What is wrong with my IRON? I get 250% needed but still low? Please read and answer!?

This began back in August 2006 when at my ob/gyn office they said that my levels were low including my iron, red and white blood cells. I began taking Slow Fe iron supplements which made me feel awful so I stopped taking them and began on a multivitamin that had 100% of needed iron according to daily needs. I began to feel tired, etc and my mom suspected anemia. I went to my doctor for testing and they did blood work would concluded that all my levels were fine including iron. After that I began taking a new multi-vitamin with 200% of my needed intake, and my cereal is high in iron with 50% of needed intake. I went to give blood today and they said that my iron is low and I'm unable to donate. My question is why am I needing so much iron, why is my body not absorbing it, etc? Anyone else had any problems or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Also I have chapped lips for about the past 5 months which be the same amount of time. It seems as though my body just is not absorbing anything, is this possible or does this sound like any condition or disease?

Pernicious anemia is caused by the body's inability to absorb Vitamin B-12, which is essential for the production of red blood cells.B-12 absorption is interrupted when your stomach stops secreting a substance called intrinsic factor.It helps in the absorption. Treatment would include B-12 injections. Anemia comes in many forms and you should once again, see your Doctor! Giving blood is a gift to yourself as well and I wish you good health and good luck!

Best suggestion I can give you is to talk more to your Dr.

I can't absorb iron in multivitamins, but I did just fine when my Dr. put me on the over the counter "Ferrous Sequel" Aparently not all iron is made alike and comes in different sources.

I really have no idea about this subject, fyi. But when I became a vegetarian, I read a bunch of books about multivitamins, and they said that vitamin C can help you absorb iron.

Sorry I couldn't help more! Good luck.

Hello fellow anemic!
I have low iron, too. It took awhile to find the right combination of what works. I'll share what I did, and maybe some or all of it will work for you.
In order to absorb iron efficiently there is a trick; eating more than one source of iron at a meal and always include a vitamin C source, too. Chili is great for this because of the combination of beef, beans and tomatoes. Iron is more readily absorbed if you have two or more sources of it in one meal, and the Vit C is essential to making it happen. I had to change my diet, but not too drastically.
Here is how I eat:
breakfast - egg cooked any way, orange juice and the slow FE pill. Or I might have 5 frozen meatballs and orange juice and the slow FE. I like having those high iron cereals as snacks late at night.
For lunch, remember, two or more sources of iron; a bean salad with beef or seafood, tomatoes and whatever else you like, chili, spag sauce with beans added.
For dinner, more of the same - beans anything, potatoes, red meat and fish, and the slow FE again, twice a day - I guess what I'm trying to say is your basic ingredients for iron are:
beans
red meat
liver
potatoes
oysters - sometimes I'll eat crackers, pate, oysters, cheese and cherry tomatoes for lunch or dinner.
Try a google search for iron rich foods - check out the link I added, it is full of excellent information.

you can take iron in , but it needs to stay there...your obv not absorbing it enough and your ferritin stores are low...
use vitamin C, it promotes the absorption
avoid tea ar anything with tannins soon after your meals as it hinders absorption.
good luck.