Severe hair loss from iron deficiency?

[Blondieee]

I have been anemic for 4 years and I have suffered major fatigue and hair loss as a result. I want my life back!

I could really use some advice please. I tried taking Biotin and started breaking out so I stopped. 4 years ago, when I was diagnosed with anemia, my doctor recommended Flintstones chewables with iron (2 a day). I wasn't able to take it at the time because of my severe anxiety. I was finally able to take them and I realized how ridiculous I was being. They taste just like a sweet tart. You can't taste the iron at all. The first week I took 1 a day (18 mg) and the second week I mostly took 2 a day (36 mg). There were a couple days when I had a lot going on with summer classes and passed out before I could take the second one. After 2 weeks of the Flintstones, I'm still majorly exhausted and having severe hair loss. I'm also still really pale, out of breath, and have really dark circles under my eyes. My ferritin was 12 before I started taking them. It may have dropped down lower now. I seem to notice some slight pinkness coming back to my nails, but I've noticed that before and then had a ferritin of 4 so that may be from other vitamins I'm getting.

I have looked it up and it seems that most iron supplements have less than the amount I'm taking like Blood Builder for example that people claim gets their iron up quickly has 27mg. Some people who have a low hemoglobin level too take 65mg but my hemoglobin is not low at all. It's 14. So my questions are: Is the 36mg enough or would you take 3 Flintstones a day making it 54 mg? I'm not taking the Complete. I'm taking the with iron ones so there's no Zinc or Iodine. Just B vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin D (which I take a gummy supplement for in addition because my levels were low before and need to come up just a little higher), Vitamin E, and a small amount of Vitamin A. So it's not like I can overdose on anything. And the reason I'm low in iron to begin with is because I'm having severe malabsorption and not absorbing my nutrients. I'm also deficient in B12. I read about one girl who ate a whole bottle at once and the only thing she overdosed on was iron which is something I wouldn't overdose on. My doctor says my ferritin should be 70.

So would you take 3 Flintstones a day or just see how the 2 works first? How much time does it take to work? Is 2 weeks not enough? I've heard of most people feeling immediately better on iron supplements, within a few days. And do you think I can still absorb it even though I'm having malabsorption (which can't be addressed right now)? When people are having malabsorption, can you still absorb supplements since they don't have to be broken down, you just can't absorb vitamins from your food?

My Vitamin D level was 13. I took 2,000 IU a day in the form of gummy vitamins and got some sun and my level is now 41. My doctor wants to see it at least 50. So it seems like I am absorbing supplements. I can tell when I miss a couple days of the Vitamin D because I get really tired. So will my iron come up? I just need to relax and give the supplement time to work?

Also, please no recommendations of other iron supplements. I know you mean well and I appreciate it. But I can't swallow pills, not even the tiniest of pills. I have tried over and over. And I have tried every kind of liquid iron/chewable iron out there and this is the only one I can handle. I can't handle the taste of the other ones and can't get them down. Even mixed in juice and smoothies. This is the supplement my doctor recommended.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

I'm sorry you are going through this, but In my opinion, you would be better to discuss this with a medical/health professional, rather than us random untrained people on the internet. I hope you can get it sorted, and send you love and hugs! What a rough time you have had and are having!

[Obsidian]

Its going to take longer than two weeks to really notice a difference, stay with the dose the doctor recommended and give it a few months before going back for blood tests again. Can you not take both vitamins at the same time? If not, then get some pill pouches or other small container and put a few in your purse so you'll always be able to take the second one if you are away from home.

I have low D too and I've been on 4000UI for a few years now. My level are normal now but if I stop taking the pills, it drops right back down.

[renia22]

I wouldn't take more than the recommended dose of iron, but you can help it absorb by taking it with something acidic and with vitamin C (like lemon juice or orange juice). You can also cook with a cast iron skillet & add more iron rich foods.

[akurah]

You really need to talk to your doctor.

[lithostoic]

Ask your doctor.

[Blondieee]

Thanks everyone! My doctor who recommended all this left the practice and switched to functional medicine. I haven't found another good doctor since. So I don't have a doctor I can ask.

I didn't know if it was a good idea to take both vitamins at the same time since you can only absorb so much iron at one time. And I didn't know if 36mg all at once would cause any side effects at all. But the pill pouch or small container is a great idea! Thank you!

