Low iron.. will I feel better

[Nelly44]

So I thought I was menopausal but tests have come back with iron deficiency. Looking at my history, it looks like they may have dropped 8 years ago after having my first child

questions….

• can you have iron deficiency for 8 years?
• how different will I feel after iron levels are restored.

main symptoms are feeling tired and brain fog

thankyou

I could’ve written this post. I found that iron tablets, even a high dose, didn’t get my iron levels up much, so in the end I paid for an iron infusion. Best thing I’ve ever done for myself, I feel so so much better. I hadn’t realised how low my energy had become. Now I’m bouncing around doing jobs around the house, dashing about with the kids no trouble at all. Wish I’d done it much sooner

Yes you can have it for that long. Presumably you don't have any other condition for which you have regular blood tests or other clinical monitoring? And you will feel better if levels are restored. When mine is low, it's like the tiredness experienced in early pregnancy. I fell asleep at work sometimes.

Are they not checking why? My DH was diagnosed with very low iron recently so they did extra tests. Turned out he had a large growth that was bleeding in his colon. Do you have heavy periods?

ah yes but he was a manly man. Women should just take iron, maybe lose a bit of weight and if still unhappy here are a few anti-anxiety meds.

I've suffered with low iron for years. All they've ever offered me is tablets which make almost no difference. Have considered private for an infusion but it's not cheap. However I'm getting to the point where I feel I might just have to use savings to pay for it as I'm so tired (literally) of living like this. Why won't they offer an infusion on the NHS?

You can get iron infusions on the NHS, I had one but the criteria is anemic and ferritin of under 10 in my local hospital. I suggested it to the GP and she referred me. To be fair I had had many investigations privately first to rule out internal bleeding (gastroscopy, colonoscopy and swallowed camera).

To be fair I'm a woman and had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy when I was diagnosed with anaemia too. I think it's something that is usually done if there is no logical reason for you to be anaemic so no heavy periods or vegetarianism or whatever. I was diagnosed with celiac disease.

My iron levels were very low and I was offered iron infusions on the NHS in the summer. I had two over two weeks. They had the effect of affecting my electrolytes (possibly potassium) which is very common so I was prescribed 3 tablets which looked like Berocca and I had to pay the prescription charge for these. Can't say I have noticed much difference. I reacted well to taking iron tablets and these kept my iron levels to where they roughly needed to be so will stick with those in future.

Please take the low iron seriously! I’ve had one iron a few times before and I now always know when it hits due to the brain fog, exhaustion and general malaise. It just gets worse over time if not treated.

Thanks all that’s helpful to know your experiences- yes gp is carrying out lots of tests to check I’m not losing blood from anywhere as I have no obvious signs. Periods aren’t too heavy.

im just trying to rush to the next step and wondering how I’ll feel after iron is restored!

does anyone have experience of which iron is best- I’m keen to avoid constipation if possible

Interesting thread, I’m in the same situation OP.

Ive been taking Feroglobin Liquid, which hasn’t caused constipation and seems easy to take. I haven’t had my levels tested but do feel much better.

Am interested also for recommendations of other options.

I had v low ferritin when I was also being assessed for peri meno.
I had both.

My iron levels went up dramatically by doing this:
Transexamic acid for periods
One ferrous sulphate every 48hrs on an empty stomach, with a high strength vitamin C tablet and nothing else for two hrs
Then a few months later a Mirena coil fitted

My ferritin went from 16 to 118 in a year.

It can be done. My GP said not to take multiple tablets a day your body can only absorb so much iron every 48hrs.

The brain fog I had with anaemia made me feel I was developing dementia!

I had 2 iron infusions on the NHS and it sorted everything!

It’s wild isn’t it!.. I didn’t think low iron would have such an impact

Thanks for the tips.. Marina coil to help your blood loss.. or for the hormones?

I had the Mirena fitted for HRT purposes, with the duel purpose of stopping my bleeding and low iron.

