That's when I joined RLS.org. I decided to do the 10-day drug holiday, going off Requip--it was awful. To speed things up, this past Friday I got in to see a neurologist at our local university hospital and she was great. BUT I had hoped for iron infusions; instead she has started me on ferrous gluconate 1/day, wanting me to get up 3/day. These are to be taken with meals and with a Vitamin C tablet.
As I posted elsewhere (newbie thread), my husband and I were planning on a road trip in less than a month for his 60th birthday. As I have had no sleep for the past 2 nights, I can't see how these iron tablets are going to have me better in time for the trip. (BTW, my ferritin is at 30.)
So with that preamble, here are my questions:
1. I was surprised she wanted me to take ferrous gluconate. I showed her my notes from Dr. Andrew Berkowski's February 2020 webinar where he said to avoid ferrous gluconate. She seemed to be surprised that he would say that. She told me several times why she wanted me to take it rather than ferrous sulfate, but frankly, I couldn't understand it at all. I took Feosol Bifera several years ago when I had some unexplained anemia (I also got an iron infusion then which helped me a lot), so I showed it to her on my phone but she was leary about the added ingredients. It's rather expensive, so pricewise the gluconate is great, but how long will it take to help? WILL it help?
Johns Hopkins (Dr. Earley) puts their patients on ferrous sulfate, so I don't see why she's choosing ferrous gluconate. But does anyone here have personal experience with it? IS ferrous gluconate less effective than ferrous sulfate?
2. I AM very sensitive to medications and usually have to split or even quarter tablets to take a very very low dose. But surprisingly, the two doses I have taken of the ferrous gluconate (1 tablet with dinner) have been fine. SO, how quickly do you think I could move on to the 3/day? I can't remember how long the doctor said I might want to wait, but after 2 doses with no stomach upset and 2 nights of zero sleep, I'm ready to down an entire bottle.

3. Do you think there's any chance I could convince her to send me for an infusion if I already asked and she felt it was best to try tablets first? Wouldn't an infusion help jumpstart the process?
I appreciate ANY advice you can offer. Really feeling at the end of my rope.
Thanks!