Gurl. Liquid. Iron. I was severely anemic and had high blood pressure AFTER GIVING BIRTH. I had to be put on blood pressure meds. My midwife told me to get liquid iron, that it would be easier on my bowels and easier to take. IT WAS AMAZING. You need to drink it COLD, though. Otherwise it tastes like straight-up ass. LIQUID MOTHERFUCKING IRON.

Pharmacist here.

“Unmarked,” film-coated tablet that appears decently sized. My best guess would be something like this combo supplement of Iron and Vitamin C.

I take liquid iron! It’s not supposed to cause GI symptoms like iron pills, and it doesn’t give me any side effects. It’s also absorbed much better.

I get this automatically delivered every month Nature's Way Liquid Mineral Supplement, Iron, Natural Berry, 16 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LTCAU2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FjJSDbJK2G5FD

I’ve heard floradix is good too but it’s a bit more expensive.

I'm sorry you're having such a tough time! Learning about eating well can be really overwhelming. I've struggled with gaining weight at times too, so I can relate. I agree with some of the recommendations that have been posted so far (more frequent small meals, grains, bars, multivitamins).

My suggestions:

• Try to consume high-calorie foods. IMO, the most convenient sources of calories are foods like bananas (a fast way to get 100 kcal), avocados (if you can afford them, lol), dried fruit, dark chocolate - 250 kcal per serving, 225 kcal per serving, granola, rice, quinoa, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. If you can find a trail mix with nuts, dried fruit, and dark chocolate, that’s a great way to get in some calories!
  
  
• Eat healthy fats! Good sources of calories include nuts (especially almonds, macadamia nuts, and walnuts), nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, etc.), and oils (olive oil, coconut oil). Honestly, one thing I've done before is to buy some coconut oil and eat a spoonful at a time (15ml has 123 kcal!). It doesn't taste like anything, so it's easy to eat, and it's a super-fast way to get calories.
  
  
• You mentioned trying but not being able to tolerate Ensure. I highly recommend other forms of liquid calories, such as protein shakes or pre-made smoothies. These are some I like:
  
  • Naked Juice smoothies - these contain good-for-you ingredients, and some of them are good sources of protein, too. They're high in sugar, but all of the sugar comes from the fruit (plus it sounds like you need sugar).
    
  • Innocent smoothies
    
  • Orgain protein shakes: These are pre-made (ready to drink) and have 140 kcal + 20g of protein. You can also get Orgain in powder form, which is probably more cost-effective, but less convenient.
    
  • Sunwarrior rice protein powder is dairy-free and vegan. It has less calories than the Orgain (80 kcal + 16g of protein per serving), but it's less expensive.
    
  • If you decide to try a protein powder, I recommend getting a shaker bottle like this one - they make it so much easier to mix up protein shakes.
    
    
• Definitely try some protein/snack bars, as /u/allycat-alison mentioned. I like Larabars, Luna/Clif bars, and Kind bars.
  
  
• Your energy is probably low for many reasons (not sleeping because of stress, feeling depressed, not eating enough/low blood sugar) - another reason may be having low iron. You could try an iron supplement and see if that helps. Another potential source of low energy is depleted B vitamins, so a B-complex supplement could also be beneficial. This is a multivitamin I found that’s a good source of B vitamins, vitamin D (also related to energy), AND iron. It also contains vitamin C, which helps your body absorb the iron.
  
  
• I know you said you didn’t want your family to find out (and unfortunately, keeping all of this to yourself is even more stressful!). I'm not going to advise you to talk to them, because I don’t know your situation. BUT, your family shouldn't get suspicious if they were to find out you had a physical - a physical is a standard thing that everyone should have regularly, IMO. I think it would be really helpful for you to have one, because your doctor can order bloodwork (again, totally standard/understandable/nothing that should raise eyebrows) and find out if there's anything contributing to your situation, like anemia or low thyroid function.
  
  
• Does your uni have a student health center/offer counseling? I'm in the U.S., and many here do. It's usually included in your tuition, and it's anonymous, so no one would have to know. I would go by your health center and see if they have any nutrition and/or counseling services, because it sounds like you don’t have anyone to talk to, and you should!!
  
