Has anyone overcome iron deficiency without tablets

[JustAnotherDayWorkingAtHome]

DD17...exhausted headaches nausea

But I know she will end up co stops yes on tablets and having suffered with chronic constipation myself for years I dont want her to suffer with this.

Would spinach juice help daily? She had one made with ginger apple and spinach and liked it.

Just to say she's had the blood test and is deficient.

Floradix liquid iron supplement doesn't give me constipation like tablets do

There is tablets called gentle iron from Holland and Barrett that don’t cause constipation

I eat more meat.

It depends how badly she is deficient and why.

Iron deficiency will make her feel terrible. What did the doctor prescribe?

it would be better to take the tablets and drink prune juice than to try to treat iron deficiency with spinach juice.

I take Floradix, which doesn't give me constipation

2 Spatone sachets a day drunk with orange juice on an empty stomach leaving an hour or two between it and dairy/caffeine products.

Spinach for anaemia isn't great. The type of iron it has isn't well absorbed into the body. Eating liver works as does black pudding and offal (haggis).

Vegetable iron isn't absorbed as easily by the body. Spinach juice would be a good 'as well as' proper supplements.

Research different types of iron supplements as some are easier on the stomach than others. Gentle iron etc.. Take vitamin C or have an orange with it, and drink a full glass of water too. The fruit as well as the water will help against constipation.

From experience and depending on how low she is I don't think there is enough iron in floradix etc. to bring levels up quickly enough.

Floridex and Spartan never cut the mustard with my deficiency. I’ve found I can manage well with one ferrous sulphate tablet taken daily with orange juice, lots of iron rich foods, no gluten

also lots of water and dried apricots if I’m feeling bunged up

Thanks all. Ok will take the supplements and aim to prevent/ manage the constipation.

We don't eat a lot of red meat as my other DD doesn't eat it but I will get her eating a bit more if this alongside everything else. And the OJ too for absorption.

Venison is really high in iron and Aldi now do steaks. Also seafood, like mussels, and fish.

Just to say I was quite anaemic after I'd given birth and Floradix bought it back up very well and bonus no constipation!

Hello! I'm on Ferrous Sulphate for low ferritin.

As time has goes on, your body does get more used to it - and low ferritin is so awful to live with.

Just to say that there is new research to suggest that there's no benefit to taking more than 200mg iron a day, as the body simply doesn't absorb it. And you get increased side effects. Just in case she's prescribed a high dose to start.

I take something called Easy Iron capsules from the health food shop- it's the cheapest non constipating supplement I could find.

I've had low iron off and on since my first pregnancy. Had ferrous sulphate tablets a few times and they aren't the nicest. My iron/B12 is low again so I'm having 6 B12 injections over the next two weeks, then 6 months of tablets. The nurse said with the levels of my iron the injections will bring them right up and the tablets will maintain it, and couldn't understand why I hadn't been offered the injections before, as the body only absorbs 50% of the tablets.

Sympathise with your daughter, it's awful

She could also consider whether her periods could be reduced with contraception or other medication.

Just wanted to say that it’s not a forgone conclusion that she’ll get constipated from iron tablets. I’m on ferrous sulfate at the moment and other than the colour, it hasn’t affected my guts at all. I do take with a vitamin C supplement, which might help. But definitely worth trying first in case she’s not affected by side effects.

I take iron pills regularly. I’m not constipated. And even if she is, she obviously needs iron pills so may have to put up with some side effects for a few weeks.

I’d be more concerned about the cause of the low iron. Have they tested her for coeliac?

If she’s iron deficient and symptomatic, it will be really hard to fix without supplementation.

Recent advice has changed about taking iron. When you had to take iron, were you told to take it more than once a day? Guidelines now say take it once a day, or every other day. Maybe your daughter could try every other day and see how she gets on. If she finds it that too uncomfortable, then she should talk to doctor.

It is important that she does try supplementing, as your doctor will want to retest her and look at how she has responded to treatment to see what further action needs to be taken.

BTW I have no gut issues with daily high strength iron, if anything it helped my gut.

When I started getting dizzy spells for no reason and went to the doctor, I was surprised to find out it was caused by an iron deficiency. This was a problem I used to have in my 30's, but the iron tablets prescribed then used to make me feel really ill.

This time I decided to eat my way out of the problem. A diet of liver, red meat, home grown spinach, lettuce, kale, beans (it was summer) and dried apricots and avocados sorted me out. Fortunately, I like liver and bacon and I have a kitchen garden.

Did it for my old Labrador after he had an enormous spleen tumour removed. Got liver and steak (mince) every meal for ten days, plus rice and vegetables,
which did the trick. Vet was astounded.

I take iron tablets and I am not constipated. Ferrous gluconate is very gentle on stomach and gut. Never had issues or cramps.