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!

This is potentially a problem that is much more complex that just the level of iron in your blood. There are different blood tests to indicate your iron stores, for example, that also need to be run.

As well, there are all kinds of medical conditions that can impact your iron absorption and therefore can cause various types of anemia. Some of these types of anemia are relatively easy to remedy and some aren't. I'm not saying this next part to scare you in particular, but some types of anemias can be deadly.

So, you need to point this out to remind your doctors of this, and you need to be further tested. You and your doctors need to find out why this is happening, and to do whatever is possible to remedy the problem

Please, don't take this lightly. Get something in writing from whomever was running that donor clinic, saying that you were too anemic to donate blood, and giving some indication of how anemic you were, if possible. Make certain that that gets to your doctor. Insist on getting those answers.

BTW, since I didn't mention it earlier, good for you for thinking of others and offering to donate blood.

Ideally, you would be absorbing 100% of what you take in. That does not happen that way. Your body will not absorb all the nutrients that enter your body.

The fact that you are female makes you at greater risk for anemia due to menstrual cycles.

The best way, aside from food, to get vitamins is to take in liquid form. They are easier to digest.

There are so many causes of iron defient anemia. It can range from diet to severe medical conditions. A good source of information can be found in the below link.

I suggest trying all natural Vita-Lea w/Iron or Iron Plus C Complex. The Vita-Lea formula provides 23 essential vitamins and minerals at clinically proven levels. It has no synthetic additives or fillers and does not skimp on the expensive ingredients.

The Iron Plus C Complex works very quickly and it contains the vitamin C for better iron absorption. Also, the iron is plant based so there won't be an issue with constipation. During the pregnancy of a friend of mine, the dr. said her iron was low. She started taking the Iron Plus C Complex and very quickly could tell it was working by her increased energy. Her iron level was fine at her next drs. visit.

Hope this is useful and feel free to contact me with questions or if interested in the brand I'm referring to.