Iron supplements amazing difference

[liz_crisp]

I am now 4 weeks in on a course of iron tonic and am feeling soooooo much better despite the problems with tolerance. I tried various iron tablets over the past year but they caused havoc with my digestive system and I ended up not taking them. The constipation, nausea and dizziness was worse than the constant tiredness. People were forever offering me a seat on the tube so I must have looked tired.

My iron levels were just in the normal range but my doctor was convinced it was low iron causing problems and I'm glad he persisted.

I have now been taking a children's iron tonic which I started as directed (a teaspoon 4 times a day) and found the nausea and vomiting difficult but on the advice of my doc I took enough to wet the inside of my mouth every 3-4 hours then a quarter teaspoon and now I am managing half teaspoon every 3-4 hours with only 15-30 mins of nausea but the benefits from an increased iron count are so worth the effort. Energy, my brain feels alive, i sleep better, I want to get up in the morning and I occasionally feel peckish and actually want to eat!

Take care Lizzy

[yorkshirerose]

Hi Liz

Thanks for that, think I will try it myself as I often feel absolutely exhausted when I haven't done too much.

I asked my doctor for a blood test, but was told 'we don't do blood tests now unless urgent'!!!!!

So, the iron tonic worth a try. Like you I havehad bad reactions in the past with iron tablets.

Hope you are well otherwise

Best wishes

Edwina xxx

[Lucoid in reply to yorkshirerose]

Hi Edwina,

There are numerous scientific papers discussing fatigue in women even though the Iron level is in the normal range but towards the low end. This was corrected by iron supplementation as I recall. It was something I investigated for myself some years ago.

Best Wishes

Lucoid

[liz_crisp]

Hi Edwina,

I take sytron and started with the stated dose which I couldn't tolerate so literally just enough to rinse my mouth with to begin with and then a gradual build up it took a little while to feel the effects but well worth the effort. A friend suggested suppositires as she thoought they might bypass the stomach as I have had success with the liquid I haven't tried them.

I discovered that iron levels between 20-300 are normal mine were at 24 but my doc was adamant i had anemia and god bless his insistence now up to 36 after 2 weeks and rising!!

Good luck Lizzy

[yorkshirerose in reply to liz_crisp]

Hi Liz

I will go and buy a bottle of Sytron today. I had a blood test about 2 years ago and my iron levels were low, but I can't seem to get another test, so as with many of us who have had this surgery we find our own way through it. I had thought about iron suppliments for a while, but as you say it is tolerating it, so always put me off.

Thanks for your suggestion

Best wishes

Edwina xx

[Hidden]

Dear Liz

That is good news. The skin cells under your tongue are about the thinnest in the body, so absorbing the supplements by that route is probably quicker than relying on swallowing them and them being absorbed through the digestive system. The same logic applies to suppositories. So glad you are feeling better.

[margie1]

Hi Ladies

After reading your comments I am going to give the tonic a tryas I too am always tired and find it hard to get up in a morning. Thank you

Hope you both are well

Take Care

Best wishes

Marg

[sophielewis]

Hi everyone from Australia. I have been keeping up to date on this site since my op Feb last year, but had to comment on iron supplement. I take Floradix Formula liquid herbal iron supplement as recommended by my GP. The one on script is awful. Worth a try as it works and tastes OK. You must be able to get it in the UK as it is made in Germany. Good luck. Ann

[david001]

Hi all

I've been having iron deficiency problems/anaemia ever since my ops - a standard symptom post op for us (both guys and galls). It occurs usually due to malabsorption of the iron in your diet but could indicate a possible bleed. If you are feeling tired then your actual haemoglobin (red blood cells) levels are low and need replenishing. There is also an intracellular protein in the body that stores iron and releases it in a controlled fashion and this is affected in prolonged cases of anaemia. The trick is not only to boost your current blood levels but also your stores of ferritin, thus implying a longer term solution.

The NHS tend to prescribe either Ferrous Sulphate or Ferrous Fumarate in various doses depending on severity of condition. There are easy absorbed linctuses/sprays on the market as well as others have mentioned. Failing this, and in severe cases, doctors have prescribed injections or eventually transfusions

Coupled with all this is a need to create a suitable iron rich diet inc red meat esp liver, lentils, beans, poultry, fish, green leaf vegetables etc. There are also a variety of OTC supplements on the market for daily use.

Some people have found that large doses of iron supplements produce nausea. It may be a case of trialling products until you find something that suits you.

I have found GPs are happy to monitor both blood count and ferritin count at the local surgeries (ie saving a trip to hosp) to enable you to find a suitable diet and supplement that suits you best. Given our medical histories, I can't see how they can refuse.

Hope this helps