If you thought you might be slightly anaemic, would you bother to get a diagnosis or self-medicate?

[DitaVonCheese]

For the past few weeks I've needed to go for a nap each afternoon, which I haven't done since DD was teeny tiny She's actually sleeping fairly well so I'm wondering if I'm slightly anaemic - DH is veggie so we don't eat a lot of red meat (though do have lots of green veg). The internet thinks I need to go and get a blood test, which seems like a lot of trouble for both the doc and me. I'm wondering if I should just take some iron tablets (and lactulose ) and see if I feel better. Am I likely to do myself a mischief?

The therapeutic iron levels that you need to increase blood levels in anaemia are not high enough in over the counter iron pills, so will require a prescription. Your best bet is to pop and see your GP so that your levels can be checked, there are also other illnesses that can cause fatigue so these need to be looked for aswell.

Don't google. Tis bad!!!

orange juice with a meal, rather than tea, is good for storing iron.
i think i woudl just go for iron rich foods.

ps i am exhausted after lunch and prefer fresh air. have you tried that?

It's a bad idea to eat carbs for lunch as these make you sleepy, have you tried changing this? It could help.

Hmm, interesting, thanks.

I don't think I eat a lot of carbs at lunchtime. Might stock up on orange juice and dried apricots (and some steak ) for a week or two and see if it makes a difference.

Of course, the fact that my bedtime is midnight might be a factor

My dad is a (retired) GP so I don't ever like to bother them, especially as we so rarely went as kids.

cant hurt to take some iron tablets.but you may as well try it with diet first.im veggie and have to watch my iron-though i drink far to much tea which dulls my iron intake.
you need to include green leafy veg-like spinach,brocolli,cabbage,beans and lentils,tofu,pumpkin seeds,figs,dried apricots(apparently 5 a day is your daily iron!),or dates.apparently dark chocolate is full of iron too!-and nicer than cabbage|!.you need to make sure you also have plenty vitamin c to help you absorb all this iron!

the worst one for me is beans on toast, avoid beans at all times following the sleepiness i feel after eating them!

I would, it can take a long time to get the levels back to normal, over the counter stuff just isn't the right strength so it needs a prescription. They should check if it's anything else, thyroid problems can cause fatigue aswell.
I thought there was more iron in spinach then steak??

agree, can't hurt to have a test. that is what GP's are paid for, to do their job >

I've heard that the spinach thing is partly based on a misplaced decimal point and it's not as iron-y as all that, but it might be an internet myth.

Dark chocolate, you say?

Many thanks ladies - will give some of those a go and try to get over my fear of bothering my GP. And now, an early night (kinda)