Iron issues (still)

[Suzanneharb]

Hi all,

I posted in February my low iron results and started taking 200 Ferrous Sulphate daily then. My iron results this week have only lifted slightly - I am miles away from optimal! Can you please advise?

Ferritin 39 (20-204)

Serum iron 18.6 (4.4-27.9)

The previous test iron was 11, ferritin was 29. So not a huge improvement.

Most my symptoms are better, except fatigue. I'm particularly exhausted first thing in morning and at night.

Do I need to increase my iron dose? And if so, how much and when to retest?

Thanks!

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

I think there is some study that taking iron on alternate days works better?

I've opted for heme iron which is easier on the stomach and better absorbed as it doesn't need converting, I use an American one called Three Arrows which has a terrible website but is a great product. Got my daughter on it as well and hers has picked up nicely

The only drawback might be that it is an animal product so won't appeal if you are vegetarian?

There are a few of us using it, if you do fancy trying it look out for a discount code and if you order 3 bottles the shipping is free 😉 nothing comparable available here 😕

threearrowsnutra.com/en-uk/...

[Suzanneharb in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you for this. It says 20mg per tab (and I'm taking 200 at the mo). But is that tab a day more effective than my 200 tablet? Do you know if it's ok for coeliacs?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Suzanneharb]

I think heme is about 10 x better absorbed so an equivalent dose... I wouldn't think it would be an issue for coeliacs as it is just dried beef blood with a bit of brown rice in a gelatin capsule?

[helvella in reply to Suzanneharb]

Ferrous sulfate 200 mg is equivalent to 65 mg iron.

I do not know the iron content of the suggested product. (Ferritin varies a bit in how much iron it is carrying. Though I expect that the product is consistent to itself.)

The absorption of ferrous sulphate can be poor. Indeed, the fact that absorption is so poor is one factor which results in several side effects of taking it. The ferrous sulphate makes a larger amount of iron accessible to some gut bacteria - and in some people cause major gut changes.

I don't have figures to hand, but it is actual absorption of iron that matters to your blood levels. And the web site's claims of heme (haem) being absorbed by a different pathway are well founded. It does seem entirely possible to me that their claims are valid about absorption.

The NICE advice points out those with proved coeliac disease and iron deficiency should be referred to gastroenterology. (Though I suspect that doesn't happen very often.)

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

[Suzanneharb in reply to TiggerMe]

Is it worth the price? It's very expensive and I'm not sure I could justify it at the moment (cost of living is hitting us hard)

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Suzanneharb]

Tricky isn't it... I think when I first looked into it it actually worked out cheaper per capsule than any of the less effective options available here, it was a leap of faith but happy to say that it does the trick... There is only really OptiFer F or α here which is almost twice the price and has lots of excipients

3 bottles with a 10% discount (FRANKLIN) works out at around 30p a capsule or 6 bottles at 22p.... It costs me double as I supply my daughter... 🙃

[seveneleven in reply to TiggerMe]

Second this...been using heme (now Three Arrows) for a few months, and ferritin is coming up nicely with no digestive upsets. As Eeyore says, works out relatively affordable if buying a few bottles.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to seveneleven]

That's good to hear 👍 I've not read any bad reviews yet... as I do worry about mentioning brands 🤗 but equally don't want people to miss out on the good ones

[helvella in reply to TiggerMe]

It would be good if there were some other products and suppliers of the same (or very similar) products.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to helvella]

I suppose we should just be grateful that it isn’t hyped up so they raise the price 😅

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to helvella]

Don't anyone tell Davina McCall 🤐

[helvella in reply to TiggerMe]

The very famous person who is hypothyroid.

[Noelnoel in reply to helvella]

Gosh, is she hypo?!! She’s so thin

[Suzanneharb in reply to Noelnoel]

It sometimes happens. I don't know why, but I've never had weight gain with my hypothyroidism - even when my TSH was off the chart it was so high. Ton of other terrible symptoms though. One of my hypo friends is extremely underweight and has never been able to gain it. Very weird. Shows that (despite what Drs think) all our bodies are indeed very unique.

