How long did it take for your iron levels to be normal again?

[westlondongirl]

Was told 3 1/2 weeks ago that I was anaemic with level of 10.1. Was prescribed highest dose of iron tablets and have eaten more red meat/spinach & drunk orange juice with iron. Had a test yesterday and am only up to 10.4. Is that normal? Still feel exhausted and my heart rate is still hovering around 100 BPM. Interested to hear others experiences.

My dd is 9m I've been on 2 different types of tablets over the last 22weeks or so (after the initial ones given to me directly after pregnancy). I was very low and am now still only about 13... Are you taking yours too close to drinking tea or coffee? or having a meal? as some of the tablets do not get absorbed unless you're pretty much taking them on empty tummy... I'm drained too and my hr is irratic. Just keep up with the tablets and try to eat meat (any meat-including fish) twice a day too. My gp said some women end up needing to stay on them unfortunately.

hi bebemoohatessnot. I don't drink coffee or tea so it can't be that. I try to take on an empty stomach with orange juice as they said it would help to absorb it. Just worried if it doesn't come up in time for the birth that I will be at some risk from bleeding

Had level of 8.1 following birth when I lost 3 litres of blood. Took 3 tablets a day for 2 weeks plus worked my way through the high iron foods list (lots of dark chocolate and fruit gums!) and was back at 12.1. Reduced tablets gradually over next 4 weeks. You need to avoid milk close to taking tablet.

My low iron was due to blood loss though and I don't usually have a problem. If yours is low due to pg then might not come back up till after birth. Tis shit having low iron. I had no idea how debilatating it could be. And then there's the iron poo....!

I think it is only possible to increase your level by one point every two weeks and I guess its going to be hard whilst you are still pregnant. After my first DC I had a level of 6.4 but by my 6 week check it was just over 13 (which i actually thought was quite high - I certainly felt better). How long have you got to go?

OP, I could have written that post myself. Now been taking them for 4 weeks and don't feel any better at all. I was 9.8 at 28 weeks, don't know if it's gone up yet, now 33 weeks. Feel exhausted and lethargic every day - just dragging myself around.

Have done everything recommended, been taking them with orange juice, eating lots of meat, green veg etc...but no change.

Now starting to wonder why they are not working....plus also worried I won't have the strength for labour, I am truly dead on my feet. Is my first baby, just had two weeks off work, now off again due to snow days, so not exactly stressed and getting lots of rest - so why no improvement?!

hmm notasausage's experience doesn't fit with my one point every two weeks theory! I'm not sure where I got that from. Agree with low iron being very debilitating though

Are you taking Ferrous Sulphate? I don't think its the best tablet form of iron supplement - its the least absorbable. You could try your local health food shop for alternatives?

Mine is 10.4 (16 ish weeks pregnant), it went down to 7. something after my first and came up quickly taking SPATONE (from Tesco - little liquid pouches poured into orange juice, 2 a day if needed in pregnany) but this time (pregnant)I am still feeling awful, but I can imagine I'd feel alot worse were it not for the Spatone. THe ferrous stuff is awful - I had green poo, cramps etc. but with Spatone I get nothing, and it is better absorbed.

Get some Spatone, I'm taking one sachet a day with a pregnacare tablet, so far so good and I usually have very low iron levels, especially in pregnancy.

Taking ferrous fumerate. Will be 33 weeks tomorrow. I had a look at the spatone website before xmas and would need 6 sachets a day for the equivalent amount.

stressheaderic when are they re-checking your iron levels? Mine are being re-done again in two weeks.

notasausage...ahh yes the iron poo...a unique experience!

wlg - my next midwife appt isn't until 3rd Feb now, I was quite surprised by that, I thought there'd be one inbetween?

Got a scan on 25th Jan for low-lying placenta with appt after so will ask about it then.

I've just sat down and ironed for an hour - shattered now! Need a sleep!

bebemoo, a level of 13 is really quite good. 11.5 is average for a woman. If you're still feeling bad, it might be worth checking out your other levels with a blood test. Not just iron but b12 and there's another one too. Thyroid as well. 13 is not anaemic but there's another level that's linked to it that might be the problem.

10.1 op is borderline which is good as you've got an okay but slightly low base to build from. It will build slowly as there's only so much iron you can absorb.

I was 9 in pregnancy, 6 following an em cs and a lot of blood loss and slowly climbed to about 10.5 over a year. DD is 2.8 now and I had my iron levels checked recently and they're over 11 which for me is bloody brilliant.

Food is the best source of iron and then tablets taken with oj plus limiting caffeine.

wlg mine was 9.6 and only went up to 10.2 but then suddenly jumped up to 11.1. hooray. i have been eating a revolting amount of red meat. that may have made the difference.
I only take it around mealtimes as otherwise it makes me feel sick.
am due to give birth next week and have had same concerns about energy. Would also recommend finishing work early if you can. i didn't but wish i had.

Good luck with the birth BellaBaloon. Hope it all goes well. I have stopped working now.

stressheaderic - that doesn't sound right to me that your next MW appointment is so far away. I will see mine at 34/36/38/40 weeks. I've got a low lying placenta too - good luck with your scan. Are you on the February antenatal thread?

Plan on spending the weekend eating red meat at every meal (excuse to have a quality cheeseburger!)

I've not heard of Spatone. Interesting. My gp said that the green veg is actually very hard to absorb and to focus on the meat 2x a day. The galfer tablets have done me better (2 tablets a day) then the ferrous sulphate (3 tablets a day). It is amazing how tiring and feeling like crap one feels when it's low. I was utterly shocked and it's hard to explain to people who haven't experienced it.

gp said I need to have a base of 15...it's my iron store which is low...the level in my actual blood is fine, it's my store which is low, so when the level in the blood goes down I get all low (depressed/tired)

I was told that levels below 8 they usually do a blood transfusion but maybe that was just after serious blood loss.

My iron level was 5.something with dc3. I had twice weekly iron infusions on the antenatal ward.

Better than any iron supplement as it goes straight in through a canular in your hand.

Towards the end of pregnancy I was on double doses.

Makes you feel great - I wish I could have continued with them post birth!