Anaemia

[Watto1]

I've recently been diagnosed with anaemia. I'm permanently shattered. I could happily go to bed now! I've been taking iron tablets prescribed by the gp since last Wednesday. Im still tired all the time. How long before I start to feel human again? They are certainly having an effect on my digestive system but not on my tiredness

Hopeful bump ...

It takes around 8 weeks for your body to replace all your red blood cells so my guess would be that it could take this long to start feeling properly better.
Liquid iron supplements that you can buy in health food shops, chemists etc. are much easier to digest than tablets, and probably no more expensive than a prescription.
Remember to take vitamin C at the same time as the iron - orange juice is good for this.
Hope you feel better soon :)

Liquid iron supplements from health food shops contain at most 14 mg of iron per dose, with a recommendation of two doses per day (total 28 mg/day). Ferrous sulfate tablets on prescription contain 200 mg and if you're being treated for existing iron-deficiency anaemia you will probably be taking 2-3 doses per day (total 400-600 mg/day). If you have a prescription for ferrous sulfate please don't think you can replace it with something bought over the counter from someone who isn't a pharmacist.

If you are iron deficient to the point of being anaemic it will take a few weeks (at least 3-4) to get your haemoglobin levels back up to normal, and possibly about 3 months to replenish your body's ferritin stores. Nothing is going to "cure" you within a week. So you're probably just going to have to put up with the upset tummy and hard, black poo.

Is your GP sure your anaemia is due to iron deficiency? It's the most likely cause in pre-menopausal women but she/he should have asked a few things about family history and diet to exclude other possibilities.

Ooh replies! Thank you both. GP strongly suspects the anaemia is due to my stupidly heavy periods . She's prescribed me tranexamic acid and referred me to Gynaecology at the hospital. I have an appointment to see them in a fortnight. I've also had blood tests for thyroid function and pernicious anemia but I seem to be ok there. I'm on ferrous sulphate 200mg twice a day.

I'm only just getting my levels back up after 2.5 years of suffering. I've not had a period in 16 months now.

I cut out caffeine eventually and that's helped. Had more bloods last week so hoping it's all levelled out.

I'm the very same. Have been running my pill back to back too to skip them while the iron builds up... I hope. I'm ten weeks in and feel no difference yet. I just went to bed now. If you find a magic cure I'll try it!
Will try cutting caffeine like pp said. That's supposed to help with absorption rates

Also take llysene with iron as it increases absorption by 50% I think

My iron levels were at 7.9 in June of this year. They are now at 12.1. I took the ferrous sulphate 200mg and I felt better quite quickly. Although I'm still not feeling my best and would like to get my levels to at least a 15. It's a long hard slog I'm afraid.

Thank you for all your replies. Looks like I'm in this for the long haul!

I'm with you! Will let you know if I get a cure. Off the caffeine apart from two teas a day... And headaches! Googling llysene cos I'm taking tablet with fizzy vit c just now

1,000-1,500 per day with iron hugely increases uptake of iron. Vit c too

Intravenous iron is also an option and transformed my life late in my last pregnancy. I was utterly exhausted and felt better within days, so ask about that if you're still struggling in a few weeks.