Following all the helpful advice on here to raise my iron levels, I have been taking iron since February. My levels then were
Serum Ferritin 19 ug/L
Transferrin Sat. Index 24%
Serum Iron 15.5 umo/l
As advised on here, I have been taking 100mg iron bisglycinate every other night, with vit C, on an empty stomach, and I take no other supplements.
In May, my numbers had changed to:
SF 53, TS 32%, SI 17.
A further test last week gave me:
SF 60, TS 33%, SI 15.5
I was disappointed that the SF level had not increased more in the last three months and wonder if I can do anything differently (other than an iron infusion which is too expensive for me) or maybe up my intake? I shall in any event carry on with the iron tabs and hope the levels rise.
I do feel that my RLS is easier than it has been for some years and I am also taking Daridorexant (aka Suvorexant), so not sure which of the above might be helping the most?
Any further advice/thoughts would be appreciated, thank you.
Written by
Lacey_
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I understand your disappointment about the slow rise in iron values. But other than that, your are doing great. The ferritin value has risen and continues to rise, anmd the other values remain more or less constant - which is what you want. Although I appreciate your wish for a faster rise in iron and specifically your ferritin levels, I wouldn't change your current regimen of taking iron. You could try a slightly higher amount of iron at each dose, but beware of any side effects and do keep checking your values regularly to remain within safe limits. Unortunately, there is no general or individual guidance as to what amount of (elemental) iron is still safe.
You could buy some lactobacillus plantarum probiotics. Studies show it improves iron absorption.
And in the meantime you can write directly to the haematology dept at your nearest teaching hospital attaching Studies, and ask them for an iron infusion on the NHS.
Thanks, as ever, for the info and support. I shall certainly look into contacting a teaching hospital as you’ve outlined, Jools, and keep taking the tablets!
This may help, note that he lists inflammation as a possible cause for low iron levels and I've found that inflammation can be a cause of RLS directly so it's doubly important to eliminate chronic inflammation whether caused by diet (consumption of refined seed oils, refined carbohydrates etc or from infections like a mould or yeast infection, or from ingesting artificial preservaties e.g. E202):
The probiotic cited by Joolsg is indeed implicated in more absorption of iron in the gut. LP299v is available from Jarrow and from the Good Belly brand of probiotic drinks, also from the link Joolsg supplied.
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