I am feeling very week at the knees and dizzy

[thandokazi]

I am 35 and had a baby by caeserian section and sterilization some two weeks ago. A week later I was feeling very dizzy and my hands were very pale, on admission to the hospital overnight the doctor discovered that my iron levels were a low 9.2! I have been on iron tablets for a week and a half now but I still feel dizzy and week at the knees at times! I understand that it will take some for the iron levels to go back to normal, but is it normal to still feel this way after almost 2 weeks of treatment?!

[DrRakeshMD]

Hi

What was your hemoglobin level? If you have been diagnosed as having low iron levels, you may be suffering from iron deficiency anemia. Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include abnormal paleness or of the skin , irritability, fatigue, increased heart rate, sore or swollen tongue, and an urge to eat substances such as dirt or ice. The mainstay of treatment for this type of anemia is, as you are already receiving, the iron tablets. However, it does take atleast a couple of months for the iron levels in the body to return to normal depending on the severity of anemia (hemoglobin and iron levels). Also, once the levels have returned to normal, the treatment mat be continued for another few months to replenish the depleted iron stores in the body. Hence, the symptoms of anemia take some time to wane off.

Regards