Iron deficiency - which iron?

[hospitalbagfrenzy]

I've been prescribed Ferrous Fumerate 210mg - 1 tablet 3xdaily.

This doesn't agree with me and I'm looking for an alternative - was thinking of spatone or floradix but how much of those would I need to give me the same amount of iron? I'm having an ELCS in a couple of weeks and have had one iron transfusion already. My HB has come up to 99, 1 week after the transfusion.

Neither spatone or floradix will give you anywhere near the same amount of iron as ferrous fumerate 3x a day.

Given you have already had an iron infusion you will have been really really low in iron - you need to make up not just your Hb, but also you iron stores.

How exactly does the ferrous fumerate 'not agree with you?' I'd suggest you talk to your GP or midwife about this as swapping to a high street alternative could leave you low in iron again.

Ok thanks - I've just found spatone and floradix much more gentle on the system. The prescribed iron makes me feel sick, constipated etc

They are more gentle - because they don't have as much iron in!

Constipation can be overcome with laxatives like Movicol.

But really you need medical advice from the people treating you about your individual circumstances and how desperate your need for iron is, and if there are prescribable alternatives, or ways to make it more bearable.

After an iron infusion, being prescribed a high dose of ferrous fumerate and still a fairly low Hb it sounds like the professionals around you really want to get that iron in.

At your ELCS have your HCP discussed with you using a cell saver? I'd recommend this as any blood you loose is cycled back into you during surgery.

I find ferrous sulphate kinder that FF.

Thanks @AnnaMagnani

@Blastandtroph never heard of cell saver! What's that?

OP, Wiki link here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intraoperativebloodd_salvage

Most hospitals have them (usually donated by Jehovah Witness organisations - for obvious reasons). We use ours for most routine sections.

Ferrous Fumerate doesn't agree with anyone according to my doctor but is a necessary thing if you need it. She told me to take 3 a day & if I can't take 3 to take 2 & if I can't take 2 to take 1. Most day's I took 3 but on the occasional day's I would just take take 1 or skip a day to give myself a bit of a break but my thinking was if I can do 3 a day it's get's it over & done with faster than prolonging having to take them

Ferrous Fumerate gave me awful stomach symptoms - nausea, severe cramps and terrible (black, liquid) diarrhoea. It basically went straight through me, and everything else I managed to eat and drink, so it's not always a case of just putting up with it. I managed to get my levels up to a just about acceptable level with Floradix, lots of vitamin C and a good iron-rich diet within a few weeks at the end of pregnancy.
Speak to your GP and see what they can recommend.

Try taking them with orange juice - it helps absorption of them.
That may ease your symptoms a little.

This one is a much lower dose but is specifically labelled as non-constipating.

www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/solgar-gentle-iron-20mg-vegi-capsules-60001402?skuid=001402&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gclsrc=aw.ds&&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5LKIwoHG4QIV5p3tCh2Nlwv9EAQYASABEgIXQvD_BwE