how quick did iron supplements make you feel better?

[toomuchpicknmix]

hi all
Am 30 + 4 and I've been feeling awful (dead tired, breathless, headaches) with iron deficiency. Have bought some Spatone and wonder how long it takes to feel better?
Am just worried cos so much to do at home and at wprk...like everyone.
Any expereince?
Thanks very much

anyone...? feeling bit desperate!

What are your iron levels at the moment? It depends how low they are I suspect.

don't know yet just waiting for bloods to come back. I can function so hopefully not too low, I just wondered if anyone had tried Spatone/Floradix when having similar symptoms and how long it was until they felt better...

don't know yet just waiting for bloods to come back. I can function so hopefully not too low, I just wondered if anyone had tried Spatone/Floradix when having similar symptoms and how long it was until they felt better...

Can you not get iron supplements prescribed to you by your gp/midwife if your levels are low?

I was prescribed tablets and began to feel better after a week or two, but I dont know how much iron spatone has in it.

My iron levels are currently 90. I have been prescribed iron supplements but won't take them as they cause horrendous stomach cramps. I've been taking spatone for a couple of weeks and to be honest have noticed no difference. I still need to sleep in the day and feel exhausted, and I am only 13 weeks!

MW said they will do that but that the tablets have GI side effects and as I have IBS this might be a problem so to try the other options first....

Ask your MW about the non-Suplhate Iron tablets. I think it's Iron Gluconate, they have don't cause the same side effects.

I'm on Iron Sulphate tablets and feeling better after a week.

Spatone didnt really help me but on Ferrous Fumarate tabs from the doctor I was feeling much better in about 2 weeks, no side effects either

Fumarate is probably more likely to get than Gluconate.

Spatone worked wonders for me, i was sleeping 16 hours a day up to 14 weeks and i then started to take spatone and felt much better straight away. But my iron levels were only slightly on the low side.

I got iron tablets at 28 weeks - I felt really awful- dizzy, breathless, palpitations etc even though my iron levels were apparently borderline. They told me some people are sensitive to the amount of iron in the blood so I was to take the tablets until I felt better. After 1 week it eased a little but it took 2 weeks to feel normal. I took the ferrous sulphate tablets they prescribed 3 times a day and had no problems at all but the ferrous fumerate are meant to be kinder on the stomach. You can buy the tablets really cheaply in the chemist (they were 50 p a pack or something like that).The sooner you get some iron in you the sooner you will feel better. You are meant to take the tablets with orangejuice as vitamin c helps the absorption. Hope you feel better soon as it is really horrible.

My iron levels were fine but my iron stores were low, and I was prescribed Pregaday at 30 weeks. They made me feel so much better after a few days, and I really notice if I forget one, I feel exhausted all over again.

They don't always cause side effects, I've had no side effects at all apart from dark poo, but no stomach problems or anything, so it's not a given that you get side effects.

thank you all for the information and support, will speak to MW tomorrow and get some ferrous fumerate tabs from chemist if the spatone doesn't do it

In my last pregnancy, I started taking Spatone at about 26 weeks (although my blood tests were within normal range, I was shattered) and felt better within a couple of day.
Hope that it works for you.

Hello! Almost immediately for me, people said it would take a few weeks so don't know if it was psychosomatic, don't think it was. I felt like a new woman after I took iron, although personally found spatone ineffective, and the tablets didn't make me constipated like some people (sorry if TMI)!

spatone won't work if you are anaemic as on 20mg where as ferrous sulphate is 200 and you should take 2 or 3 of those a day.

I felt better instantly after taking them (well a few days) and only side effects are really stinky farts

I say only. it's a pretty gross one.