Anaemic and can’t tolerate iron

[Nowmum43]

I have always been anaemic on and off throughout my life and cannot take iron.
i was diagnosed again in November and said I would try liquid iron, Dr suggested taking this before bed and that should lessen symptoms.
i took it for 5 days and didn’t sleep! I felt so nauseous 24 hours a day, crippling stomach ache with and urgency to go to the toilet.
she said to stop it and book an appointment with a pharmacist. I haven’t as I am not sure what else they can do.
last year I asked for an infusion but as I wasn’t officially anaemic at that point they refused.
just after any ideas how I can up my iron without taking iron!
I am vegetarian but have a pretty decent diet (most of the time)
I am exhausted to the bone and wake up everyday feeling like I’ve drink 10 pints the night before!
I just want to have some energy

Have you tried Spatone or Feraglobin OP? Both are gentler than standard iron supplements and have really helped get DD's iron levels up. Apologies if you've already been down that route but just thought they were worth a mention.

you could ask for tablets that only dissolve in the gut (duodenal) that have less side effects.

I'm anaemic due to rheumatoid arthritis and have tried iron supplements in every form. I now have iron infusions as needed and they work well for me. I don't know if it's an option for you but it's the only way I can get on top of my anemia

Have you tried Ferric maltol? It’s more expensive so NHS only prescribe it if you haven’t been able to tolerate the normal types, I’ve found it much better.

Otherwise are you following all the advice eg taking pills to prevent constipation etc?

You can get an iron infusion privately if that’s an option?

How often were you taking the iron supplements? If you’re getting lots of side effects you can take them less frequently, they suggest every other day and the research shows that works as well as standard dosing, or you could probably take it even less frequently if that works better for you. It would take longer to work but at least you’d be getting some iron. Also taking the iron tablet on an empty stomach, ideally with something containing vitamin C eg fruit juice, and waiting 2 hours before you have dairy or tea/coffee maximises absorption, so you can make the most of whatever dose you can tolerate.

thank you for your replies
I was taking the liquid every night before bed.
It caused more urgency and frequency of needing the toilet rather than constipation.
I have looked at private for an infusion but it is £800 and says it would need to be 6 monthly.
I haven’t tried Feraglobin as just presumed it would be the same as all the other irons. I will order some now though and hope it has less awful side effects.

Try in the morning, with Vit C or orange juice, on an empty stomach. Alternate days only.

Have you only had the liquid or tried different iron tablets - ferrous fumurate or gluconate? Different tablets suit different people.

I'm exactly the same and so is my mum. Even Spatone makes me permanently nauseus and so tired after a few days, which is far worse than the symptoms of anaemia.

I spent 13 years with anaemia, before seeing a consultant, who very fortunately, also can no longer tolerate any form of oral iron since having a child. She booked me in for 3 iron infusions and the difference was amazing.

If i become anaemic again and can't get an infusion on the NHS, I will have to find the funds to go private. It realky is tge only option for me.

People really don't understand not being able to tolerate oral iron, i can't even take multi vitamins that contain iron

Thank you for the suggestion of Feraglobin. I’ve been taking it a week now and it isn’t making me feel sick!
I am not sure if it is working as I don’t feel any different but I’ll obviously give it a few weeks.
does anyone know if it is the same strength as other irons?

Have you tried iron bisglycinate? It's much better absorbed is the only type I can tolerate.

I’m going through the same op, borderline anaemia and feeling horrendous for months, but ferritin not quite low enough for an infusion through the nhs. I can’t afford an infusion privately so just keep trying different types of tablets and liquids, I hate the metallic taste of the liquids though and they give me indigestion!

This s the only iron I can tolerate OP as well, I use vega vitamins. Im meant to take 200mg a day but I only take 2 tablets or I would be eating iron all day long.

I’d go for the infusion. You will feel so much better. Then you can work on keeping your iron levels topped up.
Ive had a private iron infusion, worth every single penny!

Actually its 100mg Im meant to take so Im taking the right amount.

Liposomal forms of iron are digested further down the colon so it skips the stomach symptoms, no more reflux and nausea for me!

I have found a place that does infusions for £150 that is near to me.
the only other I have seen is Harley Street which is £800.
how much is about normal to pay? I live in Yorkshire,
thanks

I got mine in Cambridge, about £800 but they took credit card. Cambridge Iron Clinic. I genuinely cannot praise them enough.
very professional, run by a qualified doctor. Happy to answer any questions

Hi OP - do you mind sharing which clinic offers iron infusions for £150?
I've paid the £800 before in London and would happily travel anywhere in the country for a cheaper treatment!

This is the clinic…..

https://revitalise-clinic.co.uk/about/

Just a word of warning about infusions, I've had one twice and both times my phosphate levels went to zero and I got rushed into hospital for a phosphate infusion. Lots of ongoing issues and hospital visits since. Apparently this is quite common, especially if you have Ferinject and if you have low vitamin d levels. If you google you'll find lots of people talking about their experience with this but annoyingly doctors (even specialists) seem quite badly informed. So, if you are considering going private for an infusion, I'd at least make sure there's some sort of follow up blood tests & monitoring afterwards

Also just to clarify, I didn't go private for the infusions - both were prescribed by haematology consultants under the nhs (who I was seeing for other reasons, low iron was just picked up in blood tests)

That sounds pretty scary.

The clinic I went to for private iron infusions required a haematology consult & full bloods beforehand. They only do iron infusions. I've had Ferinject once and more recently Monofer, fortunately without side effects.

I have trouble taking the tablet forms but I do a lot better taking it via a mouth spray. Boots, Superdrug, Holland&Barrett etc all stock it.

https://betteryou.com/products/iron-10-oral-spray?srsltid=AfmBOoo7eqpOjrLoH1TEww4lqIm_wSLQD50yxvzI72qV_3eQPke6i-sz

10mg is nothing though if you're deficient.

Im on 100mg a day and thats for maintenance, I think its more for deficiency.

Maybe not soupy (I don't actually know how much is needed to be absorbed) but something is far better than absolutely nothing and the OP is on nothing.

I was deficient too originally but now I'm borderline so it must have done something for me, and therefore the OP (or others) might be able to benefit too.