? Need the iron from meat for health reasons

Have you tried a liquid iron substitute? It absorbs much quicker! My ferretin levels went from 8 to 20 in a fortnight (20 is the "minimum" level on the healthy range)... and ferretin is what "stores" your iron. Low ferretin, low iron. How are your B12 levels? You may want to have them checked also. Do you consume much vitamin C? These 3 vitamins all work hand in hand when it comes to this.

My levels during pregnancy got to crazy low levels once I hit 20wks - never ever had a problem before hand, and I still need to take it now as I got lazy near the end of my pregnancy haha (and TBH haven't started again... should really do that. But who has time to remember these things, right?!).. They were even expecting me to haemorrhage due to my levels, but I didn't - during birth that is. 4wks post birth I had 2 days where I moved and clots would come pouring out, filling pads hourly - I'm sure you know the feeling! (Sorry to any males reading this, and girls thinking of having babies down the track, but it truly isn't a glamorous time in our lives).

Also if you are breastfeeding, bub is going to be taking any iron you put into your body. Your body is putting everything into that milk for bub. Not to say you should stop, but that could be leaving your levels low.

Out of curiosity - did you actually feel any better after eating meat??

Please don't give up on your veg*n lifestyle because a doctor can't be assed to look into any other treatment for you other than to have a steak. Have you looked into a D&C? I know a few girls in my birth group had heavy heavy post bleeding and got booked in for D&C and it helped ALOT. Could be worth looking into and asking about?

Sounds weird. You'd get way more iron taking meds than you would from meat... I agree totally with Rav3n. I take liquid iron and it's fantastic! I was so so low on iron before and I can feel the effect really quickly taking the iron. I find taking it on an empty stomach 2 hours after eating with a glass of orange juice is the best way.. then to wait another hour till eating again. It's a long time not to eat for a vegan but it definitely absorbs it better! Mine is called Ferro-Liquid. I take 30 mls a night. And it does wonders!

Urrrrgh I take the same stuff. It's horrid!! I had to take 40ml for a fortnight to pick my levels up, then back down to 20ml. It worked though! I do find it made it feel ill, so I take it before bed.

Yeah! I will sometimes have to eat afterwards because it will make me feel sick about 30% of the time. Mostly it's all good though. 40 mls!? That's heaps... on the bottle the most it says you can take is 30ml plus isn't taking over 100ug of iron pointless anyway because the body will only absorb so much at a time? (just what  I've heard)
I've not even been to a doc about it or gotten blood tests. I think when you have every single symptom ever listed for iron deficiency and the iron helps so much.. you know you've got it. haha

My iron levels were low for many years despite taking supplements. Then I started exercising regularly (cardio and strength every day) and my iron levels went right back to normal. Not sure of the scientific reason for this, but I feel great now, heaps of energy!

That's awesome. I do know that sitting around isn't great when you're low on iron. Light exercise keeps the oxygen moving around so you feel better... but it can be so difficult when you're exhausted because of iron deficiency!

Try spirulina and molasses on your breakfast, great with rolled oats

I am anemic and have just gotten some Ferro Liquid (Iron stuff) from my doctor, I was wondering is it vegan? Is this the one you're talking about? (:
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