Anaemic - any one been there

[Redhelen]

Hello

Just had a letter from the hospital advising me I'm very anaemic. I suprized as I think I eat well and take a suppliement.

However I have felt rough over the last month - and I've struggled to work out why - tired, down, difficulty breathing and loud laboring heart beat. A quick look at the internet suggests these are symptoms. Any one had expereience, what did you do? and how long before they felt better? Love Helenxx

I am constantly anaemic. When I was pregnant very much so, to the point where I nearly needed a blood transfusion after labour. I can't take the supplements as about 1/2 hour later I throw up, not good. My secret weapon when I start to feel bad is Marmite. Great stuff full of Iron, You can also get bread with folic acid added to it and spinach is fantastic. During my pregancy I craved all the things containing iron but the thing I really really wanted was mussels (obviously a no no).

I was anaemic in all my pregnancy's and even when not pregnant only hover at about 11 coz sometimes when i go to give blood i cant.

I could never take the supplements then someone told me about spatone. Its a spring water bought in sachets and mixed with orange juice or it really does taste of metal.

Because it is a natural product the body absorbs it better than tablets.

Sometimes takes a while to pick up

I've had ameamia every tiem I get pg, was particularly bad during last pg. Also couldn't keep iron tablets down, but was better with pregnacare multivitimins, but these don't contain enough iron. I had two transfusions after having the twins , they had to test again before they would let me home then had to take them for 6 weeks afterwards.
I did find it made me feel very rundown and tired, and it improved with my iron levels. So the last time it wasn't really better until after the transfusions.

Redhelen - I too had a letter from the hospital during my last pregnancy advising me I was anaemic. I was advised to visit my GP who prescribed Pregaday iron tablets for the rest of my pregnancy.

If my memory serves me correctly, you have a blood test shortly after the birth to check your iron levels again. I think I stopped taking mine a few weeks after the birth.

It's probably wise to visit your GP.

I had to take iron tablets during pregnancy. I seem to remember them working quite quickly.

Do you drink a lot of tea? Tea stops iron in your food being absorbed. Take some orange juice with your supplement.

It might be better if you get tablets from your doctor, as I found these contain much more iron than the ones you can get from a health food shop/chemist.

Just a quick thing to add, drink orange juice with any iron you eat (pill or otherwise) it helps with constipation which can be particuarly bad with the pills. The orange juice also helps with absorbtion...

Just to add - spinach contains no more iron than any other green vegetable.

Hi,
I think this is very common. I had it during pg and was given iron tablets and tried to eat extra green veg etc one midwife even told me to eat liver despite everyone else saying no to it (i did!).

When i had had dd i stopped taken them because my blood test just before i had her was ok. I got really constipated and my after birth bleeding stopped very abruptly.
My mw pointed out this was because i was probably lacking in iron and so started the tablets again pronto and things went back to normal.

Thanks

Yes I do drink buckets of tea - I'll try to drink much more orange juice to help with the absorbtion and constipation!

Its always great to speak to MN and get some good advise and others experiences.

Take care Helenx

Bananas!!!!!!

I have a history of anaemia, and have taken Floradix on the recommendation of a community midwife. It has worked very well for me. It's in liquid form (apparently more easily absorbed than in tablet form) and available from health food shops.

I have read that caffeine inhibits the absorption of iron, and vitamin C enhances it, so you could try switching to decaff tea.

PS I also found it did not give me constipation, unlike iron tablets I have tried!

When I was pregnant with dd I was slightly anaemic and my midwife prescribed Spatone. It is sachets of liquid iron that come in an orange box from boots/chemist. It's more easily absorbed.

Following a miscarriage last year I was extremely anaemic and was given those awful iron tablets (Ferous sulhhate ???) from my GP. They play havoc with your digestive system and I got black poohs, constipation or the runs.

Check online for a list of foods high in iron. A bowl of branflakes is pretty high. I used to make banana smoothies and add a teaspoon of wheatgerm, which is also high in iron.

I naturally hover around "anaemic" but seem to manage with pregnacare only during pregnancy. However, I just thought I would add that a small serving of red meat contains a lot more iron than spinach. hth.

Iron tablets helped me within a week (when i was pg)

I was anaemic all the way thro my pregnancy. Iron helps but folic acid important too. Also dried apricots and fruit juice help absorption.

It does improve but my biggest mistake was not not listening to my body and didn't rest enough.

was aneamic when having ds and for about 3mths after. I was recommended to take iron tablets gp gave and also to drink orange juice and baked beans are full of iron to apparently.

Thanks everyone - on Pregnaday/care iron tablets now - started them yesterday - hope to be feeling better soon!

Cheers

i'm taking pregaday at the moment.

At the beggining of my pregnancy was soooooo tired all the time and generally felt crap. After taking pregaday for 2 days i started to feel loads better and can actually stay up longer than my 20 month old daughter now lol.

Thanks been on Pregaday for 3 days now - and I think I can feel the effects - DH's still calling me Casper though!!!

lol!! You'll be back to your usual self in no time im sure.

Would second Spatone - put sachet into a glass of freshly squeezed oj. Also have tried Floradix; sometimes if you're anaemic you need more B12 as well. I was anaemic, just as you describe, during all 4 pregnancies, in spite of a good diet and conventional iron tablets, but these things did help, in time. Another advantage is they are not constipating! Also had a transfusion after one of the births as levels were so low.