Low Iron and Phen

[juliecarr]

I have a question. Prior to getting on Phen(I take one capsule at 30mg a day), they took my blood for a Thyroid Panel. I went in to get my 2nd 30 day supply of Phen and was curious about my panel(I figured I didn't hear from them it was okay, but wanted a copy anyhow) and the lab tech said all was fine and within the normal ranges for all(T3, T4, and TSH). So I see the PA since its the mid prgram to get my 2nd 30 supply and he asks me 5 questions. I can't remember them all, but something like, "do you get cold extremities?" which I said yes, sometimes, but only because I eat the ice out of my glass when I finish a drink, and "do you feel tired, lethargic, etc" which I answered no, because I don't, and "do you have poor concentration, confusion?" another no, and "have I experienced hair loss or brittle nails," another no, except for the normal hair shedding, and a couple others I can't remember right now, that I may have answered yes to. He said I answered yes to 3 out of 5 questions and that means possible low iron and MAYBE hypothyroid. But my panels were all normal. Oh yeah...something about experiencing weigh gain, but I told him that was because I wasn't using portion control and choosing wrong foods to eat/time of day eating them. So he wouldn't give me my 2nd 30 day supply until I get a CBC done and some other test. My question is, if I do have low iron, can one not take phentermine?? He said something about if I have low iron, I won't be able to take it. But I'm so close to getting to goal! I am following my weight wathcers plan and find it so much easier this time around! I dont feel different when taking the phen, so I don't see why I can't take them if my bloodwork shows I'm low iron. anyone have experience with this? Just makes me a little mad as I paid 120.00 for two months worth of phentermine(you get 30 days at a time) Thyroid panel, weekly weigh ins, b12 shot, and physical exam. Now may not get to get my 2nd 30 day supply after I have paid for them..or their included in the price. Isn't this something that should have been checked BEFORE I started on phen? NOt after being on them for a whole month?

[juliecarr]

OR..maybe he said I wouldn't be able to take Phen if I had hypothyroid. That seems to be more of what I remember him saying. That people with thyroid problems really shouldn't use Phen. but then we started talking about how I was anemic with all 3 of my pregnancies and then how I eat the ice out of my glass all the time, but I told him, it was either low iron or just a bad habit now. Because when I was pregnant, i would CRAVE the ice and go in search of some..but now..I just eat it to eat it out of the glass. I dont crave it anymore..but I won't just toss it down the drain either. lol.

[amjam2]

Hi Julie, This is my situation and I hope it can be useful to you.

I am currently taking Synthroid because I have the symptoms of hypothyroid although my bloodwork for T3, T4, TSH are normal. I do show signs: cold, brittle nails, fatigue, hair loss, and hoarse voice when i talk. My dr diagnosed me with Hashimoto's Disease, which is beginning symptoms for Hypothyroid.

I have seen 2 doctors regarding phen (i wanted 2 opinions) and gave them copies of my report from my thyroid dr on my condition and both of them said it was ok to take phen along with my thyroid med.

I have read if someone is HYPERthyroid, then they cannot take it.

Good luck with your test! Keep us posted.

[juliecarr]

So is there anyone here that has low iron or on iron supplements that also uses phen or has used it in the past??? I really miss my phen! LOL I don't know if its all in my head right now or what, but since he told me this on friday..I've had the munchies everyday..I think its stress eating! I've never noticed how I ate before..out of boredom or stress or what..but I was fine until he told me this and I've been worried about getting the CBC and what it might show...stressed I guess. So guess I'm finding out I am a stress eater...not a good thing. I think I've gained 3lbs the past few days.

[angelchik]

Hi There.
I was taking Phen for 2 months and have been anemic for years. I started adding an iron supplement 2x a day while I was on the Phen and was ok. I remember when I first took Phen a year ago and took no other vitamins, I was incredibly exhaused and started exhibiting signs of Hashimoto's disease. I'm not sure why that is, but definitely taking the iron helped for me. Supposedly anemia can trick the body into thinking all types of things are wrong with you, from thyroid disease to GI issues. I'm not sure if that's 100% true for everyone, but it's definitely true for me. I hope this helps!

