Had an awesome break through with a locum GP who checked my iron levels, found them to be low and gave me Ferrous Sulphate. It’s worked wonders. Yay!
However, three months in and my normal GP has asked me to go for another blood test to check my iron levels now and won’t give me further ferrous sulphate until I’ve done the test.
Apparently that’s normal practice for iron tablets but I’m worried my restless legs will come back if I’m not keeping going with the tablets. Should I be worried?
That would be normal for pre test procedure. But you should be put back on them immediately after the test, if the results are delayed.Don't take iron supplements before the test, but if the Dr is delaying the prescription,then you could get Gentle iron or ferrous bisglycinate from any chemist. Every second day with vit c.
Good luck.
Stop taking any iron supplements 48 hours before the test, don't eat a heavy meat meal the night before and fast after midnight. Have your test in the morning before 9 am if possible.
And No stopping taking the iron tablets won't cause your RLS to come back. So don't be worried. It would take a long time for that to happen.
My restless have now started to come back so I’m going to have to get some over the counter iron medication.
What was your ferritin on the test you just had?
Take 325 mg of ferrous sulfate which contains 65 mg of elemental iron, the normal amount used to increase ones ferritin, or 50 mg to 75 mg (which is elemental iron) of iron bisglycinate with 100 mg of vitamin C or some orange juice since that helps its absorption. Ferrous sulfate is fine for most people, but if you have problems with constipation which you must not have since you took it before, iron bisglycinate is better. Take it every other day, preferably at night at least 1 hour before a meal or coffee or tea and at least 2 hours after a meal or coffee or tea since iron is absorbed better on an empty stomach and the tannins in coffee and tea limit absorption. If you take magnesium, calcium or zinc, even in a multivitamin take them at least 2 hours apart since they interfere with the absorption of iron. Also antacids interfere with its absorption so should be taken at least 4 hours before the iron or at least 2 hours after. Don't take your iron tablets before or after exercise since inflammation peaks after a workout, don't take tumeric as it can interfere with the absorption of iron or at least take it in the morning if you take your iron at night. If you take thyroid medicine don't take it within 4 hours. It takes several months for the iron tablets to slowly raise your ferritin. Ask for a new blood test after 3 months.
Depending on the results, your doctor may suggest that your ferritin is 'normal': do be sure that he gives you the actual numbers. Doctors here will work with guidelines that vary slightly, but the following is a typical set from one NHS Trust:
FERRITIN guide to interpretation:
Low: Less than 15 ug/L
Borderline: 16 – 40 ug/L
Normal: 41 – 400 ug/L
High: Greater than 400
So your doctor could consider anything in that 'normal' range as OK. However, they will probably be unaware that RLS sufferers typically benefit from levels over 100, even better closer to 200. (As explained by Jools in her Reply to your first Post).
If your ferritin level is under 100 and your transferrin saturation (TSAT) is less than 45% and your doctor refuses to continue prescribing iron - without good explanation - you might follow Madlegs advice and purchase Gentle Iron over the counter in a pharmacy or health food shop. It isn't expensive!
This is really helpful. Thank you. I’ll ensure I discuss this explicitly with the GP.
No, you don’t have to be worried at all because you can buy your own iron as Madlegs and Chris pointed out. Your level must have been pretty low, 3 months ago, for the doctor to even recommend it and it seems like he’s calling you back in a little early?
Did you have near immediate results with the iron? Based on your previous post it sounds like you had been on Escitalopram, developed RLS, and then prescribed Amitriptyline. It seemed like your plan was to stop both after being told they provoke symptoms. That may be the cause of your much improved RLS, or some combination with the iron?
When you stop the iron for a few days, and if symptoms return, then it doesn’t matter if your ferritin is in the “normal” range now, you must continue, even if you have to buy your own.
It’s interesting that your RLS stopped so quickly on the iron. And like I said, it could be the stopping of the other two drugs. However, with that said, I find that taking ferrous bisglycinate (has to be this form) on an empty stomach, about two hours before bed, rids me of RLS in one hour and only for the night. So I MUST repeat every night, regardless of the fact I have healthy ferritin.
Thanks for the reply. The GP told me to remain on the Escitalopram and the Amitriptyline, and to wait to see if the Ferrous Sulphate worked before deciding whether to reduce those medications or not. So I’m still on both.
Apparently the Ferrous Sulphate is the quickest way amongst the iron medications to get the iron levels up. He said he expected to see a very rapid change in my iron levels and a noticeable affect within days rather than weeks. And that is what I got. 😀
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