Iron supplements

[Stelladevico]

I just looked up my last blood test and my red blood cell count a year ago was 4.05 10* 12/L. Do I need to take an iron supplement and if so is anyone here able to tell me how much I need. Should I ask for a prescription or is an over the counter supplement ok?

[Hidden]

Your Red Blood Cell (RBC) count simply states how many RBCs you have. It is not in itself an indication of your iron levels.

Your count appears to be a bit low and there could be many reasons for this.

One of them could be anaemia, but this could be either iron deficiency anaemia or B12/folate deficiency anaemia. Chronic inflammation and bone marrow disease can also cause a low RBC count.

A low RBC count may explain worsening RLS symptoms, but could also indicate a more serious underlying condition then.

Did you receive no comment on the results? Were there no further investigations?

The more signficant blood test results for RLS are Transferrin Saturation (TSAT) and Ferritin.

Iron therapy will not be effective for RLS if there is any iron deficiency anameia, this first has to be corrected. You should consult a doctor about this.

If there is no anemaia then if it's safe (TSAT < 45%) andnefrritin isvelow 75 then starting an oral iron supplment will help.

An over the counter supplment may be better than a prescription iron as it will cause less problems. Ferrous bisglycinate (gentle iron)is popular.

Take it in the evening.

Take it 30 mins before or 2 hours after eating.

Take a glass of orange or vit C tab at the same time.

Do NOT take magnesiumor anatcids at the sametime.

Take it only once in any day and only take it every two days, not daily.

I'd advise you to have repeat blood tests for serum iron, TSAT, ferritin, a full blood count, viatmin B12/folate and vitamin D.

[Stelladevico in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Manerva. Trying to get blood tests or actually see a doctor right now is still almost impossible. I will have to wait until they finally return to normal working.

[Hidden in reply to Stelladevico]

I believe it is a problem in some areas. I've had quite a few GP appointments in the last year. Most of them have been telephone consultations which I actually prefer if it's enough. I have had two face to face appointments in the last 6 weeks, no problem.

I've also had numerous telephone, video conference and face to face consultations with specialists. One face to face last Saturday, one telephone this morning and a video on Friday.

According to the media is that the problem is more that people haven't been going to see their GP and the number of late diagnosed or undiagnosed cancers has shot up.

Don't think I'm doubting what you write, it obviously differs in different places.

My own view on it getting back to "normal" is that I' don't think it ever will. In some respects why would you want it to?

[Jelbea]

I would like to say to you that you must not take an iron supplement until you have a completely full blood count undertaken. I had slightly raised platelet count for three years which was known by my doctor but not by me and not investigated. This can mean that your blood is more likely to clot and I suffered four clots before my (now ex) GP decided to investigate. I had a large clot in my leg in 2019, a clot in my lung following varicose vein treatment and two more clots in my lungs not explained by anything. My then GP told me last autumn he was referring me to a haematologist as I had a slight abnormality in platelets but it could be dealt with very easily and not to worry. He forgot to ask for the appointment and when I was eventually diagnosed in May I had gone on to develop blood cancer and now take oral chemotherapy for the rest of my life. I apparently also had an abnormal red cell count and taking iron would have been the completely wrong thing to do and could have killed me with a large blood clot. I am suggesting to anyone on this site to certainly follow Manerva's advice on taking gentle iron but do not do so until you are completely sure that all aspects of your blood are OK.

[Stelladevico in reply to Jelbea]

Thank you Jelbea and I am so sorry to hear what happened to you. I have to wait for blood tests as there is now a shortage of the necessary glass bottles, but I will definitely not take any supplements without proper medical advice.

I wish you all the best and hope you stay well.