[akurah]

In that case? Get a new doctor as quickly as possible

Iron is a vitamin you can overdose on, and it's called iron poisoning. I do not know how easy or hard it is to do that on accident, but it can cause death by liver failure.

As such, a person (any person, not just you) probably shouldn't be deliberately taking iron via supplement unless instructed, and once instructed, they probably shouldn't be taking more than what you were instructed to take. So, ask a doctor who has access to your medical records. And get one as soon as you can.

[Blondieee]

I was instructed to take iron. I was instructed to take 2 Flintstones a day. She said that before she left the practice and kept saying that. Another doctor in that practice wanted to put me on iron 4 TIMES a day I'm so low. They said I'm so low I'll never overdose on iron. Sad but true.

[Blondieee]

And that other doctor who wanted to put me on iron 4 times a day, wanted to put me on 65mg 4 times a day.

[akurah]

Yes, you were instructed, you said so in your previous post. And it's probably a good thing to continue following those instructions.

That said, I don't know how dangerous it is or isn't for you to take a third. For all practical purposes? It's probably fine, otherwise you'd see more children getting sick from iron overdosing, flinstone vitamins taste like candy and it's not out of the realm of possibility that children get into them without parental supervision.

What I'm really trying to get at is LHC is not a substitute for a medical professional. You need a doctor.

[CrowningGlory]

I was instructed to take iron. I was instructed to take 2 Flintstones a day. She said that before she left the practice and kept saying that. Another doctor in that practice wanted to put me on iron 4 TIMES a day I'm so low. They said I'm so low I'll never overdose on iron. Sad but true.

Firstly, I'll reiterate what others have said: talk to a doctor. Do not self-medicate when it comes to iron.

Secondly, it will take longer than two weeks. My ferritin was under 10. It took at least three months for me to notice a decrease in shedding. Six years on, my ferritin is only just nudging 30. That seems like a slow - but huge - improvement. I don't have shedding these days - in fact I don't lose a lot of hair - but I still have some thinning on the length that I never had before. It takes time and I've come to realise there is no quick fix for a nutritional deficiency such as iron. You can try taking your iron with something high in Vitamin C but don't take more than recommended. And it doesn't hurt to ask for regular blood tests so you can see how the levels are going (I have them once a year and that's enough to know they're going up but not too often that I fixate on them).

BTW, I found my anxiety/depression far worse when my ferritin was particularly low and my doctor felt that there could be a link that is not yet understood.

[CrowningGlory]

And that other doctor who wanted to put me on iron 4 times a day, wanted to put me on 65mg 4 times a day.

I've just checked my prescription (I needed to take it now anyway) and I'm on 105mg once a day.

[CrowningGlory]

That said, I don't know how dangerous it is or isn't for you to take a third. For all practical purposes? It's probably fine, otherwise you'd see more children getting sick from iron overdosing, flinstone vitamins taste like candy and it's not out of the realm of possibility that children get into them without parental supervision.

I'm not familiar with the supplement you mention but iron overdose in children can be lethal. If there is not such a warning on the package then I wonder how much available iron they contain.

[akurah]

I'm not familiar with the supplement you mention but iron overdose in children can be lethal. If there is not such a warning on the package then I wonder how much available iron they contain.

Flintstones is a branded gummy multivitamin for children. It's branded with the Flintstones cartoon. This is the multivitamin OP says she is taking.

[lapushka]

Blondieee, I have to agree with everyone else here. Get in to see another doctor *right now*. You need the follow-up. You just can't up and ask us, because we have no clue and your issues sound grave enough. Maybe they'll need to switch you to IVs every so often; but that's up to the doctors and is why you need one PRONTO!

Keep us posted on the doctor search.

Didn't you post a while ago that you had no doctor and were looking for one? I seem to remember that. It shouldn't be this hard, surely?

[Blondieee]

It shouldn't be that hard, but it truly is that hard. I know all of you here are familiar with the detrimental impact low ferritin has on hair and the other symptoms it causes. Well the first doctor knew too. She said my ferritin should be 70. But every doctor after that has said "Your hemoglobin is normal. You're fine with a ferritin of 4 or 8 or 12. That's not causing the symptoms you're experiencing. You don't need to take iron." You see the problem I'm experiencing? I'm frankly fed up with doctors and their stupidity. More of them need to receive proper iron training. I had a doctor tell me that my ferritin of 12 (12-105) was normal because it's in the reference range but when it was 9, he said it was too low. The insanity!!!! These doctors need to go back to nutrition school 101 pronto!!

