Both my mum and I have suffered from severe anaemia during the last few years, and one thing that we have found very useful is Spatone. This is an naturally occuring iron-containing spa water, which is available in most Boots stores, healthfood shops or can be ordered online.
The water comes in sachets, which can be added to a glass of orange juice, and the iron is in an easily absorbed form. It is recommended that you take two sachets a day during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, which will provide approximately the same amount of iron as 200mg iron tablets.
More and more doctors and healthcare professionals are now recommending Spatone for people who have problems taking iron tablets. Why not ask your doctor if you could try taking Spatone and having an iron-rich diet for a few weeks instead of taking the tablets? Then have another blood test to check your haemoglobin levels and as long as the test comes back okay your doctor should be happy for you to continue. Or if your haemoglobin levels are very low then you could supplement the pills with Spatone to boost your iron back up to an acceptable level, and then stop the pills and just take the Spatone.
There's plenty of information about it on the Spatone website if you're interested. My doctor had never heard of it when my mum was first diagnosed with severe anaemia, but we told him about it and he now recommends it to his patients.
Hope that helps, but please don't stop taking the pills without speaking to your doctor first, as if your haemoglobin is really low then it's very important you get enough iron.
Sarah xxx