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Original poster

Iron Deficiency/folate deficiency

10 replies

Jadelr · 04/09/2025 16:28

Hi,

I’ve felt unwell for a while now, since I had my son I’ve not felt right and that was 11 months ago. Basically as the months have went by I’ve been getting more and more symptoms started just with tiredness and now I’ve got multiple symptoms such as heart palpitations, pins and needles in hands, extreme fatigue, increased anxiety and just generally feeling crappy I also have shortness of breath aswell. My ferritin level is 6. My GP also said I have folate deficiency, I feel awful and my 11 month old is a handful at the moment haha. Has anyone else experienced this and how long did it take to feel better? I’m really struggling with how I feel

OP posts:
IDontKeepChickensButBelieveTheyExist · 04/09/2025 17:14

Blimey, no wonder you are struggling. It can take several weeks for levels to really increase, they usually retest after 3 months of treatment.
Did they also test B12 -pins & needles in hands is often also that.
Do you have any help with DC, can you arrange help or some nursery time or anything?
I hope you feel better soon Flowers

TeenLifeMum · 04/09/2025 17:17

Mine was 6 too and I felt awful. It took 4 weeks to feel better but I didn’t get on with ferrous fummerate as it made me sick so I changed to a glycogen one. I asked the pharmacist for an alternative. Some are fine in ferrous fumerate though - but it rather than prescription as it’s cheaper, you just have to confirm it’s advised

crayolaviola · 04/09/2025 17:34

A family member paid privately for an iron infusion, it was expensive but very very effective and worked immediately.

Original poster
Jadelr · 04/09/2025 21:04

Hi, yes I’ve had my B12 tested that came back ok. However my folate is really low too so the GP said that can cause pins and needles. I just feel so awful 😣 I’m going to look into maybe putting him into nursery just for a couple of hours a week until I can get better, my family and my partner work full time so I’m abit stuck. Thankyou! x

OP posts:
MysteriousFalafel · 04/09/2025 21:08

Definitely ask if they’ll give you an infusion, it took 12 weeks for my levels to come up from a ferritin of 7. I felt like absolute shit, you have my sympathies!!

Original poster
Jadelr · 04/09/2025 21:08

TeenLifeMum · 04/09/2025 17:17

Mine was 6 too and I felt awful. It took 4 weeks to feel better but I didn’t get on with ferrous fummerate as it made me sick so I changed to a glycogen one. I asked the pharmacist for an alternative. Some are fine in ferrous fumerate though - but it rather than prescription as it’s cheaper, you just have to confirm it’s advised

Honestly I’ve never felt so awful in my whole life, I feel like I’m running on empty. I’ve heard alot of people say that about ferrous fummerate I’ll see how I go and if it doesn’t agree with me I’ll get it changed

OP posts:
Original poster
Jadelr · 04/09/2025 21:24

crayolaviola · 04/09/2025 17:34

A family member paid privately for an iron infusion, it was expensive but very very effective and worked immediately.

I wish that was an option but unfortunately can’t afford to pay privately for treatment at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jadelr · 04/09/2025 21:28

MysteriousFalafel · 04/09/2025 21:08

Definitely ask if they’ll give you an infusion, it took 12 weeks for my levels to come up from a ferritin of 7. I felt like absolute shit, you have my sympathies!!

The GP said the first thing they always try is the tablets and if it’s not helping at all by the end of the course of tablets then they can consider an infusion. I’ve never felt so unwell in my whole life they think it’s been caused from losing a lot of blood when I had my son and then now I have heavy periods ever since having him so I think over time my ferritin level has just slowly declined. I’m hoping I see some improvement soon 😣

OP posts:
MysteriousFalafel · 04/09/2025 21:38

I can only tolerate liquid iron and my midwife this time round advised me to do an additional dose so it was 10ml 3x a day. Might be worth asking the pharmacist if that’s ok for you to do? Also there are some things which you can do which help absorption. Limit tea and coffee, especially within an hour of taking your iron. Up your vitamin C as much as possible - orange juice, citrus fruits and lots of veg. Take your iron on an empty stomach if possible, 2 hours before food.

Original poster
Jadelr · 04/09/2025 21:41

MysteriousFalafel · 04/09/2025 21:38

I can only tolerate liquid iron and my midwife this time round advised me to do an additional dose so it was 10ml 3x a day. Might be worth asking the pharmacist if that’s ok for you to do? Also there are some things which you can do which help absorption. Limit tea and coffee, especially within an hour of taking your iron. Up your vitamin C as much as possible - orange juice, citrus fruits and lots of veg. Take your iron on an empty stomach if possible, 2 hours before food.

Thankyou for the advice! I’ve purchased some vitamin c supplement drinks as the GP said they are good for helping absorb the iron. I’m hoping the tablets do the trick, I was on iron tablets when I had my son however that was 11 months ago and they only gave me a months worth but given how much blood I lost come to think of it I shouldn’t been given a longer course really. Fingers crossed I feel better soon 😣

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