  
• Lastly, remember that tobacco is proven to reduce appetite, so if you can, please try to take your friends' help with quitting tobacco. You could also try cessation products like nicotine gum, lozenges, or the patch. Did marijuana not help your appetite? I almost always get the munchies!

This was my preferred secure wipe method when I still worked in I.T. My second career as a chemist is a much better fit.

1. Remove drive from case.
   
2. Place drive on concrete, gravel, sand or other non-flammable surface away from flammable objects/material. (I prefer to place the drive on an upside-down cast iron skillet so that the heat is less likely to damage the pavement.)
   
3. Place ceramic flower pot with drain hole on top of drive (alternately, shotgun a can of soda, cut the top off, place this on top of drive).
   
4. Fill pot/can with a thoroughly homogenized mix of iron oxide powder and aluminum powder. Do not breath this dust. The proper ratio is roughly 3:1 iron to aluminum by weight.
   
5. Place a layer of potassium permanganate on top of powder mix.
   
6. Quickly add several drops of glycerin on top of the permanganate.
   
7. It will only take a moment for this reaction to ignite the thermite so be sure to de-ass the area with the quickness. If you can't stop yourself from watching, wear eclipse viewing glasses or welding goggles. Seriously, it's bright.
   
8. Avoid breathing in the resulting smoke. It's probably toxic 15 ways from Sunday.
   
9. Wait for everything to cool before retrieving drive.
   
10. Return the drive to the customer as evidence of secure wipe.
    
    

    WARNING: THIS PROCESS IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. PERFORM THIS METHOD AT YOUR OWN RISK. THIS GENERATES TONS OF HEAT, BLINDING UV LIGHT, MOLTEN IRON, AND FUN. NEITHER I, NOR REDDIT, NOR YOUR PARENTS WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR INJURIES, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR OSHA RECORDABLE INCIDENTS.

Here's a pound of Juniper berries for $12, on Prime even.

I do. I take Enzymatic Therapy - Ultimate Iron.

It contains a few other minerals besides iron, too- Vitamin C, Folic Acid, and B-12.

I've tried many supplements on the market and this one has helped more than anything else. It also contains cholorophyll and liquid liver fractions (? but a source of heme iron I guess), and maybe that's why it works better than others? I take the recommended dosage of two per day every day.

I will also note that I was diagnosed with anemia years ago. Back in 2010, I had a hemoglobin of 7.3 and nonexistant ferritin (the doc was janky and didn't test it, but with an hgb that low, it's safe to say I had no ferritin). In two months, I went from running a 10K to not even being able to run a mile without stopping due to anemia.

Everything is in the normal range now, but I still take the iron supplements to keep my ferritin up over 50 and because I know I'm losing iron with running (footstrike) and sweat in the SC heat and humidity. I also don't eat red meat or any meat besides seafood.

I get my blood tested every 6 months and unless my ferritin is ever HIGH, I plan to keep taking the iron supplements. I notice a difference in my energy in life and performance when I don't.

You probably need around 18-33mg/day. The low end is for non-vegetarian women, and the high end is for vegetarian women. Since you're feeling slightly anemic, I'd say shoot for 25-30mg a day.

Beef is out, so here are some other sources:

• 3.5oz chicken liver - 12.8mg
  
• 1c. fortified instant oatmeal - 10mg*
  
• 1c. boiled soybeans (edamame) - 8.8mg*
  
• 1c. boiled lentils - 6.6mg *
  
• 1c. boiled kidney beans - 5.2mg*
  
• 1/2c. firm tofu - 3.4mg*
  
• 1/2c. cooked spinach - 3.2mg*
  
• 3/4c. fried clams - 3mg
  
• 3.5oz dark meat turkey - 2.3mg
  
• 1c. enriched white rice - 1.8mg*
  
• 2 slices of enriched bread - 1.8mg*
  
• 3.5oz white meat turkey - 1.6mg
  
• 1/2c. raisins - 1.5mg*
  
• 3.5oz chicken meat - 1.2mg
  
• 1/2c. cooked broccoli - .6mg
  
  Source
  
  Ones marked with an *asterisk are non-animal (NON-HEME) sources, so they're not as readily absorbed - these you'll want to increase the availability of the iron. You can combine it with Vitamin C or another animal (HEME) source, or by cooking them in an iron pot or skillet.
  
