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!
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Suzanneharb
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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 😕
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?
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?
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.)
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... 🙃
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.
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
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.
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 😪
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
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
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!
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.
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.
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