like this for years (coincides with having kids maybe?!).

My diet is ok I think, I could do with more protein at breakfast and probably a tad less sugar overall but we eat fresh homemade stuff every day. My blood pressure is always on the low side so I’ve been told previously a little more salt in my diet might not hurt. I drink 1-2l water per day. I don’t drink tea or coffee.

My skin looks old, my hair is dry. I’m late 30s so not that old yet.

I just feel a bit bleurgh the majority of the time.

Well actually if I was worried about something it would be vitD rather than floradix

TBH, I wouldnt go and see the GP for that.
A nutritionist maybe, to check that I was taking the right supplements no point wasting money taking things you dint need!).
But I would go and check with the GP to find out the reason why youbare so exhausted. It might be iron levels but it could also be a lot of other things (thyroid for example).

The Nice guidelines are for everyone to take some vitD during the winter/autumn/spring as we just dint have enough sun. But you need to be careful not to overdose (that’s why you normally need to do some blood test regularly). Taking some vitD3 atbthis time of the year is unlikely to be an issue tbh.

Re supplements, I think it’s much More complicated than just having the right diet.

Of course, eating well will make a big difference.
However, lifestyle factors (such as stress) influence the absorption and the use of some vitamins and minerals. The result is that you might well eat what you should need but either cant absorb it or need more of it.
Which is where supplements have a role to play (eg with vitB12)

I have a lot of stress at the mo (busy job, terminally ill relative heading towards the end of their prognosis ). I don’t think I’m depressed and tbh I’ve felt like this for years as I say.

I’ll give the Vit D a go anyway as I don’t take anything at the mo.

Floradix is a good idea too.
But if you have a lot of stress in your life I would look at things such as rhodiola or Ashwagandha. They are great to help with stress (and I suspect you will feel much better if you are feeling more relaxed)
It sounds like you have a lot on your plate atm!

Seriously get your bloods checked first!

I think feeling tired and “a bit bleurgh a majority of the time” is a perfectly valid reason to see your gp. Don’t waste money on supplements that you might not need.

I would suggest you request a check of vit d and b12 levels, iron and thyroid as others have mentioned.

Get your bloods checked if you’re feeling that run down. Generally I would just say go for it re supplements but if you’re exhausted all the time you may be anaemic and over the counter iron supplements like Floradix won’t touch the sides!

I have severe anaemia and I take 3 x 210mg ferrous fumerate on prescription. Before being diagnosed I was taking a high dose iron supplement from Holland and Barrett but this wasn’t enough to prevent my anaemia (which has no cause, I don’t even have periods as I am on the mini pill)!

Ok thanks all. Will make an appointment as I need to be able to cope with all that’s to come this year...

Do go and get your bloods checked before you take anything.

Interestingly enough I went to the opticians today and he said that correcting my vision (weak/low prescription but enough for contact lenses) may also make me feel less tired as my brain won’t have to work so hard!

TBH having a stressful job, small kids, terminally ill family etc is enough to make anyone feel tired.

It doesn't mean you are lacking in nutrients- more that you need some time to yourself and something to help you relax. Do you ever get any 'you' time where you can do yoga, mindfulness, walking outside?

If you can ditch the sugar- a huge energy drainer -and take some exercise I bet you'd feel better.

Exercise is the best treatment for almost everything- MIND suggests walks in green spaces for mental health over ADs- and if they could put exercise into a pill, half the NHS budget for all kinds of illnesses would be slashed!

Not trying to minimise what you are feeling but it sounds more like lifestyle changes are needed and also sugar reduction- sugar batters the immune system, so cut it out.

I have started to exercise more recently and I know it helps my sanity. So difficult to fit in though. I get the guilts working ft and not seeing the kids so exercise needs to be when they are in bed. Which is also when I’m tired too.

could you maybe get out at lunchtime and do a quick 30 mins walk? Or same in the morning before work? Not easy I know :)