  Also be aware that coffee or tea with a meal can bind iron and keep it from being absorbed.
  
  If you don't want to deal with all that, you can take an iron supplement like this one and get 65mg in one shot, or a daily multivitamin like this one and get 18mg.

These are my holy grail. They're higher in iron than most supplements, and they contain vitamin C which helps with absorption and helps prevent stomach aches and constipation. I'm chronically anemic (have been for years), and these have helped far better than any other I've tried. And it's $12 for 60 days.

Doc sounds incredibly ignorant. 5 slices of bacon supply 0.38mg of iron and 3 eggs supply 1.57mg of iron. The same amount of calories from lentils supplies 7.8mg of iron.

Keep eating your beans and greens, but try to eat them with foods that contain vitamin c, it’ll improve absorption. Also make sure you’re not missing out on b12 because that can also lead to poor iron absorption. Worst case scenario you gotta spend $7 on a supplement twice a year.

I'd make sure your iron is in check. It isn't absorbed well at the best of times, and with Crohn's that's going to be worse. I'd get a blood draw if you can afford it, to test for all the anemia markers (iron, B12, and folate being the biggest culprits)

If you don't want to get a blood draw, eat more red meat with vitamin C containing foods (they increase absorption) and away from dairy (calcium inhibits iron absorption). A modest iron supplement (something like 15-30mg) is good to try. Here's an example of one, try it with orange juice or a piece of fruit to increase absorption: http://www.amazon.com/Solgar-Gentle-BISGLYCINATE-Vegetable-Capsules/dp/B00013Z0QA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426804025&sr=8-3&keywords=iron+supplement

Stop donating?

But if you really want to keep donating, you might need to supplement. 36mg of iron should be high enough but you could try maxing your C a bit more and ensuring that you consume your iron-rich foods at least an hour from consuming any tannin-rich drinks like coffee and tea (those can inhibit iron absorption). If you do smoothies or blended soups you can just throw one of these in and it will also cover your B12 needs.

I would also recommend getting a serum ferritin measurement because iron deficiency is no fun and you want to make sure you aren't extremely low. Hemoglobin is a poor indicator of iron status.

No. You cannot. I really, really tried with just foods. I ate an insane amount of iron rich foods and it wasn't enough. I forgot what my levels were but my iron was dangerously low. I thought I could do it with food alone and I have been passing out this entire pregnancy from lack of oxygen from such low iron. I learned my lesson when I recently almost passed out while driving on the highway. I should have listened to my doctor and didn't take them seriously when they tried to stress how I needed more iron. I also didn't realize when you're low iron, you're more likely to bleed more after birth. That woke me up real fast. I've been on this liquid iron ever since and I can literally feel the difference. Warning: It tastes like death. So take it like a shot and throw it in the back of your throat. Then follow it with a swig of soda and food to cover up the taste. It's that bad. But the trade-off is tons of iron and no constipation at all. I bought mine at Whole Foods. Good luck and don't wait until it's too late!

Huzzah, I can be helpful for once!

I used to not take them for the same reason. Pure mineral iron supplements destroy your stomach. These have been amazing because they’re plant and blood based. Gross sounding and I guess not for vegetarians but still. Feosol Complete with Bifera Iron.

“Feosol Complete with Bifera is a patented formula that contains two forms of iron: heme and non-heme. Heme iron is animal-based, like the iron in steak. Non-heme iron includes plant-derived iron, like the kind you find in spinach. Our patented combination of heme and non-heme is a unique, iron-rich supplement which enhances absorption while minimizing side effects such as constipation and nausea – delivering the best of both worlds.”

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0085JNY74?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I also take them with B12 and magnesium for better absorption but that’s not to the point I guess lol

Honestly I don't think I don't think they're even looking at iron when they do post RAI bloodwork. I got my blood checked several times post RAI, but no one noticed how anemic I was until I had buzzing in my ears and couldn't walk in a straight line.

I found recovery from RAI very difficult and painful, so my heart is with you. All my joints swelled two weeks post RAI, it was very painful, but it subsided after a few weeks. It's been 11 years now for me, and I remember how hard the point you are at was. I was so scared that it was my new normal, so I really want you to know that it's not. You will feel great again. Better than ever.

