Anaemic teen...

[OctoberLeaves]

My 15-year old daughter was suffering from fatigue and a blood test showed she was anaemic as well as severely deficient in Vitamin D.
Her serum iron level was 9.9 micro mol/L, so mildly anaemic I believe.

Our GP prescribed a weekly loading dose of Vit D for seven weeks, followed by one a day for the long term (800u).
For the anaemia, he said one a day of ferrous fumarate 210mg, just for 2 months.

I've queried this, since when I was anaemic (due to heavy periods), I took 3 tablets a day to correct the anaemia, and then one a day as a long-term maintenance dose. He's told me she'll be fine to stop the iron and she doesn't need another blood test.

Any GPs out there – does this does sound right? Is the dose sufficient – and I'm worried that if she stops taking iron after just two months, she'll only get anaemic again? Should she have another blood test?

Is she actually anaemic or just iron deficient? Iron replacement prescribing has changed in the last few years and now one a day/ one every other day or so is standard - we don't absorb more than that very well and it's the stuff that's not absorbed and left in the GI tract that causes all the side effects that mean people stop taking it.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I’m saying anaemic when I probably mean iron deficient. I guess iron deficiency leads on to anaemia, unless treated?
Anyway, would you think 2 months of a daily supplement is sufficient to correct this - or is the problem likely to reoccur?
She has a balanced diet and very light periods so not sure why her iron is low.

Is that level serum or ferretin?

She must feel terrible. I know I did when I had a vitamin D deficiency. Poor love.

The iron tablets could bung her up, spatone is gentler and what I give my teen.

I wouldn't worry too much about a repeat blood test. If she still doesn't seem right in a few weeks, take her back to the doctor's. Beware that I had the same dose of vit d regime and it took ages for me to feel better from the d deficiency.

Are you taking vitamin D? You probably should be.

Any other symptoms?My DD was anaemic with a good diet and it turned out she had coeliac.I requested the test as she was feeling sick and bloated all the time.

Yes, good point! I have no idea if I’m deficient though I feel ok. I’m amazed she was so severely deficient as she goes outside a normal amount of time. Might be the hoodie she hides under…

Serum

Just terrible fatigue which is better now she’s had a good dose of Vit D and iron. I’m just wary of stopping the iron as the doc suggests.
Good job you requested the test for your daughter, she must have felt awful with coeliac disease.

Serum iron is not very helpful as it changes so much even in a 24 hour period depending on fasting state, recent iron ingestion etc
Ferretin is much more useful ( assuming a normal CRP) and is the treat to level.

That’s useful to know @Utedriver . Thanks.

Hi sorry to jump on your post. Waiting for bloods for my DD. She's exhausted all the time with pain in her upper left, headaches, frequent urination and tingly feet. The Gp thinks is anaemia. Is your DD ok now? My Dd has heavy periods but does have an iron rich diet. She also has vitamins.

Feel a bit helpless while waiting.

Hi there @Sparxdislike Yes, my daughter is ok now after a course of iron and she’s still taking Vitamin D… a very common deficiency.

Really sorry to hear about your daughter, and hopefully, if she’s anaemic, a course of iron makes her feel better very quickly. I had anaemia from heavy periods and I didn’t realise how tired I’d been till I had treatment!

Hope you get your results soon and your DD is on the mend soon. It does make you feel helpless when they’re ill, doesn’t it 🌺

I really doubt that there are many teen girls (as it seems from this thread) on iron rich diets or even iron-sufficient diets.

Unless I'm wrong and everyone but me has been dining on red meat & veg plus occasional black pudding and liver. Everything cooked in cast iron pans where possible.
That's what I'm doing now (plus supplements) to recover from pins/needles, heart palpitations, terrible fatigue, hair loss and other things as a result of anemia and probably also insufficient animal protein intake. I bet most people's current ideas of healthy eating are nothing like it.

Teens need more iron and protein than ever, what with growth spurts, energy expenditure and periods, and yet what is marketed as healthy is often moving us in the opposite direction from full health.

@OctoberLeaves thank you. Blood tests next week. Good your Dd feels better thank you for responding.

My DD is so exhausted. She's fast asleep right now bless her. She's eating and drinking plenty but feels light headed when she stands, tingly feet, absolutely exhausted, pain on her left side after going to the loo. Headache but not all the time. They ruled out a urine infection. It's hard seeing them poorly. Hopefully she will feel better soon :)

How is your daughter @Sparxdislike ? Did the blood tests show anything?
I hope she’s feeling better now.

Hi,

She has folate anaemia and a kidney infection so still feeling poorly. Thank you for asking :)

Gosh, no wonder she felt so rotten @Sparxdislike I hope she’s on the mend really soon!

Have they tested her for coeliac disease? Bugs me when they fob off iron deficiency due to heavy periods without better investigation. Her low vit d isn’t caused by her periods. Yes I know at this time of year it’s not unusual but there’s two deficiencies here so they should rule out something quite common which can cause malabsorption.

She's in hospital now as her infection got worse :( they said they would investigate further if it was still low after her 4 month bloods. She will have a paeds follow up so I will ask about it then. Thank you :)

Sorry to hear she’s in hospital @Sparxdislike You must be really worried but hope she’s home very soon 🌺

Thank you she's had treatment and home now. Have to go back and have some more tests but as an outpatient. Waiting for some more bloodwork. She's on the mend though which is good :)