taking spatone instead of prescribed iron tablets (post-op) - q about dosage

[Tutter]

have been merrily ignoring the tablets i was prescribed postnatally (lost 2 litres of blood in pph; had transfusion in theatre) and taking spatone instead

mentioned it to midwife who didn't seem concerned

but saw today that the tablets contain 65mg of iron (one, twice daily) and the spatone are onlky 5g per sachet - am taking 2 sachets each morning

do i need to up my dosage, or is the spatone better absorbed than tablets would be? (am taking the sachets with oj as i understand they are better absorbed that way)

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you can take up to 4 sachets a day if that will help.

I also take 2 spa tones a day following what sounds similar experience to you and blood tests came back fine

ah that's useful to know, maybe i'll take an extra one or two sachets a day for a while...

Tutter
You're right, that the reason there is only 5gm per sachet is that it is used much more effciently by the body. It's a bit like expecting to get calcium from chewing a stick of chalk rather than eating almonds!! Only a small % of the iron in tablets is usable, compared to that in the sachets.
Two sachets a day for a bit should be more than enough!

thanks jackaroo - that's great

spa tone is designed to prevent a normal iron from slipping into low, while prescribed tablets are higher dose to treat established anaemia but are a pain to take

dot - what does that mean for me? my levels were back up from 7 to 10 at discharge, so really now just need giving a bit of a boost

It is quite possible if you are eating properly having the spa tone and orange juice reducing the tea drinking then as you have stopped the cause of anaemia (baby plus pph) then it would get back to normal but much slower than prescribed iron (normal 11-16 in women)

bump for fio