Hi
Since being on HRT I have become almost anemic. My iron level is down to 11. I think it should be somewhere near 50...
Anyway, to be fair, before HRT my iron levels were on the low side, it was always mentioned in routine blood tests but nothing was ever done about it because I guess it was not low enough. (Although I was turned away from giving blood because it would reduce my iron level below a safe level I think. I digress sorry).
Anyway, I became poorly in Jan 2021 and felt really ill, no energy, tight chest and shortness of breath. I though I had covid or long covid. Anyway, it turned out to be low iron levels. I was put on the regular iron tablets, Ferrous Sulphate, 300mg per day and bingo I got constipated in a blink of an eye. I was moved on to Ferrous Gluconate and they were fine and no constipation and I started to feel better, much, much better.
Anyway, the tablets worked, I was fine on them and then a locum decided I had to come off them after 6 months. I was quite annoyed because my levels only got up to 22 I think. Anyway, after some fighting to get back on them after about 4 months and plus the fact that I started feeling terrible again. This time I had a huge skin reaction to the same Ferrous Gluconate, the very same ones I had been previously taking. So I was taken off them.
Long story short, I was moved on to another tablet a slow release of Ferrous Sulphate and that gave me constipation too. My doctor is rubbish and I think we have almost run out of prescription options. I am caught between feeling better with the taking the iron but feeling awful for being constipated.
I am fed up with constipation. Nothing gentle works either. Stuff like Spatone is only 5mg a day and Floradix is too low too. I was on My tablets are 300mg per day.
Not sure what to do. Doctors wont look into why I have low iron absorption. They put it down to heavy periods.
So bored of all this and just wonder if anyone has any suggestions of iron that works for them and does not cause constipation.
Sorry if this sounds like a bit of a rant. If anyone has any suggestions, I would be very grateful.
Thanks