And I'm not taking the gummies. Those have no iron in them. I'm taking Flintstones chewables with iron. 18mg for each one so 36mg. And I know you can overdose on iron, but truly I'm not kidding. I'm not going to overdose on iron. My old doctor even told me that. And even a doctor who didn't think my ferritin was low at 12 and he said that's normal, told me not to take iron because you can overdose. I said what ferritin number would be an overdose? He said "Oh, you're nowhere close to that." Yeah really?!!

My uncle has beef everyday, cooks the beef in cast iron, and is not losing blood every month through a period like I am. He is not overdosing on iron. Thank you for your concern, but I will be just fine. Like I said, I had one doctor at my old doctor's practice who wanted to put me on 65mg 4 times a day. As they've said, I'll never overdose on iron in my life I'm so low.

[Blondieee]

IV iron is not an option. We've tried that and I had a severe allergic reaction.

[Blondieee]

Firstly, I'll reiterate what others have said: talk to a doctor. Do not self-medicate when it comes to iron.

Secondly, it will take longer than two weeks. My ferritin was under 10. It took at least three months for me to notice a decrease in shedding. Six years on, my ferritin is only just nudging 30. That seems like a slow - but huge - improvement. I don't have shedding these days - in fact I don't lose a lot of hair - but I still have some thinning on the length that I never had before. It takes time and I've come to realise there is no quick fix for a nutritional deficiency such as iron. You can try taking your iron with something high in Vitamin C but don't take more than recommended. And it doesn't hurt to ask for regular blood tests so you can see how the levels are going (I have them once a year and that's enough to know they're going up but not too often that I fixate on them).

BTW, I found my anxiety/depression far worse when my ferritin was particularly low and my doctor felt that there could be a link that is not yet understood.

CrowningGlory, That is a very long time to get iron up that minute difference! Frankly that is the longest I've ever heard! I can't live like this for 6 more years. I had fortified cereal bring my ferritin up from 5 to 16 in a few months. I haven't ever heard of it taking that long to bring up iron stores. That sounds like something is wrong. Do you have really heavy periods? Have they checked for other stuff that may be causing you to be anemic?

[lapushka]

It shouldn't be that hard, but it truly is that hard. I know all of you here are familiar with the detrimental impact low ferritin has on hair and the other symptoms it causes. Well the first doctor knew too. She said my ferritin should be 70. But every doctor after that has said "Your hemoglobin is normal. You're fine with a ferritin of 4 or 8 or 12. That's not causing the symptoms you're experiencing. You don't need to take iron." You see the problem I'm experiencing? I'm frankly fed up with doctors and their stupidity. More of them need to receive proper iron training. I had a doctor tell me that my ferritin of 12 (12-105) was normal because it's in the reference range but when it was 9, he said it was too low. The insanity!!!! These doctors need to go back to nutrition school 101 pronto!!

And I'm not taking the gummies. Those have no iron in them. I'm taking Flintstones chewables with iron. 18mg for each one so 36mg. And I know you can overdose on iron, but truly I'm not kidding. I'm not going to overdose on iron. My old doctor even told me that. And even a doctor who didn't think my ferritin was low at 12 and he said that's normal, told me not to take iron because you can overdose. I said what ferritin number would be an overdose? He said "Oh, you're nowhere close to that." Yeah really?!!

My uncle has beef everyday, cooks the beef in cast iron, and is not losing blood every month through a period like I am. He is not overdosing on iron. Thank you for your concern, but I will be just fine. Like I said, I had one doctor at my old doctor's practice who wanted to put me on 65mg 4 times a day. As they've said, I'll never overdose on iron in my life I'm so low.

I'm sorry, clearly I'm not aware of all of your issues, but truly this needs to be tackled by doctors and... not us. What can we do about it? We can't tell you to take this or that, we shouldn't be doing that at all. It's dangerous to do that, most certainly over the internet. And besides, you can't have an IV, you can't have pills. I can see why doctors would be at their wit's end too. :flower: On top of that, I seem to remember we had this discussion before somewhere...

