Low iron level .....

[AllthatGlitters]

I bleed so much that it was inevitable that I would become anaemic - taking iron tablets twice a day.

I have read that if you suffer with anaemia, they won’t give you a general anaesthetic. So once I get my lap date, will it even go ahead?

I eat red meat to try and up my iron but nothing seems to be working, clearly if I am bleeding so much then how will I ever get it normal?

I have been ill for a while now & all I keep getting is more tablets. At what point do they put you on a drip? It’s tiring and makes you feel very fatigued.

Any advice would be appreciated x

[Jess96]

Hi, I'm anaemic and prescribed to take 3 iron tablets a day. I had my lap in August. Following the post-op, the hospital rang me and said that my iron is a bit on the low side, so to make sure I take my prescribed iron tablets in preparation to the surgery. I did as they told me, and upon testing my blood on surgery day, they said my iron levels had gone up a little bit, but was still on the low side. I spoke about my concerns to the anaesthetist, and he said that he wasn't worried because you have to have severely low levels to have a blood transfusion. I didn't have any complications during or after surgery. Definitely speak to your doctors if you are concerned, but from my experience, you can be anaemic and still go ahead with the surgery. And if you're severely anaemic and your iron levels drop past a certain level during surgery, they will do a blood transfusion.

I feel your struggle though because I bleed heavily every month, and no matter how much food with iron in that I eat, and take my tablets, my iron is still low. I take Tranexamic Acid to help control the bleeding, and it works really well.

I hope your surgery goes well. Good luck for it x

[AllthatGlitters in reply to Jess96]

Thank you x

[Missionofendo]

Morning

I suffer with low iron & also b12.

Try a b complex suppplimemt with the highest b12 this will help your energy so much.

My iron levels needed topping up thru a drip as the tablets made me constipated and didn’t actually make me feel better.

I’ve had 2 intravenous iron support in the last 3 years and that’s also made a massive difference. Your GP needs to know how this could impact on your op and do something further don’t give up until you feel better and get the results increased.

Goodluck 🍀

[AllthatGlitters in reply to Missionofendo]

Thank you, can I ask at what point they decided on the drip for you? Was it when they couldn’t get your iron level back to normal and because of the constipation?

This was spoken about before (drip) when I went to see a consultant so it must be something they are thinking about doing 🤷‍♀️

[Missionofendo in reply to AllthatGlitters]

Hi,

After further blood test and not feeling well despite taking other supplements.

Thanks C

[purplemoggy]

Hello I have had same problem with iron. Supplements are OK, but also be aware that you should avoid tea when taking them, oas tea contains substances called tannins which block iron absorption. Take your supplements with water or orange juice (even better, because vitamin c increases iron absorption. Iron supplements seem to be less constipating if you take them as part of a multivitamin (look for 14 mg of iron, the amount that you need a day. Iron rich foods other than red meat include butter beans and, weirdly, black treacle - a tablespoon has as much iron as 9 eggs. It gives a treacle-toffee flavour to porridge and cereal.

[AllthatGlitters in reply to purplemoggy]

Oh lovely, I like the idea of the treacle! I will give that a try. Thanks so much for your tips x

[Abigail16]

Hey just wanted to comment as I had been listed for surgery but when they found out I was anaemic they took me off the waiting list and gave me 90 days to get my bloods at an acceptable level before they would list me for surgery. My bloods improved after a month on iron tablets and I have to keep taking them until my operation and I need a blood test 2 weeks before my op to make sure they’re at a good enough level to do it. Also they mentioned a drip to me too but they never went ahead with it for some reason they just refused but now it doesn’t matter because my levels are acceptable. For now anyway. Hope this helps xx

[AllthatGlitters in reply to Abigail16]

Hi Abigail yes that’s my worry that I don’t get my operation, I am so desperate to have it now. It’s hard work isn’t it having to cope with bloods as well as everything else that’s goes along with this illness x

[Locke]

Hello. I am working on my iron levels too, at the moment. Just gone back on pill to try to lessen the blood loss, otherwise how will the levels ever improve? I have read that calcium and codeine also inhibit iron absorption so am trying to leave 2 hours between iron rich foods and calcium. Need to do a meal plan so I don't have to constantly think about it. Beetroot is quite good to build the blood. I add it when making fresh fruit/veg juice. Good luck ☺