[Noelnoel in reply to Suzanneharb]

Shows that (despite what Drs think) all our bodies are indeed very unique

So true!

[helvella in reply to Noelnoel]

Davina McCall

@ThisisDavina

I often do x I have hypothyroidism . 22 years . Menopause comes early to people with hypothyroidism. I didn’t know that

7:40 PM · May 1, 2022

She also has Reynaud's.

Screenshot of a comment on twitter

[Noelnoel in reply to helvella]

Right. Thanks. She’s right about menopause. Periods stopped abruptly at 41

I wonder who her endo is because even with being a bit on the thin side she looks great

[helvella in reply to Noelnoel]

There is quite a list of Famous People in my Vade Mecum. Including Davina

helvella's Vade Mecum document is available here:

helvella - Vade Mecum for Thyroid

The term vade mecum means:

1. A referential book such as a handbook or manual.

2. A useful object, constantly carried on one’s person.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[Noelnoel in reply to helvella]

That’s an interesting read. How about adding Queen Victoria and King George? Is there any evidence? I’m convinced they had thyroid disease

[helvella in reply to Noelnoel]

Happy to add them if we have any reasonable evidence.

[Suzanneharb in reply to TiggerMe]

🤣

[2hope in reply to TiggerMe]

Is there an vegetarian alternative?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to 2hope]

To heme? Iron bisglycinate seems easy on the stomach

[2hope in reply to TiggerMe]

Yes, my iron levels are low but I am vegetarian. Where can I get the Iron bisglycinate?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to 2hope]

I bought some from iHerb called ferrochel... probably available from amazon though?

[2hope in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you so much

[Catsrock23 in reply to Suzanneharb]

I ordered one tub and am taking every other day (did every day 1st week) to see how it goes so I can stretch it 180 days instead of 90. It does all add up unfortunately, Joy's of deficiency 😪

[Noelnoel in reply to TiggerMe]

I use an American one called Three Arrows which has a terrible website but is a great product

Thank you for the info Eeyore but you’re right, the website’s insane! However, would be interested in getting it for my husband. He’s been prescribed 200mg ferrous something or other which I have no faith in whatsoever but having looked at the three arrows products, I’m unsure which one to get

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Noelnoel]

I think the cheapest option is to buy three or more (free shipping) and also the code 'Franklin' saved 10% I use the Simply Heme 🤗 It has about a year+ use by

[Noelnoel in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you. Are you aware of any reviews and where to find them?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Noelnoel]

A few of us chatted about it here... healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

Do you have to pay shipping tax? I once ordered from US and got stunk massively. Am wanted to order this though!

[Andie222 in reply to CornishChick]

I didn't. I ordered heme iron a couple of weeks ago and it took a while to arrive but there were no extra charges.

[CornishChick in reply to Andie222]

Thank you 😊

[CornishChick in reply to Andie222]

Am I right in thinking you have to take 3 a day? If you have to avoid taking them near thyroid meds, does that work out alright, I already struggle with one a day specific vitamins and minerals!

[Andie222 in reply to CornishChick]

I suppose it depends on how much you are trying to increase your levels. I’ve started with one a day. 3 would be a challenge unless I took them all at once.

[CornishChick in reply to Andie222]

Ok thanks. It says now 90 tablets in the pot and it’s a months supply, I’m so I was assuming it’s 3 a day as the recommended daily amount.

[humanbean in reply to CornishChick]

I think whether or not there are customs duty or VAT to pay depends to a large extent on luck. I've had parcels that have cost me in this way, then had similar parcels not charged at all. If the staffing levels for customs have dropped in recent years then it seems likely to be good for us in that respect.

[CornishChick in reply to humanbean]

Thank you, I guess I’ve been unlucky in the past, but good thinking staff shortages will hopefully work in our favour!

[FallingInReverse]

Thanks slowdragon for pointing me to this link. Will be trying three arrows for my daughter!