Scared of starting iron supplement... (including TMI)

[Blankiefan]

At my 28 week apt, they took blood and it's come back just below the anaemia levels. Not sure of what the measure is but the cut off for normal is 105 and I'm 103.

The doc is putting me on iron supplements - I pick up the prescription on Monday. I'm worried they're going to give me constipation. I've mostly avoided this so far but can't face it. (i have lichen sclorosis which means a big/awkward poo tears my skin easily, makes me bleed and takes ages to heal). At the same time, I'm blooming knackered so hopefully they'll help.

I'm 29+5 and feeling a but emotional so I'm aware I'm over-reacting. Can you tell me how to avoid hours of toilet-based frustration?!!

try spatone instead of ferrous sulphate tabs?I was quite anaemic, both when pg and otherwise, and this didn't bung me up like the prescribed tablets did.

Don't take it then. I take spa tone whenever my levels are low, 2 sachets a day with juice and you'll be better in no time. I hate iron tablets as they give me nausea, tummy pain and constipation which I get none of with the spa tone. Most chemists sell it, it's completely natural iron rich water from snowdonia and is gentle on your tummy.

Just make sure you take it with orange juice. The vitamin C helps to absorb the iron and the orange juice will keep you loose.

I'm having to take them for the same reasons as you... My prescription said 3 tablets a day but since I'm veggie I've been taking a pregnancy multivitamin since the start which has iron, so I'm only taking one or two of the iron ones a day instead of 3. I've been fine wrt constipation; I have a very high fibre diet though which definitely helps! (Lots of brown bread, brown rice and pasta, veggies etc). Try them for a few days with high fibre food and see how you get on maybe?

I'm on 1000mg of ferrous sulphat a day atm and it isn't really having any bad effects (although I was a bit worried about the sudden change to green) in that dept. My levels were lower though 9 point something.

In previous pregnancies I have taken spatone dissolved in Tropicana which has been pleasant enough. I think it works better if your levels aren't too low so start it now and if your levels don't increase quickly then you can try the tablets.

I was aneamic and took two sachets of spatone a day with orange juice in the morning.

They worked incredibly quickly - iron tablets made me sick!

I'm 36wks & have been on iron tablets since 24wks. They have had the opposite effect on me, making me much more 'regular'. This also happened in my first pregnancy so it may be worth trying them to see how you get on

Don't not take it. My level was 112 in pregnancy. Unfortunately I had a minor PPH and was anaemic after birth. I wasn't tested until baby was three weeks old so have felt like SHIT since she was born. Only just starting to be able to walk normal distances without going dizzy and she's two months now.

I've been anaemic on and off for more than half my life, and have been through different medicines. If the ferrous sulphate tablets don't suit, go back for something else. I had something called Fersaday that you can buy over the counter. I'm currently taking Galfer Liquid which doesn't irritate my stomach as much as the others. It's fucking disgusting but better than being anaemic and more knackered than I need to be with a baby.

Don't take the tablets. They are bloody awful and make you puke! Take Spatone! Much gentler on your tum.

I love my iron tablets. make me nice and loose so it is easy to go
also life changing in respect of improving my energy.
don't not take them. substitute if need be but make sure you are getting your levels up.

Not everyone gets constipated on iron supplements, I didn't. (But they did turn my poo green) just try to keep up your fibre and water.

I was also scared of constipation. I'm on 3 tablets a day but take a multivitamin so only take 2 iron tabs a day. No constipation at all here; in fact I was more constipated before taking the iron tablets!!
Make sure to take them with food otherwise they might make you feel sick. I have never had this problem because always take them after a meal as recommended. The orange juice tip is also a good one.
Give them a try and if they aren't working ask for something more suitable. Good luck!

solgar do an iron supplement called gentle iron. 20mg tabs so you may need to take more than one depending on doses your gp recommends. its not at all harsh on your tummy and wont leave you constipated. eat plenty of apples and pears and drink plenty water anyway, that should help keep constipation at bay. if you do have any bother ask your gp for some lactulose. i had 1 really bad bout of it, was so bad i even got the rubber gloves on and had a go myself! (sorry if tmi lol) gp got me lactulose to take and sorted me within a day or so. hth. x

Eggs, almonds, apricots. Take your pick and eat with orange juice. I managed to increase my iron levels during pregnancy - I too was very keen not to take the tablets. And you are only just below the "normal" range.

Be careful taking spatone instead without speaking to your GP, there isn't the same level of iron in spatone (or there wasn't when I last took it) so it might not do what you need....although you are only slightly anaemic so your GP may say it's ok You have to pay for spatone tho and it's not cheap which may put you off as the iron tabs are free!

I don't get constipation on mine either - try them and see! I think I would rather constipation than the knackeredness of being anaemic though!

If you do get constipated then prune juice is a miracle worker. I've just started taking floradix as I don't want to have low iron when my 28 week appointment comes up in a couple of weeks and I'm not constipated any more than usual

Shellsocks- the iron in spa tone is more readily and easily assimilated then the iron in tablets so you absorb more iron. Look at how much passes out in your poo! It is very hard for your body to digest! Not so with spa tone. I've had very low levels of 7 in the past and used spa tone effectively to get it back up.

Get spatone, its great I take two sachets a day. You can get it pain to have with juice or buy the sachet with apple juice already added. It's always on 3 for 2 in boots.

I'm on ferrous sulphate and other than making my poo a greeny black colour it hasn't changed my regularity. x

Thanks so much for everyone's thoughts on this. I'm thinking Spatone is the way forward but I'm going to speak to my GP about it first.

Tablets made me constipated. My midwife recommended spatone x 2 sachets / day

Floradix or spatone have a much gentler form of iron in them and they do work. Worth the money I'd say.

Well, the GP was having none of it! She's not shifting from the prescribed iron tablets. Her concession is to start with one a day and work up if I can tolerate it.

Of course, I'm a grown up and can do what I want but she was adamant that spatone wouldn't give me enough iron and it's been enough to scare this first time mother! I feel like a bit of a wooss (which is soo not me!)... Maybe it's the iron deficiency that has zapped my energy to fight!

Thanks all anyway. I'll hope all that happens is black/green poo.... Isnt this pregnancy thing full of glamour???!