Thread: Iron tablets

Sorry this might be a TMI thread but over the past few months I've been having really problematic periods. Although they only last 3 to 4 days the first two days are ridiculously heavy. I can live with that but it saps my energy completely.

I was so exhausted yesterday that I found it difficult to muster the energy to even eat. We took the kids to INTECH for a few hours today, nothing more strenous then standing and walking but by the time we got home I needed to lie down before I fell down!

If it carries on next month I'm going to see a doctor but for now I've decided to give iron tablets a go. My thinking is that if I'm losing lots of blood maybe my iron levels are dropping and that's what's making me so tired. Has anyone ever used them? Do they work? and if it turns out my iron levels are fine can I do myself any harm by taking extra?

Oh ST, I feel your pain, I really do, I suffer so badly too, so heavy and painful, have been sick from the pain. Also the blood loss, I am anemic anyway (have crohn's disease) and after my period and during, I really suffer from the tiredness, it totally wipes you out and no women should have to go through that.

Give the iron tablets a chance, they won't do any harm, (i don't think!) and it is probably worth it, if really heavy. I actually have B12 injections every 3 months, which do seem to help. (i have heard that iron tablets can give you a jippy tummy!)

Go and see the docs and get checked out and get your bloods done to check you levels. I am actually convinced that I have fibroids!

That isn't right at all, and if you are feeling that bad, then something must not be right and you should go and pressurize them to do something!

you poor thing, I really feel for you

Miss P xxxxx

Been there, am currently waiting for surgery for endometriosis after a very difficult six years. Have a look on Google at the symptoms for fibroids and endometriosis and see if they sound familiar, if so visit your GP asap.

My advice is to be as graphic as possible when you go to the GP, this is going to sound completely and utterly gross, but I actually managed to take one of my chicken fillet size blood clots to the GP in a sandwich bag and a maternity pad that had lasted only one hour. I presented them to him mid-appointment. He completely gagged and I had a scan and a CL125 blood test 48hours later. I also typed a list of all my symptoms as well and how they impacted on my daily life and I think that helped as well.

If it is any help I am now on the endometriosis diet. No caffeine, chocolate, red meat, cake, wheat, potatoes, it is quite a narrow diet really. In 14 days I feel so much better and a lot of the symptoms are better.

TLC x

Thanks ladies.

I'll head to the docs once this move is over so I don't have to change docs mid exploration.

Googling medical things scares me cos you can always find something that tells you you're at deaths door even if you're not!

I'll follow your advice TLC and make a note of how it affects me as by the time I get to the docs this months installment will be over and i'll feel fine and probably won't express what its like very well.


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a female chef i used to work with got told to eat red grapes and dark choccy , apparently to build red blood cells up.......old wifestale mebbes but should be fun to follow.....

hope it gets sorted soon and you feel better x

Iron tablets make me constipated! I'm in the process of preparing my body for a wee bit of surgery,
I have fibroids and lots of icky things going on and after a few battles with docs I'm going in for a thermal ablation on Feb 28th. I have Zoladex implants every month and also HRT...still bleeding constantly towels are no good for me so I've fashioned a few old terry nappies and never leave the house for the worst 6 days of the month...

and if the thermal thingy doesn't work I want a full hysterical.

Iron tablets don't work for me either. They just make me feel bunged up and even more sluggish.

I've had really heavy periods ever since having DD and can't take any hormonal contraception which helps to reduce the flow. Had a lot of investigation done early on last year as it was so bad (soaking through supermax pads despite having supermax tampon in as well) as everything suggested fibroids and other horrible things. Investigation came to nothing and consultant decided that I'm just destined to be a heavy bleeder (have since found out that my Grandma, who I take after in most ways also suffered really badly) and prescribed me some magic pills.

When I'm not knocked up, I take Tranexamic Acid tablets and super-strong Ibuprofen when I start bleeding and this really helps. I probably still bleed more heavily than most people but at least I can function and apart from at night I don't need to double up with pads and tampons anymore.

If you're going to take iron tablets remember to wash them down with orange juice (the vit C helps with absorption)

I'd go to the Doc, as they can probably prescribe something better than they give out over the counter, additionally they might be able to come up with alternatives etc.

I feel your pain. My mum (who desperately wanted grandchildren) told me my periods would get better after having children. She lied.

My bleeding gets worse if I lift or move things, have you been doing this sorting out your move by any chance? Mine started like that but know if I do anything that involves my abs or pelvic floor I just flood, just an example, I can not hoover as the momentum of moving back and forth and the vibrations are enough to start me off. Once I start it lasts for days.

Boots - have they offered you a Mirena coil, if so, are you considering it?

TLC x

Had the mirena coil, it worked for a while but then it all went tits up!

You could very possibly be anaemic with such heavy bleeding...

I would recommend Spatone rather than iron tablets, though. It's a liquid iron supplement in a sachet and you just drink it with a glass of orange juice every day. Much gentler on the tummy (tablets can be very harsh, all sorts of side effects) and the liquid is also more easily absorbed. I've been taking it for years now, it's really good!

I've suffered with endometriosis and ovarian cysts and the associated dysmenorrhea and haemorrhagia since I was 14, so can very much sympathise. It's just dreadful! I have been on the pill for over 15 years now and don't have periods, thank God (I skip them).

Take care of yourself, hope you feel better soon. xx


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Originally Posted by Medic_K

You could very possibly be anaemic with such heavy bleeding...

I would recommend Spatone rather than iron tablets, though. It's a liquid iron supplement in a sachet and you just drink it with a glass of orange juice every day. Much gentler on the tummy (tablets can be very harsh, all sorts of side effects) and the liquid is also more easily absorbed. I've been taking it for years now, it's really good!

That's the stuff, Spatone! Couldn't remember the name of it