[melissaweath]

I just thought I would share my anemia/iron situation with you after reading your post. I have been anemic for years, finally two years ago I went to a Hematologist, after extensive testing I found out I have Hemolytic Anemia. Basically this means that my body fights off iron as if it were a foreign substance, kind of like if it were an infection. So this means that my body does not absorb iron as it should. This explained why taking tons and tons of milligrams of iron everyday for years did nothing to help me. I was taking the real deal iron, not coated, or easy on the stomach. So the only solution was for me to start having Iron Infusions. Basically this is where I go in get hoooked up to an IV and they send a bag of pure iron straight into my veins. This is the only way that it will hold for an extended period of time. It is a procedure thatis usually set up on a four-six week schedule where you go for an entire day and have the iron infused. In between the infusions I have started taking the iron tablets again, to maybe keep it stored for awhile longer. I get bloodwork done every 6 weeks to watch my ferritin levels. I know this is terrible, but I ordered the phentermine from the internet, I did not consult my regular Doctor or my hematologist. This is very irresponsible, but to be honest I only wanted to take them for a short while and I was afraid they would say NO because of the iron situation. I have been on the phentermine for 26 days. I had blood work done two weeks ago, and the results were still looking good. I have lost 13 lbs and only want to lose about 15 more. I have not noticed any issues with the iron mixing in a negative manner with the phentermine. I have dealt with the iron problem forever and I know when my levels begin to drop- if this happens I will stop the phen. So I would say from my experience that it is going perfectly fine with the phen and iron, I do not take the slow release tabs. But, you should probably do the responsible thing and listen to your doctor!! Good luck!!

[janiz29]

I have low iron....well I am anemic, and my dr. prescribed my phen and repliva once a day for the low iron issue. i wouldn't think there would a problem...but ask your dr about repliva.

[juliecarr]

Well..went in today to get the results of the CBC with the doctor. He wouldn't give me my 2nd month supply of Phen today. Get this...normal levels for iron are between 11 and 43. I am a 9.6...to me...thats NOT anemic. I mean..people with a level of 5 or less to me are anemic!!! But CMON!!! 9.6????? 1.4 away from a healthy 11????? Talk about being picky!!! Sheesh! Anyhow, he said to start on iron and retest in 30days and then i can get my 2nd month supply. UGH. Well...I can't do the pills...they constipate me to no end and I will just stop taking them if I'm only have a BM once every week and a half. My friend, who is a midwife in Canada emailed me and said to go to a health store and buy liquid iron called Floradix Iron and Herb. Our bodies only absord about 11% of the iron from pills...the rest is expelled in fecal matter...hence the constipation issues in people..but this liquid form..the body absorbs 98% of the iron!!!! And NO constipation!!! Its pure liquid iron. Tastes bad..but it goes down and it builds iron way faster than taking the pill forms. So I should be able to retest on my CBC in a bout a week or two and my levels be up. I hope I can really dig up my will power for the next couple of weeks though. I don't want to see the scale start going up again. Or at least stay at what I'm at now. sigh......

[momoftwins]

Also take Chlorella, its natural and has naturally occurring Iron and helps with constipation at the same time. Its not that expensive either. You should be able to take Phen and be anemic. Can you tell me your TSH, T3, and T4 levels. Many many doctors disagree with what is normal for hypothyroidism? Mine was 4.8 so one doctor didnt want to do anything because it wasn't above 5, but 5 was the level it should be years ago. Now they are saying TSH should be between 1-3, with 1-2 being the best result on synthyroid. So I went years with out treatment because of this. Now I am being treated and all my liver panels are back to normal, my cholesterol is going down and I am starting to feel better.