Question:
Lack of Iron. How does it make you feel? Please tell me.

I'm 8 months post of, have been feeling great until recently. I realized I've been out of my iron supplements for about a month now and my multi contains NO iron supplements either. So tell me, is this why I feel so funky for a hour or two every day with flu-like run-down symptoms? I hate to go to the doctor AGAIN, If this has ever happened to you, how did YOU feel? thanks.    — Annie H. (posted on July 15, 2002)

July 15, 2002
Hi Annie, I am also 8 months post op and have chronically low iron. I feel run down tired all of the time and my nutritionist said that it was the low iron causing that. I am getting a supplemental iron prescription to battle mine. I have had my bloodwork done about 6 times and getting it done one more time before they give me the script. They have been gradually increasing my dosage, but it appears as if I need the strong dose.
   — Cheri M.

July 15, 2002
I am 2 months post op. I was feeling run down and tired, especially in the afternoon, and was taking naps every day and still sleeping at night. I figured it was just because I was recovering from surgery, but a routine visit to my gynecologist revealed low hemoglobin levels. (They do a finger prick test). I now take ferrous fumerate.
   — sheltie

July 15, 2002
Annie, Lack of iron will cause you to feel the way you have been. I was advised that once I became anemic that it could be about a month on iron supplements before my iron storage was back to normal. There is actually an iron injection out there, but my doc says it stains the skin very badly in some people. I have taken Spring Valley Iron from Wal-Mart for 2 weeks twice a day (I am anemic), and it has made a HUGE difference in how I feel. They are 65mg Iron (325mg as Ferrous Sulfate) in a box of 100 small tablets. Yours should do the same if the mg. is high enough. Good Luck!
   — Tina B.

July 15, 2002
I was feeling like I had painted a battleship all by myself. The iron content in the daily vitamin I was taking was most definitely not enough. So I bought the CVS store brand version of Ferrosol. 325 mg. of ferrous sulfate will definitely do the trick. I'm pretty good at remembering to take my vitamins. That was my weak spot. I would buy them, but forget to take them. But I've noticed that if I remember to take them 3 days in a row, then day 4 and 5 aren't bad at all if I forget. I think that's where the high dosage comes in handy.
   — Jennifer P.

July 15, 2002
When are you due for labs again? Low protein and/or B12 can also make you feel like you're only at half mast. Since ferrous sulfate can be irritating to pouch and bowel and is not well absorbed, you might try carbonyl iron, which is gentle and very well absorbed.
   — vitalady