Iron tablets not raising my iron after four months! Anyone had this ?

[kissmelittleass]

Had a fbc back in October and was told to take Galfer 305mg one daily for one month to see if it helped and to come back for a repeat blood test in one month. My level at this stage was 11.7
November fbc showed it was still 11.7 so hadn't risen but doctor said it wasn't low and not going down so to stay on the tablets same dose for three months and to come back for repeat blood test then.
So beginning of March I had a fbc again and rang for results Friday to be told by nurse that my level is still 11.7!! Told me to continue on tablets and as our surgery is only open for emergencies at moment that the doctor will ring me to discuss one day.
So why has my iron level not risen? Any ideas?
Background info.. I'm 51 , no periods, I am near enough vegan but I do eat live yogurt a few times a week. A lot of green veg I can't eat as I have terrible pains and wind after eating but I do eat green beans, lettuce leafs green apples, nuts and seeds. I also drink kefir some times.
I have just started this weekend to take my iron tablets with a small glass of orange juice just to see if this will help.

[kissmelittleass]

@lborgia Thank You so much for that info!

[lborgia]

Sorry if I didn’t mention this earlier, I did write it all out in a previous thread... maybe you can find it.

Essentially, the kind of iron in normal supplements is like trying to absorb minerals from a rock. Only a tiny amount is actually absorbed by the body. With spatone (and meat for example) it has a much much higher % of “bioavailable” iron, so there may be a lot less in it, but you’re absorbing a much greater part of it.

Cannot remember the numbers I had, but with spatone you can take it up to 3 sachets a day, I’d take it away from food, but in juice/vitamin c.

HTH.

[Wereonabearhunt]

Have you been tested for coeliac? My cousin had a very similar story and it turned out she is coeliac (with ZERO abdo issues and a high gluten diet i'll add) and it was stopping the iron absorption. Since following a gluten free diet her bloodwork comes back almost perfect

[kissmelittleass]

Just a question about spatone if anyone knows?
I had a look today but didn't buy it because the Galfer tablets the doctor prescribed are 305mg one a day which as I've said hasn't risen my levels after four months of being on them. The spatone has 5mg a sachet so that is extremely low and not going to help raise my levels if the 305mg tablet can't?? Any ideas?

[kissmelittleass]

@lborgia Thanks!! I'll
give Spatone a go see if that helps!

[lborgia]

I was seen by a haematologist who said that if your b12 was fine, then you're getting enough of the right sorts of food, just not absorbing iron.

I second giving spatone or pregnancy supplements a go, but the only thing that worked for me is infusions.

Oh, and weetabix is a shockingly old fashioned concept. There's so much fibre in there the amount of available iron would be very low. Fibre binds with iron, making it far less helpful .

[underneaththeash]

@kissmelittleass that may be your belief, but we are omnivores who need a certain range of nutrients and minerals to be healthy.
Its a bit like saying dogs can eat only veggies or cows can eat meat!

[kissmelittleass]

@underneaththeash I've been a vegetarian/vegan since 1993! There is no absolute way on earth I would eat meat or fish for my own personal reasons that I don't believe animals are there to be eaten!! but that is another subject!

[underneaththeash]

OP - Iron tablets often aren't absorbed well.

You need to find ways to increase your iron within your diet, so lentils, soybeans, tofu - if you google how much of the DV they each contain for a few days, you can measure portion sizes etc until you get an idea of how much you need. Try and have an egg every day.

Ultimately though, vegan diets (especially when you're restricted on the amount of veg you eat) often don't contain the correct amounts of vitamins and minerals for most people and you may just need to eat some fish or meat occasionally to keep you healthy.

[kissmelittleass]

@slowco4ch Thanks for advice!

[slowco4ch]

I'd add in that your examples of leafy greens aren't iron rich. The darker bitter greens are best, kale, spring greens serve up with some multi coloured veg to combine with vit c on the same plate. Keep caffeine away an hour either side.

[Mlou32]

@kissmelittleass ah ok well if that's what the doctor has prescribed then that's what to stick with.

[LuluJakey1]

We were told by my mum's consultant that iron tablets are so poorly absorbed and take so long to have even a tiny effect they make no difference to most people. However, my mum was much older than you and had lower levels. She needed occasional transfusions of blood.
Spatone is more effective I understand.

[kissmelittleass]

I was told to take iron tablet just before my dinner as she wanted me to space it out as I have a under active thyroid and take my medication for that first thing.
Sometimes I take the iron tablet half way through my dinner don't know best way I should take it.
Also tmi here but my poo is not dark like it was when I first started on iron.

[kissmelittleass]

@Mlou32 yes her prescription was for one a day but I buy same product over the counter as cheaper!
She says she's not worried as it's not too low but every blood test recently it gets flagged up for her to review.
I have read about other people being on a higher dose on here but that's what the doctor prescribed 305mg once a day.

[OhioOhioOhio]

Thanks for the vitamin c tip.

[Reginabambina]

Incorporate dried apricots and sesame into your diet as well and cut all tea (as in from the tea plant, herbal tinsanes are fine).

[Mlou32]

@kissmelittleass also, when I was prescribed these for iron deficiency, I was told to take one tablet, two times a day. That's for treatment. For maintenance, it's once per day. Did your GP definitely say only take one tablet per day?

[kissmelittleass]

@Mlou32 Thanks hopefully the orange juice will help

[Mlou32]

Your nurse is correct, your B12 levels are fine - the normal range is from around 200 - 900. See if you notice an increase now that you're taking orange juice along with your tablets, try and incorporate iron rich foods into your diet as well.

[kissmelittleass]

@Elsiebear90 Thanks for info I think nurse said haemoglobin but the doctor said iron?
Doctor has now said to keep on tablets as before same advice really and to increase leafy greens! But I'm doing that for ages!
I'm going to give it two months and then go back for a blood test, doctor just asks for a fbc so I presume this includes ferritin?

@NaToth My B12 was 413 the nurse actually said that was good! I presume she knows?

[Elsiebear90]

*talking

[Elsiebear90]

Are you taking about haemoglobin or iron? Because they are two different things, there are certain conditions that cause your haemoglobin to be low despite having high or normal ferritin, like thalassaemia for example. You should get your ferritin checked, I’ve seen GPs put patients on iron tablets for months and month despite their haemoglobin not increasing, by the time they had their ferritin checked it was sky high and they had iron overload because they actually had beta thalassaemia, which does not respond to iron. It’s very common in the Asian and Mediterranean population.

[NaToth]

That B12 is a tad low too.

It would be better nearer the top of the reference range.

[CheddarGorgeous]

I've been on iron for 3 months. My levels were on the floor. I was told to take them on an empty stomach with a vitamin c source. My dose was much higher than yours and it took 2 months to get back to the normal range and a further month to build up iron stores in my body. I'm still taking a low level supplement as the underlying cause is still being treated.