Light pink isn't red. Are you set to see your doctor again any time soon? If not, go to a GP and ask them to check because you're feeling very tired. Meanwhile, here's an easily digestible but not horrendously expensive iron: https://www.amazon.com/Enzymatic-Therapy-Ultimate-Iron-Softgels/dp/B0013OUHUA/ Iron is best absorbed with vitamin C, so I recommend taking it with this: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/DA5F3511-6AF6-4561-8238-3436C25743C0?ingress=2&visitId=a5be7c9c-71e4-4b71-8401-2263e85d428f&ref_=bl_dp_s_web_2581848011 It's designed for pre-flight immune boosting, but it's really just a jolt of vitamin C, so better for iron digesting, I say. I think the berry one is tastiest, personally. If anemia is contributing to your exhaustion, you will feel a lot better in about 4 days of taking iron, in my experience, and then better every day after that.

But RAI is really rough on you, and so is starting on 100% synthroid. So kindness to yourself is still the #1 rule.

I experienced the same thing when I first stopped eating meat. I've had canker sores my whole life. But a few months after giving up meat I had a very severe sore that gave me fevered symptoms and made my whole body feel horrible. In my experience they generally start with some kind of trauma: accidentally hitting my gums while brushing, biting my lip, etc. I did some quick googling and found that they can be worsened by a diet lacking in vitamin B-12, zinc, folate (folic acid) or iron. I got this https://www.amazon.com/VegLife-Iron-Vegan-Tablet-Count/dp/B000H7SR9W/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1502118010&sr=8-2&keywords=vegan+iron+supplement and haven't had any significant incidents since. The best thing to do while you have a sore is to rinse the area with warm salt water and treat it very gently, because more trauma will just make it worse. Hope this helps!

Thorne Research - Ferrasorb -... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0797PJQMT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share this was the easiest of my stomach!

Honestly taking iron never helped me and often made things worse as iron supplements can cause constipation which is already an issue for me (especially when glutened, sigh). I have chronic low iron that goes up into normal ranges occasionally, but usually sits a bit below normal. Doctors never seemed to be too worried about it for me unless it's causing issues, which it does occasionally but not consistently enough for them to do anything given the side effects I get from it.

Treatment is varied, so it depends on how bad it is. B12 and Vitamin D deficiencies are also common because your small intestine can't absorb what it needs to. Any good doctor should be running a full blood panel to see what's going on because any of these things could contribute to her symptoms. Vitamin deficiencies were the first thing my doctor considered, then thyroid issues, then I ended up at the GI.

I did take a supplement for a while after diagnosis that seemed to help with my energy levels and didn't have the negative side effects. MegaFood - DailyFoods Blood Builder. It's gluten, dairy, soy free and vegan. Supposed to be gentle on your system compared to other iron supplements, so it might be worth a shot for her. It really sucks to have to go through all the nonsense with doctors. Tell her to hang in there and keep seeking the right treatment and get answers. Its worth it, even though its so tough right now.

I take fish oil supplements with a good EPA/DHA ratio and strawberry aftertaste, an iron supplement at the right dosage so it doesn't make me sick, 1000mg of vitamin D3, and then some random multivitamin gummies that, yes, have sugar in them.

The gummies incentivize me to take the vitamins in the first place, so.

Pro-tip if you do this: Buy one of those 7-day pill boxes and load it up once a week so you're not digging through multiple bottles every day.

My hemoglobin levels were fine and iron was just on the line of "meh, it's enough" so I opted to just go with a low dose liquid iron supplement. I was getting restless legs at night and had read that low iron and magnesium was thought to be a reason for them, but I had plenty of magnesium. I went with Wellesse Liquid Iron and haven't had RLS since. I went with this one because it's not like a million mg, which I don't need, and because any iron in pill form has eaten the everliving shit out of my stomach. This hasn't made me feel ill once and I'm on my second bottle.

I hope that helps.

I get this, it is only $5.75 for 3 months worth, shouldn't break the bank?

When eating green vegetables (kale, spinach, collards etc), make sure to squirt some lemon on top to help you absorb the iron!

Cook everything in a cast iron pan!

Good luck!

So sorry to hear this. This is the problem you are probably being glutened, but have no idea the source.

Floravital has some products that I think are safe. Cost-co i am still iffy about.

