My primary doctor says I'm anemic, sigh. My nutritionist gave me liquid Iron, and the PM prescribed me iron tabs, not OTC.

Here are the negatives:

• I don't eat meat, or well, I've been trying not to I haven't for a while, and I don't want to interfere.
  
• I've smelled the liquid iron, and I cannot bring myself to indulge.
  
• I don't really want to take the prescribed iron either.
  

Does anyone know an alternative?

I mean push comes to shove I'll take the pill because I need to be healthy, but I'd like to know if there is anything else I can do beforehand.

Can't urge you enough to do as prescribed. Anemia is nothing to mess with.

Do a search for Iron rich foods. Here is a top 10, consume them with Vitamin C to increase absorption:

To boost the amount of iron in your diet, try these foods:

• Red meat
  
• Egg yolks
  
• Dark, leafy greens (spinach, collards)
  
• Dried fruit (prunes, raisins)
  
• Iron-enriched cereals and grains (check the labels)
  
• Mollusks (oysters, clams, scallops)
  
• Turkey or chicken giblets
  
• Beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans
  
• Liver
  
• Artichokes
  

Ask your Dr if you could try a chewable iron. I found one at a supplement store and it has 27mg iron, 150% of daily value.

I also am extremely anemic, to the point they delayed my surgery in order to bring my levels up a bit. Before surgery I was taking a really great Iron pill - Vitron C - it has 65mg of iron per pill. I was so excited about this pill cause it didn't make me sick as most iron pills I've been on have. So after surgery when the pill needed to be crushed into my food I was devastated when I started getting sick from it! My nutritionist told me to try a chewable pill by Bariatric Advantage, which has 60mg of iron per pill. The pill is lemon lime flavored and actually tastes like candy! The only downfall is you have to order it online (www.bariatricadvantage.com). I highly recommend looking into it. I can't believe how much better I feel since they got my levels closer to "normal".

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I also am extremely anemic, to the point they delayed my surgery in order to bring my levels up a bit. Before surgery I was taking a really great Iron pill - Vitron C - it has 65mg of iron per pill. I was so excited about this pill cause it didn't make me sick as most iron pills I've been on have. So after surgery when the pill needed to be crushed into my food I was devastated when I started getting sick from it! My nutritionist told me to try a chewable pill by Bariatric Advantage, which has 60mg of iron per pill. The pill is lemon lime flavored and actually tastes like candy! The only downfall is you have to order it online (www.bariatricadvantage.com). I highly recommend looking into it. I can't believe how much better I feel since they got my levels closer to "normal".

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I might look into this... I am currently taking two of the 27mg plus I know my multi has iron too.

Ive just come off Iron pills and i will bet in four months when i see my oncologist i will be on them again. Now im aware of it, i realise i dont eat enough iron rich foods because my portion sizes are too small.

The pills messed with my surgically altered bowels so badly i will opt for infusions next time, no question.

To the OP, if you are not going to take what was prescribed, please let your doctor know what you DO decide to take. It can make a difference in what other things he prescribes. Or he may say the chewables are fine but your level of anemia means you need to take more than suggested on the OTC label, and under a doctor's care that would be fine. Taking too much on your own, can be VERY dangerous.

I take a high dose of Vit D under the care of my doctor. I don't care what the label says, I care what he orders me to take and what my blood levels show.

Thanks everyone!

Just an update, I picked up the prescription this morning and it wasn't bad at all, I'm going to stick with what the Dr recommended

I was diagnosed with mild anemia post op and have been taking OTC 65 mg. I would highly recommend taking Vitafusion Gummy Fiber to help keep you regular. I also add unflavored Benefiber powder to my Greek yogurt. A lot of Bandster have constipation issues so make sure to get in a lot of fiber.

Thanks everyone!

Just an update, I picked up the prescription this morning and it wasn't bad at all, I'm going to stick with what the Dr recommended

Glad to hear, keep us informed of your health. Goodluck. Karen

Glad to hear it!

I forgot to mention make sure to wait an hour after taking the Iron before taking calcium suppliments. The iron conteracts the calcium and your body can't absorb it correctly.

I would take the pills as it is better than having to get Iron shots. I went through all that years ago due to very low iron levels and it wasn't much fun. Heck I even ended up with a tattoo on my butt because of it. It looked like I had a huge bruise which a month later was still there, when I showed it to the Dr she explained that the person that gave me the injection obviously hadn't done it deep enough and it had spread under the skin. It took years to eventually disappear.

Good job I wasn't an underwear model or a porn star - I would have had to have sued for compensation!