[Blondieee]

I know you can't tell me what to take and that it's dangerous to do that. I was just asking for other people's experiences. Like for people who have had malabsorption, did your iron still come up with supplements, you just couldn't absorb it from food? Or did neither food or supplements work?

And how much iron most people have taken to correct an iron deficiency? Obviously I'm not going to take more than 2 until I find a new doctor who understands the effects low ferritin has on the body. I'm not going to overdose on iron, but I want a doctor's opinion because I'm worried about the Vitamin A. But I was just curious what most people take to correct an iron deficiency and how fast it works? I read about someone else taking 2 Flintstones chewables a day and they got their ferritin from like 8 to 25 in 3 months. So that's all I was asking. But I don't think that person was having malabsorption. I'm impatient. I want it to work and work quickly. I don't want to keep being exhausted and losing my hair!

But can you see why I'm at my wits end? Clearly low ferritin causes numerous symptoms yet many doctors say it doesn't and that what I'm experiencing is not related? My nails are WHITE. Yes white with a normal hemoglobin level. Because I have no iron. I have noticed some very slight pink come back to them since taking the Flintstones, whether that's from iron or some other nutrients I have no idea. But it's not my fault that I can't do IV iron. I went into anaphylactic shock!!! The hematologist apologized profusely and said this happens sometimes. Happens sometimes?!! So doctors shouldn't be at their wits end because of that. I'M AT MY WITS END! I want the problem resolved! And they still can't tell me why it's so extremely low! There's no explanation for it.

And the Flintstones chewables were actually recommended before pills. They didn't recommend pills at all. And lots of people can't swallow pills and doctors find other avenues. So I don't know why they would be at their wits end with me. I'm at my wits end with them. Leaving someone anemic for 4 years with no explanation? Letting my hair keep falling out? And I keep going around so exhausted I can barely move because THEY can't figure out why it's so low and keep referring me to specialist after specialist, for the specialist to be like "Sorry I don't know either. I refer you back to your doctor." I mean, give me a break! I think I have a right to be at my wits end with them!

[renia22]

^ I hear you about the medical doctors :/, and how sometimes getting experiences from others is helpful.

The type of iron in Flinstones chewables ferrous fumarate. I personally had better luck with getting my ferritin up when I started using different types of iron (15mg iron glycinate & iron aspartate with vitamin C is what I currently take). It took me about a year to go from ferritin being in the 10-15 range to in the 50s. With the ferrous fumarate, taking a lot more won't make it absorb any better or faster, you'll probably just end up with black stools and constipation, or other gastrointestinal problems. Frustrating as it is, sometimes less is more, and working on better absorption is the better way to go (although I agree with you, 1 extra Flinstones chewable isn't extreme).

Finding the reason for the malabsorption would help (food allergies or intolerances? Chronic inflammation?). As I mentioned earlier, taking it with vitamin C helps. On an empty stomach is best because the stomach acids helps break it down, or try an acidic juice. Avoid taking with milk, calcium, antacids, coffee/ caffeine, all which hinder absorption. Getting a cast iron skillet has helped me a lot also, I use it all the time, with iron rich foods. If you can divide your doses, even better.

[Garnetgem]

I have been low in iron but not at the scale you are(sounds pretty bad)but i was told to avoid any caffeine such as tea coffee soft drinks that contain it as caffeine prevents you from being able to absorb iron properly..and vitamin c helps to absorb,i was told to eat dry apricots as they are high in iron and the body absorbs it well as its a natural food but only dry i was told..also cereals are good i eat weetabix daily not that i like them much but if i don't eat them my symptoms return(they are high in iron)..i do hope this nightmare ends for you soon as 4 years is extreme to be so unwell..

[lapushka]

I don't want to keep being exhausted and losing my hair!

But can you see why I'm at my wits end? Clearly low ferritin causes numerous symptoms yet many doctors say it doesn't and that what I'm experiencing is not related? My nails are WHITE. Yes white with a normal hemoglobin level. Because I have no iron. I have noticed some very slight pink come back to them since taking the Flintstones, whether that's from iron or some other nutrients I have no idea. But it's not my fault that I can't do IV iron. I went into anaphylactic shock!!! The hematologist apologized profusely and said this happens sometimes. Happens sometimes?!! So doctors shouldn't be at their wits end because of that. I'M AT MY WITS END! I want the problem resolved! And they still can't tell me why it's so extremely low! There's no explanation for it.