Here is a gluten free iron one:

https://www.amazon.com/Floravital-Herbs-Yeast-Flora-Liquid/dp/B0010EBEU0

I've heard Floradix is good for people with low iron. You can get it at most health food stores.

Its been taking me forever to get back to normal hemoglobin levels and still felt tired so I started taking iron. This has been working pretty well for me.

I hate regular iron because it makes me super constipated but I've been taking iron bisglycinate instead and it's a world of difference. I take [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00013Z0QA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1517767647&sr=8-1&keywords=solgar+iron) one.

Yup it's gross and notorious for being so. My pediatrician recommended it too,but the reviews on Amazon were so poor that we went with this iron supplement and this vitamin d supplement instead.

B12 is difficult to get if you don't eat a lot of fermented foods, so stock up on supplements. I really like this one. The Deva brand is a good one. I also use their multi-vitamin. I tend to have low iron, even before going vegan.

Not secondary. In primary, in a bag with lots of other things (coriander, and a bunch of other roots). Left in until I racked to a carboy (lets say 14 days). Juniper dominated everything. "Frontier" brand juniper berries. I believe I crushed them a bit and they werent completely desiccated. Mind you, this is a bone dry mead (.996) so the juniper isnt competing with much aromatically or in the flavor. I thought it was assertive with a med-high intensity; overall spice level certainly wasnt subtle.

Id say start small and add. After all, you cant take it away once you add it ...

I think you should start supplementing iron. I went to my doctor with complaints about feeling faint on my heavy periods, so they drew some blood to run tests on. They told me that my results came back as "normal", but when I looked at the levels they were on the lowest end of normal.

I started taking "Mega Food Blood Builder" (its certified vegan) and it took that fainting feeling away.

I don't take it every day, but I eat meat and I supplement with these about twice a week.

This is the one I use, but I'm sure there are a ton of vegetarian/vegan options out there.

Check out Deva for vegan supplements! I have these ones on hand at the moment and they have added B12 too!

https://www.amazon.com/Deva-Nutrition-Vegan-Chelated-Count/dp/B005JLFPIM

Do you mean your TSH was 80.56? Or T4 was 80.56?

TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. It is released by the pituitary gland to tell the thyroid to release more thyroid hormones. If TSH is high, that is like your pituitary glad screaming at your unresponsive thyroid, so no surprise that your thyroid hormone levels were also low. That usually indicates that you need to increase your dose.

I have Hashi's and I take 146 ish mg of NatureThroid along with Hyperbiotics PRO-15 Advanced probiotics, B-complex with coenzymes, Iron, Magnesium, Omega 3-6-9, Selenium and D3-5000IU. I have tried to reduce the number of supplements I take but they all help. I sometimes take Zinc as well. I quit coffee and take caffeine pills instead and I am (not super strictly, but working on it) gluten and soy free.

The first time I took Nature Throid after switching from generic levothyroxine all of my symptoms were about 80% GONE. We increased my dose from 1/4 grain to the current 2+1/4 grain over the course of maybe 6 months.

What really fixed things for me was going gluten and soy free and adding magnesium and selenium. The selenium reduced my antibodies from nearly 500 to 100 in six months. That alone made a huge difference. And going gluten/soy free allowed me to lose 20 lbs in a month and then maintain it pretty easily just logging my calories.

Occasionally, due to poor planning, I eat regular bread or some pizza and I am sapped of energy and achy for a week afterwards. I'm working on getting into the habit of always having gluten free options on hand. But generally speaking, I feel better than I've felt my entire life.

I've never heard of having an immune response to desiccated thyroid. I've done very well on Nature Throid. You may want to get labs done every 6 weeks to check your levels and adjust your dose as needed.

This doesn't directly answer your question, but I went through this last summer and successfully got my iron levels back up to normal by using Blood Builder and using the app HabitBull to remind me to take the pills every day. Blood Builder is a lot gentler on the system than the other iron supplements. I was able to take it every day without needing to add laxatives.

I also ate some chicken liver, which I don't love. But, it is tolerable if you make it into pate and eat it with chips. :)

Gack! Sounds like you are going through it.

I was anemic too and found this to be VERY effective and not bind up my tummy either: http://www.amazon.com/MegaFood-Blood-Builder-Tablets-FFP/dp/B00GZ9H0L2

Definitely loss of energy. Taking an iron pill helped a lot once I found one I can tolerate.

