Is there anyone out there who is taking an over the counter iron supplement that has really done the trick?

[rollonsummerrunning]

[Moggie]

Ferrous Sulphate 200mg once daily (which is what your GP would prescribe), £1.40 a pack and take with a good vitc supplement or your body will be unable to absorb the iron and take with food to stop the iron damaging the lining of the gut. If you dont get constipation when taking one a day you could then increase to two depending on how bad your iron/ferritin levels are.

Do you know your iron/ferritin levels?

Moggie x

[rollonsummerrunning in reply to Moggie]

Hi there, my ferritin level is within range 86 (10-322) but on the low side? Hoping that iron supplements will give me the kick up the bum that I feel I need!! X

[Moggie]

I wouldn't be supplementing if my ferritin levels were in the 80's. You might want to look at something else being out of kilter instead as it's not your iron levels that is doing it.

Have you had your vitd, B12 or folates tested?

Taking iron when you dont need it can be dangerous so maybe look at the others first. Why do you need a kick up the bum - what are your symptoms.

Moggie x

[rollonsummerrunning]

VitD is 60 nmol/L

folate 5.3 ug/L (3.0 - 17.0)

B12 790 ng/L (211 -911)

Symptoms are breathless at rest (air hunger type feeling), try to get into a regular exercise routine but it leaves me exhausted. Down in the dumps a bit too.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to rollonsummerrunning]

For me breathlessness with just gently activity was a hypo symptom and improved so much when I added in a little t3 that I was able to start running again. Is it possible you need more/different thyroid meds?

[rollonsummerrunning in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Hi there, I really don't know about anything about the t3. I think that I may need different meds, but most of all I need a GP to sit down and listen and have a go at helping me with these frustrating symptoms. I feeling like I'm making stabs in the dark with this. What does the t3 help with please? Sorry for being so dizzy but I get confused easily! Huumph!

[Moggie]

I am going to assume that your vitd range is like most on here, which is not ideal but you haven't give me a range, and say that your vitd is classed as insufficient and should be over 75 as an optimum level. You wouldn't need to suplement much but it would be of benefit for you to get it over 75 (unless your ranges are totally different to what this link suggests)

asph.mobi/Guidelines_Paedia...

Your folates are way to low and need looking at so maybe ask another question on here regarding that as I dont know to much about folates.

Moggie x

[rollonsummerrunning in reply to Moggie]

Thanks Moggie. No range given on that VitD. I'm confused with all of it in all honesty, so your input is very much appreciated, thank you x

[Moggie]

Your welcome. I'll look out for your folate question and learn something about folate levels, and supplements, myself.

Moggie x

[chihiro]

Low folate gives anemia symptoms. Your levels are similar to where mine were in the summer then 4 months later I had gone deficient. I would try to supplement there whilst you aren't deficient yet. Standard dose is 400mcg but you can get 800mcg which might be better for you(or take 2 of the smaller dose). I am now on 5mg to try and bring the levels out of deficiency. Try and see if that helps and maybe get levels retested in 4 months time to see that the numbers are going up instead of down?

[Moggie in reply to chihiro]

Sorry but could you make it clear to rollonsummerunning what she is supposed to be supplementing with - is it folic acid and if so do your pefer a certain named brand of this?

Moggie x

[chihiro in reply to Moggie]

Sorry...see what happens when you try to quickly reply in your lunchbreak!

I meant supplementing with folic acid. You can get it from various places, my original one was just an ordinary Tesco own brand one at 400mcg and was quite cheap if I remember correctly. Then Hampster pointed out that was far too little for my deficiency so now I'm on prescribed folic acid 5mg.

From Boots I just looked it's £1.99 for 60 tablets, Tesco has them for 65p for 90 and they are on offer at the moment...3 for 2 so even better.

As I said in my original post the symptoms are very similar to anemia bupa.co.uk/individuals/heal...

I also agree with Moggie that your iron levels are good enough so big doses of iron might not be necessary.

Hope this reply is clearer...sorry if it was confusing.

[Moggie in reply to chihiro]

Thank you for coming back with such a detailed answers.

Moggie x

[chihiro]

No problem

Oh and I forgot to say that you will be able to find 800 mcg in places like Holland and Barrett. They come in bottles of 250 so you might want to go with that despite it being more expensive. Or the other option is taking 2 of the 400mcg a day especially as you are towards the bottom of the range.

[rollonsummerrunning in reply to chihiro]

Thank you for that, its a great help. X