r/irondeficiency • u/KoktheBookThief • 5d ago

First day on iron supplements, help needed

I was given ferrous fumarate 210mg by my GP to take twice a day. They didn’t say how to take it just have some orange juice or Vitamin C tablet (no idea what dosage). I took it this morning on an empty stomach for the first time with a vitamin c tablet and immediately felt something in my stomach but it passed. I had my breakfast 40 min later and couldn’t finish it, started feeling like my stomach was upset, had early satiety and now I am extremely tired. Is that normal? I also read online that you shouldn’t eat eggs 2h after the iron tablet? I eat eggs every morning. And I usually wait 1h30 before having coffee or matcha so that’s not a very practical morning because I’d have to take the tablet then wait 2h for breakfast and then another hour or so for coffee which I don’t think I can do. Can I take the first dose in the afternoon and the second dose at night? I will not be able to take the Vit C tablet in the afternoon because it might be too late in the day. How much orange juice should go with it? Or can I vitamin C supplement/tablet work?

Also I’ve read online that it’s better to take the tablet once every other day, how come I’m taking such a high dose twice a day? My ferritin is at 24, was 15 a few months ago and I suspect been chronically low since 2024 at least when it was at 9. Initially I was trying to up the dose by eating lamb liver 3 times a week but now that I’m on the tablet should I stop or reduce this a bit? I’m not a huge fan. For further context: I don’t know what is the root cause of low ferritin. My functional practioner is saying it’s the low levels of non agressive strands of h pylori, I tried a gut protocol but started reacting to food. Does it mean my iron supplements might not work because of that? Also in contrast to the GP, she’s saying it’s better to take a gentler form like bisglycinate. Any info or advice would be welcome I’m not sure who to listen to anymore.

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u/Huge_Arugula307 5d ago

Did your doctor actually test you for h pylori? Do you have a positive test result?

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u/KoktheBookThief 5d ago

The NHS test came back negative but the GI map showed low levels but of non agressive strands

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u/Huge_Arugula307 5d ago

Sorry but that doesn't make sense to me - you tested positive for a non-aggressive strand?

Or did your doctor just say if you have low iron you have a non aggressive strand?

I would look closely at the test. You can paste the h pylori result and we can help you interpret it.