Iron spray? Horrendous anemia and constipation

[AntiHop]

Help. I'm really anemic, last result was 3 umol/L.

Iron supplements make me really constipated. I'm really susceptible due to a prolapse.

I've seen an iron spray available. Has anyone tried this? Does it work?

I was recommended Spatone when I was anaemic and couldn't tolerate the tablets. They are sachets that you can put in orange juice to help them absorb.

Not aware of a spray but you could try a liquid like feroglobin or those Spatone sachets. Ensure to take with vitamin c to help absorption.

Spatone is your friend! I used it when pregnant with DD (as recommended by my obstetrician) and she used it before and after major spinal surgery. It is fantastic stuff - better absorbed by the body than traditional iron supplements as it’s a natural source and no constipation. It comes in liquid sachets, you just put it in a glass of orange juice. Tastes a bit metallic but much more pleasant than the awful iron tablet side effects

Ask for a transfusion. That level is ridiculous.

I find Floradix is much better than the tablets

Have you tried heme iron? Most people tolerate it better but obviously it's not suitable if you're vegan.

Three Arrows is one of the 'big names' in heme iron:
https://threearrowsnutra.com/en-uk/pages/simplyheme

Just read your level OP and I’d agree with this. That is incredibly low

What level is 3? Neither haemoglobin nor ferritin are measured in umol/L. Is it your serum iron (in which case it’s a bit low but needs interpreting in the context of the rest of your results to know what’s the best management).

I use the 10mg spray from Better you. It’s got me from 8.7 last year to just sitting on the edge of the normal range, though I’m not sure it’s really enough to get me any higher. I had very little effect from any of the tablets I got via my GP, I don’t think I absorb things too well in my gut tbh. But I would also look at a transfusion.

Also recommend heme iron from 3 arrows. Much faster and easier to absorb, no side affects and you don't have to take with Vit c etc or avoid caffeine

Take fybogel every day and the tablets.. If you’re anaemic the spatone etc isn’t enough.

Take your iron with vitamin c supplement to help it absorb. Stopped myself stomach cramps immediately

If you’re anaemic traditional iron supplements are not enough due to how little is actually able to be absorbed by the body - that’s why you get constipated and have black stool whilst on them.

It just says "iron study" and that it should be between 9 and 30. It was 6 a year ago. I was told to buy iron supplements.

Sounds like that’s probably the serum iron then (‘iron study’ is not a standard term for an individual test - it usually refers to the whole panel of tests and would give multiple results). If you don’t have a haemoglobin result then you don’t know if you’re anaemic. Ferritin is usually a more useful measure of iron stores than serum iron (and is probably what most of the PPs have assumed you meant). All of the above needs to be interpreted in context though so your best bet is to take the advice of someone who has access to the full set of results and your medical history and can therefore advise you re. whether things really are as bad as you think and what supplements and dosing might work best. HTH.

Thanks for the information. The haemoglobin result was 83 g/L, which I was told was low.

@Dunk19 @CherryValley5 @hoonicorn spatone caused me constipation, even though I'm taking movicol. 😞

Stomach cramps is not my problem.

I couldn't even tolerate spatone, but had no issues with haem iron.

I have used the Better You iron spray for a year and definitely feel a lot better since taking it, although I am also taking their Vit B12 spray as well. I now have a lot more energy and clarity of thought.

Just a reminder for anyone reading - iron needs Vit C to help it absorb but also no caffeine 2 hours before AND after taking it. That means no coffee, tea, cola or chocolate etc.

83 is low but not NHS dangerously low. I was feeling dreadful and my hb was 77, ferritin 2. Gp referred me to hospital but they said no to doing anything, try tablets in first instance. I was feeling even worse a few days later so went to ooh they agreed to assess and hb had gone down to 68. I then got a blood transfusion and two iron transfusions. I think because I was clearly losing blood/ blood cells at a decent rate.

I did research private iron transfusions and they will do it at your level, it’ll cost about £1k all in. If you have the money I’d think about it as I find anaemia really debilitating and effects my ability to earn so feels worthwhile. Do you know why you are anaemic though as important to deal with cause not just symptom.

I already have to take movicol every day, even without iron supplements.

Thanks, this is really useful.

I definitely can't afford to pay for private treatment. I was offered an infusion, to enable me to have an operation, but I decided I did not want to have the op.

I'm really scared of having an infusion, as a side effect can be constipation.

constipation would be much less likely with an infusion than oral iron. Rather than drip feeding here it might be better to go back to your GP/whoever requested the bloods and chat to them about it because they'll be aware of your history and what options have been tried/remain.

I don’t really see how as it bypasses your gut and is straight into your bloodstream. I have a horrible time on tablets, no issues atall with either infusion. Such a big boost of energy too. I honestly felt like a new woman. I was astonished as didn’t realise quite how bad I was. I think your body learns to cope but at enormous cost to your energy levels and ability to just think. I feel very unfocused when hb is low like that lightheadedness you get from bad flu.

If you’ve been anaemic for a while, a lot of indecisiveness and anxiety can be because you’re suffering mild hypoxia. The brain is abit starved of oxygen so goes into survival mode . Sometimes in that situation it’s quite hard to think critically. A bit like drunk people don’t always make the best decisions.

If you have someone you trust in your life could you try talking through stuff with them? I don’t think NHS would offer transfusion if you didn’t need one.