Iron Deficency Anemia

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Hi everyone, I'm a newbie here (posting-wise) and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with Iron Deficency Anemia? I'm a 40 year old vegetarian and during and after my periods I started to notice that I was feeling extra tired. the only way i can describe my feeling of tiredness was like ''being drunk without the buzz''. I felt a bit weak and light headed but put it down to stress and exhaustion (I had a lot going on at the time). That was four months ago and at the time I took a home blood test which showed I was low in Iron (I also checked my Thyroid which was normal). I started taking liquid iron since then and have noticed a slight improvement in my symptoms. I recent;y took another home blood test and the result was 1 line with a very faint line which is a sign that things could be improving, I have yet to take another one. My question is, because I am now 40 and my sleeping patterns are not what they should be (as well as getting up at 6am all week), is it normal to be really tired at 6/7pm at night? I know I must sound silly asking these questions but I don't have anyone around me that i can ask advice from. Has anyone been through this or going through this? How long did it take you to get back to normal? I have been drinking beetroot juice every day and included more green vegetables into my diet too. You read such horror stories online (esp TikTok) and I just wanted to hear from women who have been or are going through it. Sorry for going on and on, I appreciate any feedback, much love x

Have you been tested for Coeliac disease? It’s a very common cause.

https://www.coeliac.org.uk/information-and-support/your-gluten-free-hub/home-of-gluten-free-recipes/healthy-eating/iron/

See your GP for a blood test and they will prescribe iron tablets. They’re a lot stronger than supplements you buy.

I was prescribed iron tablets and the dose worked out to something like 64 x the usual amount in supplements. So just taking liquid iron will be a drop in the ocean if you’re properly anaemic.

Thank you so much for the link, I have tested for that and I don't have that but I do try to add gluten-free products to my diet x

I suggest you ask your GP for a blood test rather than guessing your iron is low. You need to take iron on an empty stomach first thing and wait about an hour before eating or drinking anything other than water.

Tannins (tea, red wine) and calcium (dairy) block absorption in particular.

I prefer iron bisglycinate to the stuff the doctors prescribe: more readily absorbable and gentler on the stomach. I found a 48mg dose on amazon. I raised my ferritin from 4 to 12 on a vegan diet in six weeks with this, twice each day.

Thank you so much for the advice x

Thank you for the advice x

I did feel that way when I was anaemic. I also really craved ice. Another big thing I noticed was when I pulled my eye lids down they were white/pale pink. I am no longer anaemic and my eye lids are red!

Thank you for commenting : ) What was it that helped in your situation? When I pull my eyelids down I see vibrant red on the outer edge of the lid but pale pink in the inner part

I take a high dose iron once dad with a glass of rest orange juice, removed caffeine almost entirely from my diet (I was drinking between 8-10 cuts of tea a day). After about 3 months my iron levels were normal. I feel much better now buy it was definitely a gradual increase as opposed to suddenly feeling better.

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-gentle-iron-capsules-20mg-6100156285

this is the iron I use. I also take a b12 supplement with this too as I am on a low fodmap diet

Glad to read that you're feeling much better than you were. Did you see a Doctor at the time or did you just take the supplements from Holland & Barrett? I currently take Floradix (liquid iron) twice per day. I've also included a lot of greens and beetroot in my daily diet along with vitamin c. I'm just impatient lol and just wondered how long it would all take. I do have a heavy flow on the first two days of my period too x

I saw a dr but was easier to spend £3.50 on supplements rather than pay for a prescription my gp said. I have a very heavy flow too (diet three days I use a super tampon and a pad and have to change both every two hours)

So strange just been told I am deficient in folic so am going on a course of meds for 4 months.
Also 41 vegetarian all my life and have thyroid issues.
Does this mean I am anemic? I haven't had much info from the Dr as the test came back super quick.
Fed up of being super tired and thought it was long covid so will see if anything else comes back from other tests.
Hope we get sorted soon as I need energy again!

Look up oxalates and phytic acid which inhibit iron absorption from excessive plant eating. Many iron dense plants like spinach if brocolli are high in oxalates which inhibit absorption.

Correct about caffeine as others have posted, also calcium in milk

It's a mindfield, take supplements on an empty stomach with vitamin c during the day is the best. We produce peptides on a night which inhibit absorption also....

Optifer is a supplement can buy, expensive but keeps me in track.

All this is my own research, I have a science background. Became anemic through vegan diet and iron deficiency through gluten diet.

Migraines meant I had to go back to being omnivore, but still need to supplement 2 years on due to periods...

Good luck and hope this helps

The tablets prescribed by GPs are available to buy at any pharmacy and are cheaper than a prescription. They used to recommend three times a day but new evidence has shown that one a day is adequate

I was shocked at how common this actually was but so many women go through it. It has a lot to do with diet and periods. If you're not getting enough iron in your diet, drinking too much coffee, heavy periods etc it can result in low iron/anemia and hence the tiredness, foggy/dizzy feelings, palpitations and cold hands/feet. So many people, even younger women go through it and live with it. With busy lifestyles being what they are, it's easy to mistake symptoms as just being down to being burnt out. I thought that's what it was until I took the home blood test. I'm now on a better diet and taking liquid iron, I guess I just have to be patient. So many people have said that they are taking Floradix and swear by it (always mix it with vitamin c). I guess I just have to be patient. I have also been told that Nettle tea is fabulous for getting your iron up. Beetroot juice is also supposed to be great for iron

I had similar and thought it could be peri symptoms. A variety of tests later and GP said I was low in iron, folic and b12. I had injections for the b12 initially then all tablets. Took three months but was much better. I now take a mixed supplement daily and I feel normal again.

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to respond, I really do appreciate it! As the song goes ''Sometimes it's hard to be a woman'' Ain't it the truth lol! Hope everyone continues to feel better or gets through their iron journey as fast as possible! I guess as we get older we just need to up our vitamins, minerals, diets and rest as much as possible x

I'm a 40 year old vegetarian
Vegetarians might need to supplement their diet with Vitamin B12, have you checked yours recently?
Vegetarians and vegans must take particular care to consume enough vitamin B-12, as it is mainly found in meat, eggs, and dairy.

I struggle with taking tablets so use the Better You Iron spray (and Vit B12 spray), it helps a lot and have no digestion issues with it.

Thank you, I will have a look for some B12 spray on Holland & Barrett x

You might need prescription iron tablets. You cannot buy them otc, I asked! As they were out of stock.
DM takes them.

I'm not vegetarian and I needed B12 supplements (was a bit surprised to get a prescription, as I'd not realised it was part of my blood tests.) Have also had low iron fairly often, despite eating a fairly iron rich diet. Hate to think what it's like currently, as on day 16 of a heavy period period, but I've an appointment for bloods in a couple of weeks.

In summary - you should have blood tests to confirm which levels need boosting.

As a vegetarian you should take b12 supplements. A deficiency in b12 can lead to Iron deficiency.
Definitely get a GP to check your levels.