I did well with gentle iron when I only needed more minor supplementation and during pregnancy with no side effects. Now I take slow Fe (much higher dose) and there's occasional constipation.

sounds silly because I have bought them all separate but I got this on amazon and the active ingredients are basically just a mix of what everyone will suggest: https://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Support-Nutrition-Protection-Capsules/dp/B007HP04UM/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=cycle+support&qid=1566394408&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Maybe she should take liquid iron instead. My mom took it for low iron and after a few weeks she was fine. She actually had to take it less because her iron was too high. Also, liquid iron doesn't make you constipated.

Try this...

http://www.amazon.com/Spatone-Pur-absorb-28ct-20ml-packets-contents/dp/B005FA7U3K/ref=sr_1_3_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1464627934&sr=1-3&keywords=pur+absorb+iron

What supplements can I take to protect and strengthen my liver?

I recommend the following:

1. Cycle Support (NAC, Milk Thistle, etc: http://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Support-Protection-Nutrition-Capsules/dp/B007HP04UM/
   
   
2. R-ALA: http://www.amazon.com/ALLMAX-Nutrition-R-ALA----150/dp/B001E8T9H2/
   
   ---
   
   Starting on Clenbuterol to assist in weight loss, but am paranoid of adding stress to my liver - already on 50 mg of Androcur per day. Good idea, or not?
   
   Clen definitely can assist in weight loss if it's used correctly. There are significant risks: you must drink at least 120-160oz of water every day because... you must be ok with sweating A LOT on days that you take it because it lasts a long time and it's not well suited for gym in the morning and then going to the office. You can only cycle it for 2 weeks at a time, and for a total of 12 weeks per calendar year. It will most likely make you very vascular (an enviable aesthetic for some or dysphoric for others) and it's pretty hard on the cardio system. If your AST and ALT blood levels are in the median reference range or lower then you should be ok to take Clen as long as you take cycle support + 2-5g of taurine every day.
   
   ---
   
   What is your stance on caffeine as far as disrupting / interfering with estrogen uptake and feminization?
   
   A study in the October 2001 issue of "Fertility and Sterility" found that more than one cup of coffee a day increased estrogen in women between the ages of 36 and 45 in the first stage of the menstrual cycle. In a study reported in the June 2005 issue of "Cancer," caffeine intake decreased estradiol, one of the forms of estrogen, during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Both caffeinated coffee and caffeinated tea had this effect. The researchers thought caffeine might inhibit aromatase, a key enzyme in the production of estrogen in the body. [http://www.livestrong.com/article/503844-how-does-caffeine-affect-estrogen-levels/]
   
   Here's the thing about those research studies... they're all done on cis-women who are not injecting estrogen or taking estrogen pills at the extent that trans-women do. If there are issues with caffeine (first off you have to be drinking a lot of caffeine for this to be an issue in the first place, and that's not generally healthy anyway + there are better/healthier stimulants than caffeine) then we, as trans-women, can simply take more estrogen and correct the imbalance. Until more research has been done, and focused on cis-women who have had a single/double hysterectomy (this is the closest demographic we can get to in the medical community if they aren't studying trans-women specifically) then the issues with caffeine can be disregarded since we do not fit into the study or control groups (no menstrual cycle).

I was having symptoms of low iron, but didn't digest normal iron supplements well.

I strongly recommend these plant-based tablets:

VegLife Iron Vegan Tablet, 25 mg, 100 Count

i take Nature Made Iron 65mg, Equivalent to 325 mg Ferrous Sulfate - 300 Tablets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QGKHQA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9jmhAbQ7W763G

this was to replace the expensive pills the prescribed me. I didn’t have problems with stomach pain on the original pills so I can’t speak to that unfortunately.

I've had great success in the past 3 months using minox foam and taking iron supplements. My ferritin has always hovered around 20-45 and around 3 years ago I experienced a good amount of regrowth on the iron supplements alone. I got lazy and stopped the iron and a few years later I found myself freaking out about my hair again. Adding minox has been a game-changer and I wish I started sooner. I have AGA with a family history. Also been off birth control (Yaz) for about a year now - first noticed the loss while on it after a few years at 21.

