Iron advice please

[BakeyGeek]

Hi all,

For the last two months I've been feeling tired alot and my bones have been feeling achey. So I went to the doctor and he suggested I go for a blood test, as I have been anemic in the past. I had a blood test, and meanwhile I went to the health shop and started used Spatone. I then went to see the doctor for my blood results, and he said my iron levels were low at 10.0 instead of 12, and prescribed 2 iron tablets per day.

As I have chronic constipation I am not keen to take iron tablets, and that is why I would prefer to take Spatone. In this case, would it be fine if I took one sachet of Spatone, substiuting for the two iron tablets, or would I need to take two sachets per day? And will Spatone really bring my levels up. Does anyone have any experience?

I am quite worried as I have very busy months and ahead of me, and feeling this tired regularly is not going to help. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

it takes a long time to bring your iron levels up with supplements (as in - months).

Do you eat meat? Increase red meat intake?

NathanBarley,

Thanks I do have red meat and I will increase the intake.

My question is whether two packs of Spatone will be a substiute for two iron tablets?

go to your docs and ask about folic acid tablets and then eat iron rich foods like watercress ,liver as folic acid assists absorption of iron.

I to suffer with low iron , and at moment take spatone , i think on the box or packet or go on line there should be a help line you can call or e-mail and ask , i have wondered the same thing as my iron is low , i take one packet every day first thing with OJ,
Or like alpaly has said could always call the Doc to find out .

i like it because its gentle on the tummy ...

Hope you feel better soon .

Spatone is not a subsitute for 2 iron tablets but will still increase your iron levels - just more slowly. At 10 your iron is not that low so Spatone should be effective without the side effects of iron tablets from the Drs. However, your GP can also prescribe you more gentle iron supplements if you're having problems tell them. Is there an underlying reason for your anaemia? Are you veggie? Pregnant? You can take 3 spatone a day if you're pregnant.

Morphy richards works best for me

Boom Boom STaL. Personally I prefer someone to do it for me as well but never mind.

Ferrous fumarate will not make you constipated and is available on prescription. It costs the GP very little more than the standard ferrous sulphate so it is not outlandish to ask for it.

It is also much gentler on the tummy than ferrous sulphate.

I take ferrum tablets - I am on two a day now - they are a different iron salt. The sulphates make me sick (out loud!), these don't. They cost me 6euros for 24 (I am in Ireland, no NHS), I think the usual ones are about 4 euros. So price difference isn't huge, if that is an issue.

what is the right level , i just got my results back from doctors 14 she said can range from 13 - 130 im 14 so thinking is this ok ? have always been bit low as suffer with BP was 8 2 or 3 years ago so 14 not to bad ...

had load more tests done FBC etc all fine .

starting to take spatone again i think to help

Thanks everyone for your advice. I haven't heard of ferrum tablets, and I am suprised they are easy on the stomache. Are they available over the counter?

MustHaveaVeryShortMemory:

I have an anal fissure which from time to time bleeds, so it might be that. But I'm not too sure.