Low Iron Levels

[Patsy33]

After weeks of feeling exhausted at times, very low blood pressure, just found out cause. Very low iron levels, and yet I eat a healthy diet but don't eat much red meat. Dr recommended I try improving my diet with lots of iron enriched foods or buy Floridix from chemist, of which I've done.

[Zacs-Master]

Marvellous.

[Berniecuddles2]

Hope all goes well x.
Dont stop the jokes either lol x

[Patsy33]

Don be rude zacs! I wrote on here weeks ago about having no energy and low blood pressure. Sqad likes an update.

[cassa333]

I have very low iron levels. A loccum Dr once nearly had a fainting fit when he saw my levels lol

He prescribed Ferrous Fumarate 2x210mg three times a day. It didn't even touch the level in any shape or form because I don't absorb it.

I have B12 injections now.

[Patsy33]

Thank you Berniecuddles. Don't stop your jokes either. Always makes me giggle! x

[Patsy33]

Poor you casa. You must have felt drained. Hope B12 is doing the trick.x

[Sqad]

Thanks for the update.....BUT.....why are your iron levels low?
Dr needs to answer this......yes, you may be right, you may not bee eating enough red meat, but more importantly he will need to investigate if you are losing iron (blood) and if so why e.g heavy periods, piles......etc.

[Patsy33]

She Dr., Didn't seem too worried. I'm trying these tablets from chemist she recommended and will try to eat some red meat. She wants to see me in a month. I don't have periods or piles sqad! Thanks for your reply.

[NoMercy]

Patsy, I don't know whether your doctor made any mention of dietary vitamin C but Vitamin C promotes the absorption of iron from food. Ergo, you'll absorb more iron from a piece of red meat if you have vitamin C rich foods at the same time.

I'm sure the sour-grapes brigade will be along in a minute with a sarcastic comment about my "medical" expertise....

[Sqad]

All this is a bit odd........I agree with NoM, but it is unusual to have really low blood iron levels due to Vit C deficiency.....although i cannot think of a better explanation OR treatment.
There is only so much iron that Vit C can squeeze out of a piece of meat ;-). Go with the advice of your GP by eating more meat and how about a bottle of stout at night?

[Patsy33]

Thanks NoM and sqad. Will make sure I have plenty of vitamin C and a steak or two. Might try the stout too. Oohhh, my poor waist line! :-)

[bednobs]

low iron levels doesn't cause low blood pressure does it?

[Patsy33]

Some medical web sites say yes, some say no. Not too sure on that one bednobs..

[tamborine]

Virol aka malt extract when I had same.

[Sqad]

Bednobs .......I can see no logical reason for low Iron levels to have any effect on the BP....unless the low ferritin has caused sudden bleeding and that would be quite obvious to the patient........and life threatening, which isn't the case here.

[Patsy33]

Sqad, probably unrelated then. Had to laugh, Dr told me to take a snack to bed with me a nights, as we eat dinner about 6pm and I don't eat again till about 9-930am next day. Apart from an occasional glass of wine.