Anaemia and exhaustion

[Twinklydreamer22]

Got bloods taken earlier this week as had been feeling constantly exhausted and over last couple weeks the constant exhuastion had began to really impact my mood and how ive been feeling. I started taking the iron tablets on friday and ive been off work for a week, but feel like I need more time off to rest and let the iron tablets kick in. Any one felt like this before/had experience with this. Will the Dr sign me off for next week?

You could get a fit note for amended duties so you could work shorter days or have longer breaks?

yes! I got my bloods done about 3 months ago (im now 30 weeks) was absolutely exhausted , told I was slightly aneamic got given 200mg ferrous sulphate to take 2 times a day wasn't told how to take them but ive been taking them on an empty stomach with orange juice and ive noticed a huge difference before I was having to sleep for hours and hours like 18 hours a day but now im feeling back to normal basically and had bloods redone last week and now then levels are fine however I have asked to stay on them as theyve made me feel so great again!
I would say took 2-3 weeks for me consistently taking them to notice a change though
being tired is no joke its horrible and draining I would say ask fro some time off if you can

It is absolutely awful. I initially out it down to stress at work and had been so emotional/up and down. However, after a chat with the midwife and getting my bloods back I realise it probably has been a combination of pregnancy and the exhaustion have heightened my emotions recently and it got too much. Just worry if I go back to work this week I will still be an emotional mess 😅

I did think about this too, I just don't know how I would navigate this with the GP. Also this I would be sent to occupational health prior to something like this being put in place. Feeling a bit deflated and fed up lol x

Yes, still exhausted myself at 31 weeks and on iron for 7 weeks. But I am only on one tablet a day 200mg, and the midwife said they don't recommend a higher dose for pregnant women. I had a blood test after 4 weeks and ferritin has increased but haemoglobin going down, I am booked for another blood test this Friday to see if there is any change.

I am so tired I sleep 9 hours a night and 4 hours in the day. I am on school holidays at the moment for Easter and dreading going back to preschool next week. I just want to sleep!

It really is awful, hopefully the next blood test shows an improvement for you 🙏 I can totally relate to the exhaustion and sleeping. Total mum guilt as well as feel tired all the time!

What were your levels? You could ask if they are low enough for an infusion.

I felt dreadful with anaemia when pregnant with my daughter many years ago. I also had another baby to look after and I was working part time (as I had mine close together). I just battled on but sometimes I could have slept standing up making the tea and twice I fell asleep lying on the couch whilst looking after my eldest baby son who was sat on the floor fortunately he was contented and couldn’t walk and didn’t bother crawling. I also used to dream about Guinness, liquorice, roast beef and gravy and I started thinking about what coal and soil would taste like (although I didn’t actually get round to trying either). I don’t know how I got through life I was so physically tired during pregnancy and afterwards.

I am mid 50’s now and back on the dreaded ferrous sulphate again.

Push for treatment, take care and try and get signed off.

I was seriously ill with anaemia when pregnant. I was hallucinating and not sleeping and when I did sleep I had the most horrendous nightmares. My ferritin was 3 at one point,

I had iron infusions and although it took a few weeks I felt so, so much better. Infusions last longer too. I've been anaemic with all of my pregnancies, but my last one was not good.