oh yeah

[laceblade]

I was telling The Boyfriend that I constantly feel like passing out whenever I have my period, & he was like, "Have you ever taken an iron supplement?" And I was all LOL NO.

But come to think of it, the times I've successfully donated blood (they usually can't get into my veins, so I stopped trying), I've been told the blood is un-good b/c I don't have enough iron.

Anyway, he bought me some, I've actually felt like a human being the last two days despite heavy flow (as in, haven't felt like passing out?!).

DOES THIS MEAN that I should take it in non-period times, too?!


I know that the real answer is, "Ask your doctor," but that would require seeing my doctor, so.

Anyone have experience with iron supplements?



In other medication use, I feel that I should mention I find papaya extract WAY more useful than Tums. I've been taking it for over a month now.

Comments

[kaberett]

Mrr, I would give taking it full-time a go, see if that helps in general? Because if you're getting anaemic/low-iron during periods, and your haemoglobin's been too low historically for blood donation, then it's very likely that you're spending your entire time at least borderline anaemic.

(This is not personal experience with iron supplements, but is (a) family members with chronic anaemia and (b) two-and-change years of hanging around vaginapagina.)

[moonvoice]

Iron generally takes a solid 90 days to show a full effect (for example, if you're anemic, they won't test your blood again until about three months after you've started taking an iron supplement, to factor in how long it takes for iron deficient red blood cells to die off and be replaced with iron rich red blood cells - about a three month cycle); if you're going to take it to see what effect it has, it def. should not be taken just during or before the period. Sometimes the high energy effect that can come immediately after taking iron pills is due to the other minerals in the tablet mix (usually mixed with others to help digestion of the iron since oral bioavailability can be helped by the presence of things like folate and vit. C) or placebo.

Agree with kabarett here, it's likely - with your blood being not good re: iron - that you spend the *entire time* iron deficient or even borderline anemic.

As always, none of this is replacement for medical advice. I've had long-term personal experience with chronic iron and anemia issues (I actually need iron transfusions, since oral and injected supplements don't work at all for me), and have been told too much about red blood cells and iron by haematologists. D:

potential TMI

[meganbmoore]

A few years ago I was diagnosed with anemia, which was caused by my periods (pretty much, in 1 day I would bleed an entire cycle's worth, and then have an average cycle after that) and in addition to craps, nausea, and headaches, I'd be pale, dizzy and lightheaded. They put me on prescription-level iron supplements for about a year until my iron levels were normal, but I still have to take feosol, or an equivalent, daily (there've been a couple times I've gone without it for a week or so since, and I could tell the difference after only a couple days). I still sometimes bleed too heavily the first day or so and every few months, I'll have a cycle where I still get sick enough that I have to miss a bit of work, but it's nothing like it was before. I also tended to have the lightheadedness and dizziness at times when it wasn't my period, but not nearly as bad, and I rarely have that now when it isn't related to something else. It doesn't sound like you're as bad as I was, but it does sound like your period causes an iron deficiency.

My veins hide from needles too. I can't give blood, but anytime I have blood tests done or need an IV put in for anything (hopefully I am through with that after 2 surgeries in as many years) it takes more than one try and I end up with bruises.

Re: potential TMI

[jesse_the_k]

I also have rolling veins so the phlebotomist says I'm a "hard stick." Their advice: drink extra extra water before the draw and use a "butterfly needle"

[pretty_panther]

i've started taking it when i have my period and a few days before because since i've been on the pill i've had shorter periods but they can still be heavy so i get lightheaded losing so much in a short space of time. the tablets have helped a lot BUT my iron levels are perfectly ok the rest of the time and they get constantly tested along with everything else with my diabetes. SO, in my experience, only having them sometimes has worked but they won't be working AS well as they might bc I don't take them every day~

Side note, you've got a pretty awesome boy if he had that convo with you and then went out and got them for you off his own back. It shouldn't be a big deal but sadly these days it is so GO HIM XD

[zhelana]

I take them with no ill effects.

[wrdnrd]

I was telling The Boyfriend

You mean Tuxedo Mask. ;D

Also: Cosign the papaya extract love. Plus they taste way better than Tums!

[eggcrack]

I used to be constantly anemic because of my heavy period and I started taking birth control pills years ago to get them under long-term control, but even after that I had to take iron pills from time to time because I kept running out of storage iron. So now I'm taking daily iron pills to make sure I really get the iron I need. Iron supplements can cause soft stool for some time in my experience, but that can pass. So if extra iron doesn't come with ill effects it can be really helpful.

[amie]

Yeah, I think taking it all the time should help. I try to but I can't really afford/remember to but I mean, taking it sometimes is better than not at all :)

[lilysea]

Iron is super-important!

"What does iron deficiency anaemia feel like?

The symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia are caused by the lack of oxygen being supplied to the tissues. You may feel tired, short of breath when exercising, unable to concentrate, have headaches or get irritable. Your skin and the inside of your mouth may be pale. You may also be likely to pick up infections. Eventually, your nails can become spoon-shaped and brittle, the corners of your mouth may crack, and you may have difficulty swallowing. Some people also get cravings for unusual substances, such as ice or earth.

Older people with iron deficiency anaemia may get angina (pain in the chest) because the heart has to work harder to supply enough oxygen to the body.

Children with low iron levels may be slow to learn or develop.

While symptoms can be severe, in the early stages of iron deficiency you may have no symptoms or just mild fatigue."

[opinion_rush]

a random caution: iron is tricksey and unlike vitamin C or such, you don't just pee out the excess. Too much of it can be harmful, and too much can be not all that much.

[sasha_feather]

Sometimes iron supplements are difficult for some folks to digest. But that might not be you. I hope they help! You could My Chart it and not have to actually see the dr.

[rubah]

the off-week on a lot of birth control pills is an iron supplement.