did they warn you about Nexium (the antacid)? Also blocks iron absorption, so be careful on that.
Comment on Discussion Thread 🤓 Wednesday 22 July 2026
StudChud@aussie.zone 6 days ago
Apparently I’m super duper ultra low in iron, B12, and vitamin D. Gotta go to a compound pharmacy for the B12, so I get can some big phat pulls made up to take once a fortnight.
Doc reckons it explains the weird muscle aches, super bad depression times, and uber-lethargy. But everything else is fine, all my other vitamins and minerals are noice, no indications of diabeetus or anything, phew 😅
Once I’ve been taking supplements for like 2 months, I have to get another test to check if I’m uptaking it well. If I am, then I’ll ask about perimenopause and getting my uterus yeeted.
Taleya@aussie.zone 5 days ago
Eagle@aussie.zone 5 days ago
It also causes issues with bone density.
CEOofmyhouse56@aussie.zone 5 days ago
Can you start taking vitamin D even though you haven’t seen a doctor but you think you might be low because you don’t get outside much because the sun hates you?
Eagle@aussie.zone 5 days ago
Unless you have an identified need (ie low on a pathology report) its just gonna give you expensive wee.
Thornburywitch@aussie.zone 5 days ago
I believe so. The ones to watch out for are Vitamin A and Vitamin E for overdoses which can kill you or make you very sick. Excess quantities of most other vitamins just get pissed out and don’t do too much damage en route. Vitamin C in particular gets pissed out if taken in large quantities.
StudChud@aussie.zone 5 days ago
All g I don’t take antacids so I don’t think I’ll have issues with that thankfully
SituationCake@aussie.zone 5 days ago
If you are very low, you might be better off with an iron infusion. Iron supplements can take a very long time to get levels back to normal, could be 6+ months. That’s a long time to be feeling exhausted and potentially suffer digestive issues. Unfortunately quality of life impact of iron management is not taken very seriously by many GPs. (Probably because it’s mostly a women’s issue). There will be a cost if you go through the GP, but I believe there is a clinic at Royal Melbourne hospital to get it done for only the cost of the prescription? Might be worth checking it out to see if you’re eligible.
StudChud@aussie.zone 5 days ago
Thank you! I’ll check that out! :)
TheFailedNinja@aussie.zone 5 days ago
Are you vegan/ vego by any chance?
StudChud@aussie.zone 5 days ago
Yeah somewhat vegetarian; I’m not strict, like I’ll eat a steak or a roast, or something with meat in it(soup, stir-fry, etc), but I generally eat pretty vegetarian. I’m also generally OMAD too which wouldn’t help at all.
TheFailedNinja@aussie.zone 5 days ago
The supplements work great. Get the 10000 vit D and take it daily. Don’t bother with the lower ones.
mertn22@aussie.zone 5 days ago
Exactly. The supposed multivitamin tablets have about everything in them but not enough dosage to be useful.
StudChud@aussie.zone 5 days ago
Lovely thank you!
SaneMartigan@aussie.zone 5 days ago
Oh an look for Vitamin D with vitamin K supplemented, it helps with absorption.
SaneMartigan@aussie.zone 5 days ago
FWIW I’ve been taking the 5000 IU vitamin D for a few years now and I’m still at the lower end of the acceptable range on my blood tests so don’t fear the high does recommendation. Vitamin D is cheap too, I use iHerb.
SaneMartigan@aussie.zone 6 days ago
I find iron supplements a little digestivly challenging. Maltopher was better than Ferrograd-C. Syrup was better than any pills, but way more expensive.
StudChud@aussie.zone 5 days ago
Sweet thank you!!
Pilk@aussie.zone 5 days ago
Seconding Maltofer as the gold standard, though it is priced accordingly!
When I need it, I pick up Wagner Ferro-Sustain (cheap and relatively kind to the gut) and Cenovis Kids Vitamin C (250mg is enough to complement the iron without causing much further upset on an empty stomach).
Thornburywitch@aussie.zone 5 days ago
You can get B12 vitamins by injection from a doctor. Cost might be a factor. I haaaaated taking Maltofer. If you can source stinging nettles these are one of the richest sources of easily digestible iron after meat. But they gotta be steamed/wilted or they sting. If you want to go on a forage for nettles up and down Merri Creek this coming weekend - I’m up for that. Its prime nettle season right now.