And the Flintstones chewables were actually recommended before pills. They didn't recommend pills at all. And lots of people can't swallow pills and doctors find other avenues. So I don't know why they would be at their wits end with me. I'm at my wits end with them. Leaving someone anemic for 4 years with no explanation? Letting my hair keep falling out? And I keep going around so exhausted I can barely move because THEY can't figure out why it's so low and keep referring me to specialist after specialist, for the specialist to be like "Sorry I don't know either. I refer you back to your doctor." I mean, give me a break! I think I have a right to be at my wits end with them!

Perfectly understandable. I know you talking about the Flintstones chewables before. But that seemed like such a long time ago...

[Agnieszka]

Im so sorry you are going through this. I wish you could see another doctor as giving you some Flinstones chewable multivitamin for such a severe low levels of iron doesn't sound good to me. Please find better doctor who will put you on proper regimen. I was low but not as low as you and was prescribed 60mg with vitamin c on empty stomach each night. I managed to get it up and my ferritin from 20 shoot up to 50 in 3-4 months with high strength supplement and within 2 weeks I was feeling much better. Please seek another opinion from the doctor. All the best!

[rags]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. if it helps, i also have malabsorption issues (I take the IV iron). In my case, I also could not absorb any form of the supplements I tried (different types of iron, as someone was explaining on the last page). This is another reason I think you should have your levels checked regularly (so you need another dr) - in order to see if you are actually absorbing any at all.

I actually do absorb a very small amount they think, because it takes me awhile after the IV's to drop back down low enough to where the insurance will pay for the iron again - but it makes no difference whether I take supplements or not, I've tried it both with and without and I drop down about the same either way (I can graph my ferritin, it drops very predictably now that I've been doing this a few years!).

My ferritin was 3 the last time before the insurance would pay, so i do understand your frustration, and I hope you can find a dr. to help you soon! Mine is getting down low enough to send me into symptoms again now - but it will be quite awhile before the insurance will pay for my IV yet. So I'm here with you (though not too badly yet!) losing hair and being tired. I really hope you find a good dr soon, although I totally understand the frustration with them!

[Cherriezzzzz]

You need a better vitamin and doctor ;) vitalea with iron fixed my gramma's low iron. BUT YOU MUST EAT WITH IT OR YOU WILL THROW THEM UP. That's how you can tell there's a good supplement amount of iron. My son also had low iron as a one year old and he had a script from his Dr. Be careful with iron supplements. They are a major source of poisoning so they are not to be taken without a dr's care. But the iron in the multivitamin "vitalea" is from a company called Shaklee and the two daily pills will meet most iron needs. Cheapie vitamin supplements you will just pee out and not absorb them.

[Blondieee]

Cherrie, I don't mean to sound disrespectful (I am frustrated from this situation so I am sorry if I sound disrespectful) but you guys should really look at how much iron you're taking. The supplement you recommended has 18mg in 2 tablets. I'm taking 36mg in 2 Flintstones. I don't know why people automatically assume that because the vitamin is Flintstones brand that it won't correct the issue. What matters is the amount of iron. Flintstones vitamins are for children AND adults. It says so right on the label. And the amount of iron found in Flintstones is the adult RDA. I'm taking twice the adult RDA.

[Blondieee]

Agnieska, You said you take 60mg with Vitamin C...Well I'm taking 36mg right now so that's quite a lot. But if I were to take 3 Flintstones, it would make 54mg which is almost identical to what you're taking. Bayer (the company who makes Flintstones) also makes a one-a-day vitamin for adult women and men. Do you know what the amount of iron in the women one is - 18mg - the same that is in the Flintstones chewables. I don't know why everyone is thinking because it's Flintstones, that it's not a lot. I am taking 36mg which is less than over HALF what you're taking. That's quite a bit. But I can certainly bump it up to 3 Flintstones when I find a new doctor, if she says it's ok and take 54mg which is essentially what you're taking. What matters is the amount of iron. These are chewable vitamins for kids AND adults. It says so right on the label.

[Blondieee]

^ I hear you about the medical doctors :/, and how sometimes getting experiences from others is helpful.

