Low iron after having children and being told to stop tablets - help!

[SMLSML]

Anyone else have this issue? Since having children I've had low iron (3rd degree tear with my first and c section with my second so a lot of blood loss) and my iron levels have been low since even (sub 10). I was given ferrous sulphate 200mg and have been feeling a lot better, nowhere near as fatigued, however after 2 months of tablets the doctor is now saying I should be fine and don't need them.

Bear in mind my last three blood tests have shown the level below 10 and it always decreases straight after coming off them. Is there anything I can do on this? Doctor just keeps saying you shouldn't be on them long term but the alternative is feeling crap and knackered all the time... Has anyone been in this position?

Take a supplement every few days and see how you feel?

https://www.boots.com/vitabiotics-feroglobin-capsules-30-capsules-10131412

Have you increased how much iron-rich food you consume?

x

You probably need an iron transfusion to give you good reserves but they’re not keen on giving those out to women

No one has ever said to me that they shouldn’t be taken long term. In fact, it can take many months to increase to a good level.
You can buy them over the counter so you could do that, take them for a few more months and request another blood test.
I’ve been on iron for a couple of years now and it has taken so much time to raise my levels.

Have they retested you? Also would recommend taking something gentle once you get back to a ‘normal’ level like the iron water (and take it every day!) it takes something like 6m + to get your iron reserves up. If you are UK you have to be low iron for years before many GPs consider infusion (and there are side effects 😩.

I would change GP if I were you
That's bonkers advice

10 is still very low.
could you buy over the counter for a few months and ask for a retest?

However is there a deeper issue if its still only 10 after a few months taking them?
perhaps gp is concerned it maybe something maybe more serious?

If your ferritin is still only 10 after a couple of months of a strong dose, it would suggest there is an absorption issue?

After losing a lot of blood I found it took about 3 months to get levels to a reasonable level and then another 3 months of tablets to get ferritin levels up.

I hated taking them as they gave me constipation and general stomach ache but it's worth it as I feel so much better generally.

You need another opinion as I have never heard that taking the tablets is a problem in any way and being anaemic is exhausting!

That’s very odd advice from your GP - I’ve been on ferrous sulphate 39 years and have never been told that’s an issue.

You don’t actually need a prescription for them, you can buy over the counter so you can just ignore him!

What number is below 10?

Is it iron or is it ferritin? Do you have transferrin or TIBC?

Iron status is usually a panel of tests not just iron or ferritin. It’s the whole panel that matters.

It sounds low but the full picture would help.

I would change GP if I were you
That's bonkers advice

Have you had your ferritin checked since being on the tablets? That’s probably a good starting point. If your ferritin is ok and you’re not anaemic, it’s seems reasonable to stop them for a bit, maybe with a repeat blood test in a few months to make sure you’re not becoming iron deficient again.

Something else to think about is why your levels keep dropping. Are you losing blood somewhere? Heavy periods? If so it would be worth approaching your GP for some treatment.

Thanks all. This is my result from yesterday after three months of ironing tablets, I don't understand how the result can be that low but come back as satisfactory overall? This is after three months of iron tablets as well and was level 26 three months ago... Any advice as I've got the doctors appointment tomorrow and fully expecting to be brushed off again 🫠

What dose are you taking? Iron used to be prescribed as 3 times a day but there is no evidence to show once daily or even every other day may be more effective

Hahaha just saw I wrote ironing tablets 🤣

200mg a day for 3 months

Is there a real reason you shouldn't take them long term or is it a cost motivated reason GP shouldn't prescribe long term?

I've been taking otc iron for years.

They haven't told me any reason other than it's not good for me 🙃 like being exhausted is far better. Wondering if it's the dosage they're not keen on

Buy your own and take with Vit C to aid absorption. GP's are desperately trying to stop prescribing stuff we can buy ourselves for obvious reasons.

You should ask for a second opinion. I am on ferrous fumerate 210mg life long for lupus related anaemia. They’ve never found a cause as such for mine and just put it down to the autoimmune issues I have (I don’t even have periods - early menopause- so not related to that either). They’re happy for me to take them long term; I just have bloods every 6 months. So if you do need them long term that’s absolutely fine and the GP shouldn’t be just stopping them.

I had very low ferritin due to births then heavy periods and was prescribed 210mg ferrous fumerate. As soon as my ferritin was 'normal' according gp (but still below the nice guidelines in what is normal), I wasn't allowed a repeat prescription. I found you can order them from an online pharmacy so I have carried on with them. I know the rough rate my ferratin increases so I'll stop when I'm confident my levels are good but before there's any chance of getting toxic iron levels.

I would just go to a pharmacy with your result (you may also have it on the NHS app, I can see all of mine there) and speak to the chemist. Based on your result they'll probably confirm, like most people here, that you need a supplement.

Take with vit C and ideally on an empty stomach if you can, avoiding dairy at least an hour or so either side.

Tell them you want your iron levels checked again before stopping them and that you want it noted on your medical records if they refuse

It can take at least 6 months to raise ferritin levels, if not over a year if they were that low, please don’t stop!! Ideally you want your ferritin to get up to 70/80ugL to be replete. Vitamin c will help absorb more and you also need cofactors like b vitamins and periods/low red meat intake/exercise will continue to mean that your iron needs likely exceed your intake through supplements!

iron is only dangerous if floating around in excess in your blood and building up in organs… your body needs to start making healthy red blood cells and build back up its iron stores (ferritin) before you get any where near that happening unless you have something like haemochromatosis???

When I was pregnant the midwife told me to stop taking the iron tablets I had been prescribed as my iron levels were in normal range. But that wasn't normal for me and my low BP and exhaustion continued. I was told to stop and then the levels plummeted causing me problems. It was a doctor who said you need to find your own level - some people are more sensitive to the amount of iron in their blood and need their levels to be higher.
I took ferrous fumerate and then spatone because I absorbed that better. It's not cheap though. It's a bit like thyroid levels - just because you're in a range doesn't mean that your thyroid is working optimally for you.
If you feel shit start taking the tablets again.

With good reason they have high anaphylaxis rates and there's no need if can absorb it orally

I'm just on iron multivitamins long term as I'm always low. U can buy iron in pharmacies