Low in iron and don't want to take iron pills

[matty]

Hello everyone. I did blood test about 1 month and dr. calls me in and says i am low in iron but he wants me to do another blood test. Second test comes back and he says i have to take iron pills which i don't want for fear of stomach flare. he says my no. is 10. Anyway i went to see another dr. and ask if i could eat right and cut out pop and tea, which i was drinking loads of tea. Iread it hinders absorbtion of iron, so i cut that out for 2 weeks already. This dr. sent me today for blood tests for this. I also get lmonthly vit b12 shots. Does anyone here know more about this. One more thing is that i will be taking the pills if this 3rd tests says so.

 

[GoJohnnyGo]

What kind of iron supplements are being recommended?

There's three types (in descending order of "harshness"): Ferrous Suphate, Ferrous Fumarate, and Ferrous Gluconate.

I'm doing fabulously well on two 300 mg tablets of Ferrous Gluconate per day. It gives me dark stool, but it has nipped my chronic anemia in the bud. I follow it up with Folic Acid and Vitamin C as they help retain the iron.

Good luck. Chronic anemia is terribly debilitating.

 

[Guest]

hi Matty.... there are certainly foods which are rich in iron, but introducing or increasing these into your diet will only be an effective measure against anemia if your absorption is ok.

because we have Crohn's we're prone to poor absorption, therefore sometimes we have to take supplements like B12 and iron by injection, as taking tablets wouldn't give us the full benefit for the same reason.

iron tablets are known for causing stomach problems, so i think my advice would be to talk to your doc about iron injections.

 

[belle1999]

i have done iron infusions and those aren't too bad. however, i didn't want to have to go every two weeks for these. so, after they got me to a decent level i started taking iron supplements. my doctor recommended bifera. it is really easy on my tummy and i haven't had any problems taking it.

 

[Crohns08]

I've experienced tummy troubles with iron supplements, but sometimes it takes a day or two to get used to it. After two days of taking my iron supplement I tolerated it a lot better. I'm very sensitive to iron supplements, so you have to find the right one. Like Belle said, Bifera is a good one, but the one I am currently taking is Integra. If you're in the States, you can find it at a Walmart. You may or may not need a perscription, it just depends. I prefer Integra because it's gluten free, the capsules are vegetarian, and it not only replenishes your circulating iron levels, but your storage iron levels as well. (transferrin and ferritin) There is also vitamin C in the capsule to help it absorb better, since Iron absorbs better in the presence of vitamin C.

 

[dreamintwilight]

I had to take ferrous gluconate for a while and never noticed it affecting my stomach either. Now I just take a multivitamin with iron in it.

 

[matty]

Thank you so much for replies, they are very helpful. The pill is called ferrous fumarate, once daily. The 3rd test results should be here by wed, so if it shows low in iron then i will definetly take the pills. But i will ask him about bifera, but i'm in canada and don't know if they have them here.

 

[D Bergy]

One simple way of introducing more Iron into the diet, is to use a Cast Iron frying pan for cooking food. That may not be enough, but every bit helps.

Dan

 

[GoJohnnyGo]

Also, there is Floradix, which is a herbal/iron supplement in liquid form. Haven't tried it myself, but a lady I work with swears by it.

http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/Canada/Products/R4771.htm

 

[ameslouise]

I previously had problems taking SloFE, but am not having any issues now that I don't have a colon. I am also taking Spirulina daily, which has tons of iron in it.

I had an iron transfusion while in the hospital. It was fine but took several hours to infuse.

 

[rygon]

What about eating foods with high Iron content. If i remember correctly thats red meat and spinach amongst other things. I'd rather do that than take suppliments if possible