So, I’ve been taking Ferrous Fumarate for severe (from what I remember) iron deficiency anemia and I was told I’d feel better after 4 weeks but it’s been about 6 and I feel even worse than I did when I started taking it. Is this normal?
I’ve talked with my mum, who’s talked to the doctors and both said that it’s normal to not feel better but it’s been longer than what I’ve been told and I’m getting concerned.
Welcome to the forum
Are you diagnosed as hypothyroid…..common for low vitamin levels with thyroid disease ….especially iron/ferritin
Are you vegetarian or vegan
How much ferrous fumerate are you currently taking
It can take many months to improve low levels
Please add the iron and ferritin results before starting on supplements…if you have them
If not recommend ALWAYS getting actual results and ranges on all blood tests
Keep good records of results yourself
"What monitoring is recommended for someone being treated for iron deficiency anaemia?"
"Recheck haemoglobin levels (full blood count) within the first 4 weeks of iron supplement treatment to assess the person's response. The haemoglobin concentration should rise by about 20 g/L over 3–4 weeks."
Is it your stomach or gut that feels worse on the iron? Are you constipated (which is very common when taking iron)?
If the problem is stomach/gut/constipation then you might benefit from taking a different kind of iron supplement. There are a lot of different kinds.
Poor tolerance is most common with supplements that are very high in iron. So, I wondered what you were taking i.e. what strength and what dose?
Absorption of iron differs from person to person. It could take 6 - 12 months to raise an extremely low level of iron and ferritin. But it could also take double that if absorption is very poor.
Sorry to hear you are feeling worse.
If you have very severe iron deficiency anemia (or if you don't tolerate oral treatment -- ferritin stays too low) you might need an iron infusion.
I struggled so much with different types of iron, eating liver, checking vitamins, gluten, nothing helped. I have never had these issues before hypothyroidism and starting Levothyroxine. Felt so horrible, could hardly walk to the kitchen.
Two infusions with Ferinject was the solution for me. Once my ferritin was over 75, I began feeling so much better.
For me the severe anemia was 100% related to undertreatment of hypothyroidism. That was the root cause. Things just got worse and worse.
Even with proper dosing and infusion it did take a couple of months to feel good again.
Hang in there, low iron can really be horrible.
I am interested to know how you got the infusions. Did your ferritin level have to sink very low , below range or did you just have a savvy doctor? I struggle with low ferritin and can't tolerate supplements and react badly to eating liver. Even persisting with liver , I can't get my ferritin level to more than 47.
Hi Mugs19,
Sorry to hear that you can't get levels up, I know how hard it can be.
I struggled for 2 years with ferritin levels between 4 and 35. Not gluten intolerant. Found some supplements that worked better (one that worked for me was iron glycinate 250 mg, between a meal with vitamin C and probiotics). Read about hepcidin, dosing every other day, etc.
At times ferritin actually went up to 75 as I learned what types of iron and doses worked for me.
However, as I got more and more ill with very low levels free T4 and free T3, ferritin would drop very quickly. I got very very ill, could not sit up or walk to the kitchen. Was very pale and felt horrible. Had very high pulse and palpitations. Thought I was going to die.
I then had one infusion of Ferinject 50 mg during a 30 minute infusion and responded very well, no side effects at all. Ferritin went up to 370. (I had half the normal dose and was given the infusion extra slowly, because I was so ill.)
Once I got that ill, the doctor was much more generous with letting me have infusions again instead of the oral treatment. So next time I had it when ferritin was 35 and serum iron was very low + clear signs and symtoms of iron deficiency.
Now I finally have a very good doctor, she lets me have it according to symtoms, if ferritin is under 70.
I had Ferinject both times and I really think a lot of patients should be allowed to have it! Some suffer for so long. It is an excellent medication and one feels so much better.
Looking back I should have had infusions earlier, instead of struggling for so long.
For me it was key in tolerating more T4 and T3 as well.
There are some private clinics that give Ferinject/iron infusions, perhaps they are more "generous". I know some patients pay for it to have their life back.
Hi - iron is not something to take without having been diagnosed as deficient as it can cause issue with the liver - so unless you know you are low on this item it would be better to avoid.
Sorry I didn't realise it looks like you are following Dr's orders - but you need Vitamin C to absorb iron. That might be the problem.
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