Do you have GI issues as well? I wonder if there could be something else going on in terms of absorption or blood loss.
My doctor had me take this supplement with my iron pills to help with absorption.
When I was anemic, they gave me 65mg of elemental iron 3x a day and I was taking so much it didn’t matter whether or not I took it with food. My doctor also had me take this supplement once a day and it helped a lot.
Have you tried a heme iron supplement? They are much better absorbed and have way fewer side effects. Proferrin (cheaper at Costco) or this one fromNaka pro that you can get on Amazon. They are expensive, but worth it, especially to boost your ferratin up quickly. After that you can just use a gentle non-heme one to maintain maybe. (FYI. They aren't vegetarian)
Believe it or not you probably don't have enough electrolytes (in addition to the iron problem). Your acute symptoms are likely that of electrolyte deficiency. Two of these bad boys reliably put the brakes on it https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IY96B0
My wife has the exact symptoms you are describing, including nausea, which I normally don't group together with electrolytes, but taking them reliably stops symptoms you're describing within 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Ferrex 150. It’s cheap. Feramax 150 is another but it’s so much more.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lucky-Iron-Menstruating-Alternative-Supplement/dp/B083V7RCLC
>HOW MUCH IRON DO I NEED ----- Lucky Iron Leaf is a safe, natural and clinically proven way to add iron to your meals. Since most people (depending on age) need 8-18 mg of daily iron, the Lucky Iron Leaf can provide 6-8mg of bioavailable iron + It's SUSTAINABLE and REUSABLE for about 5 years which is around 1800 uses!
I find iron in water is just much, much easier on the stomach and much easier to absorb.
Just started taking Iron a few weeks ago. After much research, including looking through advice here on Reddit, I found I should be looking for ones labeled “Gentle Iron” as it is not only easier on your GI system but is also better absorbed. I got Natures Bounty Gentle Iron:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7QYM4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
I can take on empty stomach with no problem at all but it’s apparently better taken with or after a meal. I highly recommend the ones I mentioned and if you follow the link(not affiliate link), it’s like $21 for a pack of 3x90ct CAPSULES. Also believe being in capsule form helps with GI tract issues. Good luck. If you want more info, I actually created a substantial note on iPad all about iron from various web resources I’d be happy to share. DM me and I’ll share.
Hi! I Don't see your iron panel on there but if your doctor said your ferritin is low and since all the symptoms your are describing can be linked to iron deficiency, supplementing would be a great idea. Research recommends 100 mg of elemental iron every other day for optimal absorption. Liquid iron is supposed to be easier on the stomach. Although I have never tried it, people on here have had good words about iron polysaccharide syrup, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/NovaFerrum-Liquid-Supplement-Raspberry-Flavor/dp/B00C2DHB5K?th=1
The time it will take to see improvement will depend on many factors. For example, it will go faster if you found and solved the source of your iron deficiency. Best practices and recent research recommends taking 100mg elemental iron every other day which optimizes absorption and is also easier on the stomach. Your doctor should follow up with another blood test after 3 months to monitor your levels. Liquid iron (like syrup) will be easier on the stomach than tablets. Some people on here had good comments about iron polysaccharide in liquid form (like this: https://www.amazon.com/NovaFerrum-Liquid-Supplement-Raspberry-Flavor/dp/B00C2DHB5K?th=1) but I haven't tried it myself.
u are def not anemic. anemia means u don't have enough blood. u have plenty.
yr cells are just smaller and paler than normal. that could be iron deficiency. there's also a chance it's bcuz u are a thalassemia carrier, but yr result is borderline for suspecting that.
u will need further tests, either iron panel or ferritin to determine if yr iron deficient without being anemic
Your red blood cells are very small. You may have something called thalessemia. This is a calculator you can use that will tell the likelihood of this being the case and info on what that is.
Reeger Cortell of the Weightloss surgery podcast was talking about this with a scientist who has discovered this issue in bariayric surgery patients. He talks anbout it near the end of episode 107. https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2VpZ2h0bG9zc3N1cmdlcnlwb2RjYXN0LmNvbS9mZWVkLw&episode=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuV2VpZ2h0TG9zc1N1cmdlcnlQb2RjYXN0LmNvbS8_cD0xMDAz
I weigh 72kg, and my maximum is 5 times that, so 360mg of non-heme iron per day. It is best to split iron intake into multiple doses, 50-200mg each time.
Ferrex is Polysaccharide Iron and is generally well tolerated by most people. I personally have no issues with it. But there are lots of kinds of iron to try!
I've used these two products from NovaFerrum with good results. They were recommended to me by my hematologist. One of them is a liquid, and the other is a chewable tablet:
That also depends on what form of anemia you have and other medical conditions you have that have contraindicated meds, foods, chemicals that can trigger hemolysis and lead to hemolytic anemia. I have G6PD Deficiency aka Favism and there are several avoid lists. Iron supplements is on the lists, NSAIDS are on the list, sulfa based drugs, most antibiotics, fava beans, alcohol, mothballs, antimalarial drugs, henna, blue food coloring, etc. Basically anything that cause high oxidative stress throughout the body are contraindicated and causes hemolysis (damage to the red blood cells). But there is diversity even within people who have G6PD Deficiency depending on the variant a person has (Class 1 is the worst), it depends on environment (being exposed to air pollutants increases risks of hemolysis), and it depends on race/gender (it's prevalent in African-American community but there isn't much awareness about it and women aren't usually diagnosed because lyonization makes it more difficult to diagnose). I also have Beta Thalassemia, ITP (low platelets), and autoimmune hemolytic anemia due to Lupus SLE and have noticed that they have a lot of the same triggers. Here is the book I reference to for the avoid list I follow to manage my blood disorders.
There are usually two numbers: one indicates total weight/dose, the other indicates amount of elemental iron. Different formulations will contain different amounts of elemental iron per tablet/dose. You want to aim for a certain amount of elemental iron.
I take these once a day, at night, at least 2 hours after eating food, and with 500 mg of vitamin C. https://www.amazon.ca/Palafer-Iron-Therapy-Capsules-count/dp/B00IK4POW2 I get a bit of heartburn, but that's it. I've been taking fiber supplements with my meals, and haven't really experienced any gastrointestinal symptoms.
https://www.amazon.com/Ancestral-Supplements-Grass-Spleen-Desiccated/dp/B0734FQTQJ
Best supplement I’ve ever used . I have stomach problems and this is Heme iron so animal based and really easy on the stomach . Don’t even have to take with food I love it. Brought my hemoglobin from 10- 14 in 6 weeks ... it is pricey though
Tell them your going to lose weight, but to do so, you need a good iron supplement. The one I use: https://www.amazon.com/Ferretts-Tablets-325mg-Ferrous-Fumarate/dp/B01L14F1H0/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3B4D682BHIVAH&dchild=1&keywords=ferrous+fumarate&qid=1597082627&sprefix=Ferrou%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-5