The type of iron in Flinstones chewables ferrous fumarate. I personally had better luck with getting my ferritin up when I started using different types of iron (15mg iron glycinate & iron aspartate with vitamin C is what I currently take). It took me about a year to go from ferritin being in the 10-15 range to in the 50s. With the ferrous fumarate, taking a lot more won't make it absorb any better or faster, you'll probably just end up with black stools and constipation, or other gastrointestinal problems. Frustrating as it is, sometimes less is more, and working on better absorption is the better way to go (although I agree with you, 1 extra Flinstones chewable isn't extreme).

Finding the reason for the malabsorption would help (food allergies or intolerances? Chronic inflammation?). As I mentioned earlier, taking it with vitamin C helps. On an empty stomach is best because the stomach acids helps break it down, or try an acidic juice. Avoid taking with milk, calcium, antacids, coffee/ caffeine, all which hinder absorption. Getting a cast iron skillet has helped me a lot also, I use it all the time, with iron rich foods. If you can divide your doses, even better.


Thank you! I'm having pretty severe bloating (I look like I'm 6 months pregnant) and also severe leg swelling so a food intolerance or allergy would make sense. Thank you for your recommendations for iron! But I can not swallow pills so I can't get the iron glycerinate and iron aspartate and I had an allergy to iron infusions so the Flintstones is all I can take. Last year I tried to get my ferritin up through cereal. I had Frosted Flakes - 3 servings so 75% iron so about 13.5mg (which is in the form of ferrous fumarate because I contacted the company and asked) and my ferritin went from 5 to 16 over the course of several months. So it seems like I do absorb that kind. And this is 36mg so I'm hoping it works. I think I just need to be patient.

So dividing doses is good? That's what I thought. I take each one at two separate times of the day. Would you recommend taking additional Vitamin C with it? It has 100% Vitamin C in it. But I have Vitamin C gummies so I could take one of those with it for extra Vitamin C if needed.

[Blondieee]

Also, for those of you recommending tablets or saying that it makes it more difficult for the doctors because I can't swallow pills, I looked it up and actually chewable and gummy vitamins absorb better because they are already broken down which makes sense. I take Vitamin D gummies 2,000 IU and it brought my levels from 13 to 41. Normally they recommend anywhere from 5,000-10,000 IU when your levels are that low in tablet form. I didn't need that much. I needed significantly less because I took gummies. And when I skip them for a few days, I can tell because I'm significantly more tired.

[akurah]

Cherrie, I don't mean to sound disrespectful (I am frustrated from this situation so I am sorry if I sound disrespectful) but you guys should really look at how much iron you're taking. The supplement you recommended has 18mg in 2 tablets. I'm taking 36mg in 2 Flintstones. I don't know why people automatically assume that because the vitamin is Flintstones brand that it won't correct the issue. What matters is the amount of iron. Flintstones vitamins are for children AND adults. It says so right on the label. And the amount of iron found in Flintstones is the adult RDA. I'm taking twice the adult RDA.



I recognize you're frustrated. I really feel bad for you, it sucks. I don't know how it feels to be in your exact shoes, but I'm struggling right now to get a diagnosis for a chronic problem. I get it, and so do the rest of us.

18mg of iron in the tablet that others recommended is not necessarily less than 36 mg of iron in your Flintstones, and I'm gonna tell you why.

There is at least four types of iron supplements that I'm aware of, and this is from a quick google. For example:
Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate
Ferrous gluconate
Ferrous fumarate
Ferrous sulfate

They all release iron at different amounts. Some may have the same mg amount, but are effectively different dosages (it is possible for the lower mg to be an effective higher dose), because of a bunch of factors that include bioavailability, the literal ability of your gastrointestinal track to absorb it (as opposed to poop it out), and so many other factors I can't even begin to explain because I am not a chemist, biologist, or doctor, I'm just a scientific hobbiest.

Flinstones is a fantastic vitamin from what I understand, but just because the mg stated is high, that doesn't mean you're actually GETTING that many mg.

A doctor, if they do not know these things, they have the resources to find them out. A good doctor will do so. And a different iron pill, even if it's a lower mg of iron listed in the pill, may still have more bioavailable iron for your body to use, and is effectively a higher dose.

This is why everyone keeps telling you to go to a doctor. I can google all day to give you information on iron supplements, but I can't interpret it. or tell you how much you need.

