Geritol

[Bloodhound669]

If I can recall I think it was Geritol my grandmother took every day. Is it a good source of IRON for RLS?

[SueJohnson]

Geritol has a low amount of elemental iron. Have you had your ferritin tested? If so what was it?

If you need to take iron: If you take blood thinners, iron binds with blood thinners, potentially reducing the effectiveness of the blood thinners and of the iron so check with your doctor. Otherwise, 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. Also take Lactobacillus plantarum 299v as it also helps its absorption. Ferrous sulfate is fine for most people, but if you have problems with constipation, 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. 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.

[Bloodhound669 in reply to SueJohnson]

I don't have the funds for an outside test for ferritin. I am waiting for my annual in November at the V.A. I will try to remember and request it with my blood workup. As for now, I started taking 65mg of ferrous sulfate twice a day. I may need to up that. I have also started taking 500mg of vitamin C. Continuing with Magnesium Glycinate 500mg and Benfotiamine 150mg /Alpha lipoic acid 300mg, and Vitamin D 1000I.U. Some days I add 99mg of Potassium (from potassium amino acid complex) and L-arginine 1000mg.

[SueJohnson in reply to Bloodhound669]

It's a waste to take it twice a day as when you take it hepciden is released which prevents iron from being absorbed for the next 24 hours.

[SueJohnson in reply to Bloodhound669]

You can get an at home test for around $60 in the US and £41 in the UK. I am not sure if you are in the US or the UK?

[Bloodhound669 in reply to SueJohnson]

U.S. Can't you tell by my stubbornness, ha! It's recommended to take 325mg of iron. So you are saying that I need to take more all at once or is it just futile to take more than 65mg?

[SueJohnson in reply to Bloodhound669]

325 mg of ferrous sulfate is 65 mg of elemental iron. Take it all at one time.

[SueJohnson in reply to Bloodhound669]

My laugh for the day "U.S. Can't you tell by my stubbornness,"😀

[MaxxRLS in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi Sue, I’m interested to get one of these test kits, there are a few on Amazon UK, some are ‘self test’ which I feel won’t be suitable/give the required info, there are others that you send off to a lab. Do you have any recommendations or specific advice. I did ask my GP and did have a full iron panel 5-6 months ago. I was told my ferritin was 116 but my TSAT was 53% so advised not to take iron supplements. I was referred to haematology but heard nothing yet. I did ask for a retest but didn’t get required results, was iron level not ferritin and no TSAT. I should say that since Jan I have seen 3 different GPs as they keep leaving. The last test was the practice owning GP very much old school who’s not in the least sympathetic and has said before and since ‘nothing can be done’. I think he is the reason the other GPs left (they were great, not much knowledge of but sympathetic and willing to listen). Sorry, rambled on a bit there, just so frustrating.

My Biggest issue in ‘hot feet syndrome/peripheral neuropathy’ which has overtaken my RLS .. sorry rambling again LOL

[SueJohnson in reply to MaxxRLS]

I am sorry about your experience with your GP. I don't have any recommendations but the ones you send off to a lab would be more accurate.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to MaxxRLS]

Reading this, I have sent a query to one of the purveyors of UK home iron and ferritin blood tests asking various questions including whether they report TSAT: if they respond I'll advise.

[MaxxRLS in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Thanks Chris

[ChrisColumbus]

According to Wikipedia "Geritol is a brand name for several vitamin complexes plus iron or multimineral products in both liquid form and tablets, containing from 9.5 to 18 mg of iron per daily dose".

[Bloodhound669]

Will this do?

Iron test kit

[SueJohnson in reply to Bloodhound669]

I can't read it even pressing on the +

[Bloodhound669 in reply to SueJohnson]

No problem. It says it is for iron. I'm going to purchase it and see what gives. Thanks. I'll let you know if it's worth the $19.99. I will give more details if it works out.

[Bloodhound669 in reply to Bloodhound669]

Instructions

Instructions

[Bloodhound669]

Here they are.

Iron test kit

[SueJohnson in reply to Bloodhound669]

Great! That is even cheaper than what I found.

[Bloodhound669]

So this will work. It seems to just say C or T? Now I'm conflicted.

[Bloodhound669]

Oh! I'm so stupid. It says right on the package it tests for ferritin. Stubborn and not too swift either, 😂

[Bernaldi]

If you are looking for something stopgap to try for iron, my pharmacist friend told me to take Slow-Fe (or its generic) but I don't know if you can get that in the UK. When I took iron for this, that worked much better because it is slow release and lasted longer. When I was in mold exposure and it was really bad, I'd have to take three of those at bedtime. No one tested my ferritin. After I got out of mold (and away from the effects of cipro) it got much better and I didn't need anything for years. If you could possibly be in mold exposure, that will be something that doctors don't even know about and therefore do not even bring it up. Mold exposure in a water damaged building can bring on extreme RLS and PLMD symptoms because of the toxins you are breathing in.