​

Also here are the iron supplements I take: https://www.amazon.com/Enzymatic-Therapy-Ultimate-Iron-Softgels/dp/B0013OUHUA They've worked wonders for me!

No - it was a while back, but if I remember correctly my problem was that my blood was more brown than red for a lot of the beginning of my period. Why that translates into iron deficiency, I don't know. But I will say that when I was regularly drinking it, my periods did stay more bright red (which she said is how they are supposed to be - 3-4 days of steady, fresh red flow with minimal cramping).

I was drinking this.

I've gotten out of the habit since IVF because with so many shots + vitamins, I just didn't have the patience to be taking one more thing.

Definitely order a new brand online! I have an iron deficiency too and I just purchased these pills off of Amazon the other day. Not only are they vegan-friendly, but they also have B-12 and some vitamin D included. 100 for $7 is a steal!

VegLife Iron Vegan Tablet, 25 mg, 100 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H7SR9W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_x3L4AbG3819BG

> but I live in a country where I can't obtain it

You can always obtain it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IKZVXDU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495105047&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=aluminum+powder&dpPl=1&dpID=51voBG769qL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008LEOMJC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495105087&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=iron+oxide+powder&dpPl=1&dpID=516Gu-FbIWL&ref=plSrch

This one. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OKPEPSO?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

But I wish my doc would have replied to my questions regarding: if this is an oppropriate dosage or not..

I swear, sometimes I get so frustrated with the lack of communication with my GI doc.

So I haven't read about breastmilk hindering iron consumption, but it is generally assumed that by 6 months the iron stores you had from pregnancy are gone from your milk supply and an iron supplement at this time is usually suggested. This is what we used https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BTMKDUU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1 as I wasn't a huge fan of those Enfamil drops. For vitamin D (also recommended before baby drinks cow's milk, if they ever do... mine never has just because she didn't like it) we used a carelson's drop. Super small dose that provides everything they need and you can put the drop on the tip of your nipple.
For us, solids drastically changed the poop game. I'd attribute any constipation to that. Everything I've read says that breastmilk or formula should be the main source of nutrition until age 1. In fact, til my daughter was 1, I'd also offer breastmilk before food. She didn't really solidly start eating 3 "meals" until around 9 months.

I take this 3-4 days weekly if I get up before the automatic coffee machine is done doing its thing. Coffee / tea limits absorption so if the coffee is ready I skip the iron.

You could pick one of several manly choices

• Fresh crude from a Texas Oil Derrick
  
• Coal you mined out yourself
  
• Used Pine tar
  
• Powdered Boxing gloves
  
• Or the actual black pigment, Iron(II) Oxide

I didn’t become anemic until age 25 when my endo got bad. Here’s a link for liquid iron, easier to take if you don’t like pills, more friendlier on the stomach:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LTCAU2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_fRD6Cb13KQVXV

NOTE: unless you have had lab work and is determined low on iron to where there primary told them to take iron, i wouldn’t advise anyone to do so just because. Once you’ve reached your ideal numbers STOP taking it.

We don’t need multivitamins etc, excess can cause buildup and overdose. Happened to my friend with calcium, now she’s having surgery etc, to remove it.

It's probably just from iron deficiency. There's a better tasting iron. Hmm what's it called...oh yeah nova ferrum

NovaFerrum Pediatric Drops Liquid Iron Supplement for Infants and Toddlers 120 mL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BTMKDUU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_XXfSyb8WRSKQG

Childhood cancer is extremely rare while iron deficiency anemia is very common. What's your doc say?

I take this one, haven’t noticed any constipation issues with it and liked it well enough to get it on subscribe and save

https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Iron-Complex-Supplement/dp/B00280M13O

What is your diet like? Are you female? And do you get outside much during the day?

You should be able to get b-vitamins and iron from meat and vitamin D from animal products and the sun. Lots of foods are fortified with these vitamins, too. You can cook in a cast iron skillet for iron. Floradix can bring up iron levels, too. b12 supplements. Vitamin D.

Hematin F. It upset my stomach and digestive system when I first stated taking it. Then i started taking 2 of these a day and it’s helped. I don’t know if it’s just the vitamin C or the combo of another form of iron and vitamin c but Im not willing to switch to find out.

