GP gave me iron tablets, does that mean I’m anaemia?

[candle18]

Had blood tests done as had felt a bit lightheaded. I got a call today from the surgery to say GP had left a prescription for iron tablets. The GP is off so didn’t speak to anyone. Does this mean it’s iron deficient anaemia and does this need more investigation to find the cause?

If you are a woman who has periods they won’t investigate for any cause ime.
Be warned they cause constipation. Maybe get some fybogel from the chemist and take every evening for the first week or so whilst your body gets used to them.
www.boots.com/fybogel-hi-fibre-orange-30-sachets-10052725

Don't be alarmed if your poop is green either!! I went the opposite way when I was on them and I ended up with the major shits for about a week until I got used to taking them.

They probably won't look at cause yet,, but if it's fairly low they might repeat your blood test in a few week to check your levels are improving.
It made my poo go black and face me terrible constipation and nausea, so fybogel or similar is a good shout

*gave me terrible constipation even!

Thanks for the warnings, already get constipation so will be prepared with the fybogel!

They make my stomach really upset so you never know your luck there!

I ended up getting iron infusions but not sure if they are an option (I’m not in the UK). They are amazing.

how low was your Count OP... 🌺

I get iron infusions every 4 weeks... faster and so much better... my iron depletes very quickly though 🌺

I couldn’t bear the iron tablets, the pharmacist suggested spatone instead. I took 2 a day in orange juice for the first month and I’ve taken 1 a day since. My iron levels have steadily increased and the GP has advised to continue with the spatone despite being really not keen at first. No side effects AT ALL

Spatone is good but tastes awful!
Interestingly I read an article that said taking a double dose every other day, instead of one dose every day, increases iron levels quicker.

Hi OP, just to provide some balance - I’ve been on iron tablets for 3 months with no side effects at all and it’s working quite nicely. Hopefully it’ll be the same for you.

You might have low ferritin but not necessarily anemia. You get anemic if your ferritin reserves become zero and sometimes not even then as you might have good folate and b12 levels. So GP will prescribe iron if your ferritin levels are below 20.
As for constipation , it depends on what salt you got.
Ferrous sulphate - will definitely constipate so ask for another salt.
Ferrous gluconate- less likely to constipate but for most it does not constipate.
Ferrous fumarate - best tolerated and will never constipate, it might give you diarrhea.
Even if your gp has given you sulphate and is not ready to change the salt, get it from pharmacy as these tablets are very cheap and you don't need prescription.

@Literallyfedup quite a lot of that is utter nonsense!

Well may be it is, but this is what the GP told me as my DD had low ferritin levels a few months back. May be he thought to give me nonsense information because he had nothing better to do or may be it is based on his knowledge in the field. I am no doctor so I am not going to argue your knowledge regarding the fact.

[quote Greybeardy]@Literallyfedup quite a lot of that is utter nonsense![/quote]
No it's not. She's right.

I had this recently and my ferritin was low. He asked me to do a poo test to check that I wasn’t losing it there .
Ring back and ask why you’ve been given iron, get the result.

Ferrous fumarate - best tolerated and will never constipate

It made me incredibly constipated!