Also.. is there a link with anxiety and low iron. I saw the GP 2 years ago and they put me on sertraline but I’m wondering if this may all have been iron!!.. also starting to feel cross no blood tests were done when I saw GP for anxiety and not enough energy

I don't know how long I was anaemic, but my symptoms were very gradual. Tired, feeling the cold, dizzy on excision, unusual food cravings (I used to crunch on ice cubes!) at the end. The first time, I was early 20's and working/partying too much and not eating much meat. I did a huge amount of reading up about it though. The 2nd time, my levels weren't as low and I had no symptoms and I was pregnant.

There is a massive difference between the prescribed dose of iron supplement which is to eventually correct a deficit, compared to iron supplements over the counter which are for maintenance only. People will tell you that spatone, floradix and similar are 'gentle' iron and help with constipation. That is because they contain barely any iron and not even as much as an over the counter multivitamin with iron. They will certainly never correct an actual deficit if you are anaemic. A bit like saying you can fill a swimming pool with a teaspoon!

I changed my diet. Ate iron rich food with a glass of OJ or Vit C rich food like peppers. Started eating liver and really checked how much iron rich foods I ate. I avoided tannins which deplete the iron. Spirulina is a blue/green algae which you can get in tablet form. It can be use in addition to iron supplements, but not to replace them.

Red blood cells take 3mths to replicate, so diet and medication aren't a quick fix. My hair grew much better and all my nails had a ridge across them as they grew out much stronger. My food craving stopped and I had so much more energy. If the symptoms of iron supplements are too much, or you want a quicker fix, I'd ask for an infusion

There is a huge link. At my worst my ferritin was 5 and I felt like I was dying. GP still blames my symptoms on mental health, even though the majority of it isn’t. My anxiety only started when my ferritin was at 5. It’s even affected my heart, I have regular ectopic beats and SVT’s as a result.

Funny I stumbled upon this thread right now as I feel so tired all of the time. All I do is sleep when I can and when I look back, it’s lost me friend because I’m too exhausted to do the stuff normal people seem to be able to do.

I had severe menstrual bleeding and had to have blood transfusions ferritin was 4 and HB was 70’s. Had the coil fitted so I’m no l’m no longer activity bleeding but I’m still exhausted. It does limit your life because you’re so tired all of the time. I also take prescription strong iron tablets. My point is I should technically be fine now but I’m not and I’m taking as much as I can so diet alone is unlikely to do much in some cases

They should be testing to find out what it is for you OP because it’s not obvious so you should go to docs and tell them.

Welcome to my life. Gp tells me I have heavy periods and won’t accept that I don’t. Apparently I’m wrong and they are heavy so I don’t need further tests. I’m very aware that dh, with the same results, would be fully investigated. I started the argument in 2020 and am too tired to fight…. Probably because my iron is so fucking low.

I’ve had on/off iron deficiency most of my life. Think lowest ferritin was 9. The response from NHS and other medical providers (I lived abroad for a while) is here have some iron pills. But I can’t tolerate the prescription iron as it gives me stomach cramps and diarrhoea. No matter how I say this they persist in giving me the same pills.
What helps is regulating my period with contraceptives, trying to eat more meat and over the counter iron. I’m probably still somewhat anaemic but at least I feel ok.

I’ve considered paying for an iron infusion and would be quite interested if n how people feel after it and how long it lasts

That's really positive! I dream of getting my levels that high! I think the highest I've managed is 40. They only ever prescribe me 3 months worth of tablets and then as soon as I stop it must start falling again. I've been doing the every 48 hours, empty stomach etc but seems like the key is staying on the tablets longer term. I will ask GP about this.

You can buy them in boots. I just bought ferrous sulphate 200mg from boots pharmacy counter. The high strength Vit C was from amazon. I got 1000mg.

When I've cleaned the kitchen in the evening I put it all out on the worktop. I get up at 5 every day so take those and Vit D and then exercise and walk the dog and get ready for work etc. Then have my coffee at 7am.