Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can boost my iron. I have Crohn's disease and am currently being treated by that. I had a specialist appointment and had bloods. I had a phone call at 5:30pm from the receptionist as my specialist is now on holidays for 3 weeks saying I need to take iron tablets.
I'm currently sitting at 4 when you should be between 10 and 23. I literally struggle to open my eyes of a morning.
My problem is the tablets never work. Seriously no joke my body just doesn't absorb it. I've always had low iron with the lowest being 2 and I've always ended up with an iron infusion. If my specialist wasn't on holidays I would be pushing for it but I've now got 3 weeks to put up with it before I can argue with him. I had an iron infusion no more than a year ago and it's already dropped back down. I eat red meat, veggies etc. I had iron tablets in my cupboard so have taken one and will even tho I know it's a pointless thing. Hoping for even a slight improvement even tho it won't matter.
I have a child and I'm literally struggling. It doesn't matter what time I go to bed or wake up I can not get over the fatigue. It's to the point my eyes burn and water all day long and I've got headaches from being so tired. I can not function. I'm flat out getting minimum things done. I'm nearly falling asleep at my desk at work.
Anyway have anything they can think of that may get me through the next 3 weeks other than coffee coffee and more coffee?
Tiredness and extremely low iron
Tiredness and extremely low iron
Posted in:
Self Care, Health & Wellbeing
11 Replies
Babe... sounds like you're having a really rough time! I know it sounds gross but my mum was iron deficient while pregnant with me and she was told to eat lambs fry 🤢 LOL! Maybe see if you can stomach it? She cuts it into slices and coats it in flower then sears it in the frypan. Add mushrooms, onion and make gravy. She just has it on toast. The other thing to keep it n mind is Iron is absorbed better with vitamin c so each time you have red meat have an orange, orange juice, berocca or ribena juice. Hope you manage OK until the doc is back.
I too have iron deficiency and am anemic.
I recommend lambs fry (GROSS! 🤢)
Spinach
Broccoli, broccoli is better than red meat for iron!!
And NO caffeine whatsoever, caffeine will stop your body from absorbing the iron (I know right, it hurts me every time!) so that means no coffee, no coke, and no energy drinks!
I was iron deficient for years, thankfully during pregnancy my iron gets to the highest it has been in the last 10 years, I usually sit around 15 during pregnancy, around 6-8 when I am not pregnant.
I take 2 iron max tablets per day, 3 vitamin tablets per day that also contain iron, and I no longer drink anything containing caffeine. Before stopping caffeine they pushed me for an iron infusion because I was taking the iron tablets, eating red meat, eating broccoli and spinach and my iron was at an all time low, but one day (and I'm SO glad I did!!) I walked into my doctor feeling tired and like crap, like usual, and I had a cup of coffee in my hand, and it was at that point she realised I relied on caffeine to get me through each day and she informed me that whileever I drink caffeine my body will not absorb iron. I had no idea!!
Good luck! Xx
Oh and also, if you can get your hands on fresh watercress it is also amazing for iron and it is delicious! 😊
Go see another doctor and see if you can get the infusion. Otherwise I second broccoli, it's the bomb! Drink lots of water to as iron tablets will make you constipated.
I've heard spatone is excellent for increasing iron (still a supplement but eaily absorbed) Up your vitamin c intake too as that assists with iron absorption.
where does ur doctor get 10 to 23 from I know for fact from looking at iron levels that the lowest should be 12
Find an integrative doctor or wellbeing clinic where you can get your iron infusion NOW!
I know the instant benefit of an iron infusion, and I used to get a D and B12 jab, felt a million bucks afterwards. There's no way I'd be waiting 3 weeks.
See a naturopath
Medical Medium Anthony William, he specialises in chronic and mystery illnesses, he addresses the root cause. Check out his social media and you will see that people are healing. Do you really think your body is just attacking itself? Or you can just plod along and spend years wasting money and time for bandaid solutions.
See your GP about an iron infusion. It might be a malabsorption thing due to Crohn's disease? Absolutely recommend using maltofer sryup. I've been on iron tablets for years and they do nothing but switched and it's back up there. Stay away from coffee as much as possible or at least not a few hours either side of taking a supplement. Make sure you get vit c with every iron rich food you eat.
You need leafy greens in your daily diet. And Spirulina. Full of bioavailable, absorbable iron. Those iron tablets only work if you are a car. They certainly do not work for me! Blessings and best of luck.