Does anyone supplement iron

[Anonymous]

My ferritin came back at 45 - within the normal range but on low side (I am 55F). Has anyone else supplemented? If so, what do you take, how often and what dosage? I have had extreme fatigue in late afternoon over the past few years, I literally want to go to bed at four or 5 o’clock. I also have trouble sleeping. I’ve tried many things that haven’t really worked, I’m wondering if this could be the problem.

Doctor says it’s technically normal, but from what I read, values should be closer to 70-100. My doctor tends to blow things often and deflect questions so I’m looking to try supplementation on my own.

[Anonymous]

Vitron-c once daily, but my guts don't appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Many people. I've done that and probably should again, since I'm on the cusp of anemia, but it's constipating and I try to ingest more iron naturally from my diet.

You should not be that fatigued, OP, from just that number. Did you check your thyroid? Did you get tested for sleep apnea? Are you over caffeinating in the morning?

[Anonymous]

This. Expensive, but it was the only supplement I could tolerate from a digestive standpoint: https://www.bariatricfusion.com/products/bariatric-iron-soft-chew-with-vitamin-c-variety-pack

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many people. I've done that and probably should again, since I'm on the cusp of anemia, but it's constipating and I try to ingest more iron naturally from my diet.

You should not be that fatigued, OP, from just that number. Did you check your thyroid? Did you get tested for sleep apnea? Are you over caffeinating in the morning?

Agree with this; it could be many things causing this fatigue, OP so don't rush to iron supplementation. Post menopausal women need only 8 mg/ day, significantly less than when you were getting periods. Too much iron in the diet is not a good thing as the body stores it.

- A registered dietitian

[Anonymous]

My iron levels are similar. I can feel when they are too low. I supplement with Blood Builder. No tummy issues

[Anonymous]

What is your hemoglobin? I had a 5 and was post menopausal. After blood transfusions and iron infusions, my numbers are significantly better. I still take Vitron-C a few times a week.

[Anonymous]

Iron supplements can cause some pretty nasty gut stuff (really bad constipation) so I wouldn't jump to adding them.

[Anonymous]

You need a full iron panel to really tell what’s going on.

Also here’s a general PSA: be on the lookout for hemochromatosis, a genetic defect that causes your body to store too much iron. I’m Northern European ancestry and it turns out to be quite common (also known as The Celtic Curse). Never had an issue until perimenopause hit and thankfully an astute physician had me checked for it. Too much iron causes fatigue as well, plus does a lot of other damage. It’s much more common than the literature says.

[Anonymous]

My ferritin was 33, and my doctor ordered an iron infusion. It went way up for a couple of months, but now, 5 months later, I can tell it's lower again because my hair started to fall out again.

I am now taking iron vitamins that she has created at a compounding pharmacy. It is Albion Ferrochel Iron, which I am just reading is more gentle on your stomach. I can tolerate it well.

[Anonymous]

Solgar Gentle iron order it on Amazon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vitron-c once daily, but my guts don't appreciate it.

Also take Vitron C but I take it every other day, maybe less. My iron was a 5 over the summer, I was having to nap every day for an hour at 2pmish. Blood work showed the low iron, started Virton C and I stopped napping within a week. I am nearly done with the 60 pill bottle about 6 months later. Just donated blood today and iron was a 14!

[Anonymous]

I supplement even though my iron is always in the "low average" range when tested because for those with RLS, which I have, supplementation is needed in the low average range and can fix it.

I take a 65 mg tablet I get at CVS. I have heard that there are different types of iron supplements and that what you get matters but every time I've looked into that it felt complicated and I gave up and just continued to use what I have. I don't take it every day, I take it a few times per week.

[Anonymous]

For a while I took iron - only because MD told me too, based on actual routine blood tests. When he said to stop, I stopped. Again, this all was driven by blood tests.

[Anonymous]

I take ferrous fumarate. It is the only one that works for me.