And how much or little iron you are taking orally may be irrelevant if you're not getting your blood tested. When trying to raise iron levels, you need somewhat regular blood tests, and I'm a little surprised that this isn't the case for you.

[Blondieee]

You need a better vitamin and doctor ;) vitalea with iron fixed my gramma's low iron. BUT YOU MUST EAT WITH IT OR YOU WILL THROW THEM UP. That's how you can tell there's a good supplement amount of iron. My son also had low iron as a one year old and he had a script from his Dr. Be careful with iron supplements. They are a major source of poisoning so they are not to be taken without a dr's care. But the iron in the multivitamin "vitalea" is from a company called Shaklee and the two daily pills will meet most iron needs. Cheapie vitamin supplements you will just pee out and not absorb them.

Also the 18mg for 1 vitamin for the one you recommended is in the form of ferrous fumarate which is what I'm already taking. You throw up with the one you're taking if you don't take it with food, not because of the iron, but because of the million other minerals in it like Iodine, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, and weird stuff like Nickel, Tin, Vanadium, Boron, and Silicon. That's not stuff I want to put in my body.

[Blondieee]

I recognize you're frustrated. I really feel bad for you, it sucks. I don't know how it feels to be in your exact shoes, but I'm struggling right now to get a diagnosis for a chronic problem. I get it, and so do the rest of us.

18mg of iron in the tablet that others recommended is not necessarily less than 36 mg of iron in your Flintstones, and I'm gonna tell you why.

There is at least four types of iron supplements that I'm aware of, and this is from a quick google. For example:
Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate
Ferrous gluconate
Ferrous fumarate
Ferrous sulfate

They all release iron at different amounts. Some may have the same mg amount, but are effectively different dosages (it is possible for the lower mg to be an effective higher dose), because of a bunch of factors that include bioavailability, the literal ability of your gastrointestinal track to absorb it (as opposed to poop it out), and so many other factors I can't even begin to explain because I am not a chemist, biologist, or doctor, I'm just a scientific hobbiest.

Flinstones is a fantastic vitamin from what I understand, but just because the mg stated is high, that doesn't mean you're actually GETTING that many mg.

A doctor, if they do not know these things, they have the resources to find them out. A good doctor will do so. And a different iron pill, even if it's a lower mg of iron listed in the pill, may still have more bioavailable iron for your body to use, and is effectively a higher dose.

This is why everyone keeps telling you to go to a doctor. I can google all day to give you information on iron supplements, but I can't interpret it. or tell you how much you need.

And how much or little iron you are taking orally may be irrelevant if you're not getting your blood tested. When trying to raise iron levels, you need somewhat regular blood tests, and I'm a little surprised that this isn't the case for you.


Ferrous fumarate is the best type of iron you can take. "The different forms of iron in supplements contain varying amounts of elemental iron. For example, ferrous fumarate is 33% elemental iron by weight, whereas ferrous sulfate is 20% and ferrous gluconate is 12% elemental iron."

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/

You guys keep telling me to GO to a doctor. Yet, my doctor recommended Flintstones and then you say she's wrong. Ferrous fumarate is the best and most absorbable form of iron you can take. Will I absorb all of it? No. And nobody absorbs ALL of any iron supplement they take, no matter what form it is. In the 4 years that I've been suffering from anemia, I've learned a lot about iron.

Like I said, about a year ago, I had Frosted Flakes cereal everyday. 13.5mg of iron in the form of ferrous fumarate. My ferritin FINALLY started to lift from 5 to 16 after a few months. Now I'm having ALMOST 3 times what I had then.

[Blondieee]

Also, my mom was very anemic a few years ago from really heavy periods. Her hemoglobin was 5! They recommended a prescription iron for her. The kind of iron in it was ferrous fumarate! She took that (not even every day) and got her hemoglobin all the way back up to normal. Just saying.

[akurah]

Ferrous fumarate is the best type of iron you can take. "The different forms of iron in supplements contain varying amounts of elemental iron. For example, ferrous fumarate is 33% elemental iron by weight, whereas ferrous sulfate is 20% and ferrous gluconate is 12% elemental iron."

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/

Maybe it was disrespectful but you guys are being disrespectful as well. You keep telling me to GO to a doctor. Yet, my doctor recommended Flintstones and then you say she's wrong. Ferrous fumarate is the best and most absorbable form of iron you can take. Will I absorb all of it? No. And nobody absorbs ALL of any iron supplement they take, no matter what form it is. In the 4 years that I've been suffering from anemia, I've learned a lot about iron.