Anyone have experience or can recommend this product while on blast?

https://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Support-Protection-Nutrition-Capsules/dp/B007HP04UM

My grandma bought me these raw iron supplements that are a lot easier on my tummy than the ones my doctor prescribed me. I switch back and forth between them.

My CNMs recommended Floradix when I needed iron postpartum! You can buy it at local co-ops too probably. It just expensive...

Salus-Haus - Floradix Iron & Herbs -17 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010EI0CA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_p3yQBbHDPKGDR

At first I received intravenous infusions but now I just take liquid iron and B12 Supplements and they work fine. The liquid version absorbs easier. Also, once your guts start to heal you will be able to absorb more nutrients again. Here is what I currently take. Links.

http://www.amazon.com/Spatone-Pur-absorb-28ct-20ml-packets-contents/dp/B005FA7U3K/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1422187870&sr=8-5&keywords=liquid+iron

You can get the Iron for $10 a box at Walgreens sometimes.

http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Bounty-Strength-5000mcg-2-Ounce/dp/B006BY0JPA/ref=pd_bia_nav_t_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1ADRPZ745PMQT1HVRJFC

I always buy this from Amazon, it's way cheaper there.

I had very low iron levels at my last blood draw. I started taking this iron supplement and it's been going really well. Not the same side effects as I had with my first prenatal (that I quit taking because the constipation and nausea was so bad).

Oh, and frosted mini wheats has 90% iron (but since you eat it with milk I don't know how much you actually get)

My midwife suggested these and I've had no problems, even taking them twice a day.

I take this multivitamin because it seems to be the most complete but not outrageously expensive. The full dose is 3 pills and so I spread them out throughout the day. It's higher in zinc and selenium then any other multi I found, which I'm also usually deficient in. They have a gummy version, but it doesn't have as many micronutrients as this one.


And this iron it's a really high dose so I only take it every other day. I take it first thing in the morning with a glass of water and don't eat/drink anything for an hour or two because supposedly it's best absorbed on an empty stomach

Have you tried vegan iron supplements?

https://www.amazon.com/MegaFood-Promotes-Production-Circulation-Packaging/dp/B00GZ9H0L2/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1469921205&sr=1-1&keywords=heme+iron&refinements=p_n_feature_nine_browse-bin%3A6997076011

NovaFerrum comes in both a raspberry grape flavor and a chocolate flavor, and seems to be the easiest to tolerate.

If you use a medifrida pacifier to administer it, it should go past the back of her tongue, which helps. You can also use a disposable syringe each time instead of re-using the medifrida one, which makes it WAY easier - you only have to rinse out the pacifier part, and the disposable syringes fit just as well into the pacifier hole.

If you do the syringe+pacifier combo, and give it to her riiiiiiiiiiight before a feed when she’s already hungry, she may be able to gulp it down without really noticing. You can even chase it with an extra syringe of milk/formula to help push it through the pacifier and get the taste off her tongue before transitioning to the bottle/breast, if she tends to refuse her feeds after tasting the iron. That’s been the winning combo for us!

I'd try these in addition to iron rich food with vitamin C. Take on an empty stomach and wait 30 minutes before eating again. Once iron deficiency reaches a certain point, it can be difficult to correct with diet alone. I recommend supplementation with ferrous fumarate (30-33% elemental iron) as it has more elemental iron per mg than ferrous sulfate (20% elemental iron) and ferrous gluconate (12% elemental iron). Generally, polysaccharide complexes aren't as effective as ferrous salts.

Be sure to read the overdose and combination information at the NIH page!!! Iron poisoning is VERY common for children.

There are many forms of iron supplements which contain different amounts of elemental iron. These are the top 4.

• 1 gram of ferrous gluconate = 120 mg elemental iron (12% iron);
  
  
• 1 gram of ferrous sulfate = 200 mg elemental iron (20% iron);
  
  
• 1 gram of ferrous fumarate = 330 mg elemental iron (33% iron).
  
  
  Heme iron polypeptide (HIP) (e.g. Proferrin ES and Proferrin Forte) can be used when regular iron supplements such as ferrous sulfate or ferrous fumarate are not tolerated or absorbed. A clinical study demonstrated that HIP increased serum iron levels 23 times greater than ferrous fumarate on a milligram-per-milligram basis.
  
  
  I recommend ferrous fumarate from Amazon.
  I take one tablet 3 times a week.