Like I said, about a year ago, I had Frosted Flakes cereal everyday. 13.5mg of iron in the form of ferrous fumarate. My ferritin FINALLY started to lift from 5 to 16 after a few months. Now I'm having ALMOST 3 times what I had then.

I don't see anyone telling you to do anything except go back to the doctor.

I do see people saying "Oh hey I tried this, maybe this will help you since it helped me". (paraphrasing)

I also see you getting very angry and frustrated.

We're not in a position to help you, we are not medically trained and anemia is incredibly dangerous. I still stand by "You should do exactly as your doctor ordered and return to A doctor of some sort as soon as you can". If you're having trouble finding a new doctor, if you can get in touch with the old one, can you as her for a recommendation perhaps?

[Blondieee]

I don't see anyone telling you to do anything except go back to the doctor.

I do see people saying "Oh hey I tried this, maybe this will help you since it helped me". (paraphrasing)

I also see you getting very angry and frustrated.

We're not in a position to help you, we are not medically trained and anemia is incredibly dangerous. I still stand by "You should do exactly as your doctor ordered and return to A doctor of some sort as soon as you can". If you're having trouble finding a new doctor, if you can get in touch with the old one, can you as her for a recommendation perhaps?

There were people saying that my doctor was wrong and that I need a better vitamin. So those people are telling me not to listen to my doctor. So I am going to listen to her recommendation of 2 Flintstones a day because that's what she prescribed. And then I will keep looking for another doctor who takes anemia seriously. I will try to get in touch with her and ask her for a recommendation.

[Blondieee]

Also, one person recommended some type of Shaklee vitamin that has 18mg per 2 tablets in the form of ferrous fumarate. She called the Flintstones a "cheapie" vitamin and said I will just pee it out. So is her vitamin any different from my vitamin, as far as iron?

[renia22]

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/everyday/whistling-smiley-emoticon.gif (http://www.sherv.net/)


..double post..

[renia22]

Thank you! I'm having pretty severe bloating (I look like I'm 6 months pregnant) and also severe leg swelling so a food intolerance or allergy would make sense. Thank you for your recommendations for iron! But I can not swallow pills so I can't get the iron glycerinate and iron aspartate and I had an allergy to iron infusions so the Flintstones is all I can take. Last year I tried to get my ferritin up through cereal. I had Frosted Flakes - 3 servings so 75% iron so about 13.5mg (which is in the form of ferrous fumarate because I contacted the company and asked) and my ferritin went from 5 to 16 over the course of several months. So it seems like I do absorb that kind. And this is 36mg so I'm hoping it works. I think I just need to be patient.

So dividing doses is good? That's what I thought. I take each one at two separate times of the day. Would you recommend taking additional Vitamin C with it? It has 100% Vitamin C in it. But I have Vitamin C gummies so I could take one of those with it for extra Vitamin C if needed.

Yes, dividing doses is good. Currently I only take it once a day, but at my worst I took it twice a day, on an empty stomach in the morning and at bedtime (I was also having issues with low vitamin D, that I would take separately with lunch or dinner & calcium containing foods). You can take it with some orange or lemon juice for the extra vitamin C & acidity. I've always been a fan of high quality capsules, those you can also open up and mix up the contents in some apple sauce and take that way if you can't swallow pills, but if you want to stick with the Flinstones, you can just work on the absorption issues for now. They also make some pretty good common food allergen - free protein powders like Vega All In One that are vitamin fortified with highly absorbable forms of vitamins and minerals, but it doesn't contain *too* high of a dose of anything. If you're suspecting food intolerances, while figuring out what those might be, you might look into an anti-inflammatory diet, or incorporating anti-inflammatory foods overall, especially the ones containing iron and vitamin C.

https://www.wellandgood.com/good-food/anti-inflammatory-diet-food-pyramid/

[Cherriezzzzz]

No offence taken. Just sharing what worked in my family. Obviously though your current regime isn't working lol sooooo I thought I'd share about a really great vitamin I know loads of people pay a lot of more money for because it works :) do some research about cold processing in vitamins! That's a difference in the shaklee vitamin. But since I upset you so much I'll bow out of the thread and wish you the best! :waving::blossom: