Iron Supplements

We can’t know if your particular GI disturbance is due to the iron, but common oral iron side effects include diarrhea, dark stools, constipation, vomiting, nausea, and dyspepsia (indigestion).

I guess I'll continue taking it for a time and see if things settle. I was prepared for potential constipation and dark stools but not diarrhea.

(I'm also curious why I've now become iron deficient. I'm well past menstruation blood loss stage. My diet hasn't changed.)

CVS has  brands for gentle iron, Slow-Fe iron.  There is more if u look for gentle to your stomach & digestive.   I took them when I was on iron.

I do have Question for the others reading this response.  My Dr. took me off of iron when I became stable with the numbers.  I do have low RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit.  I asked her if I need iron, I think I do but they don't think so.  What do u all think?   Thx!

Tf,

What are your actual numbers on RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit? They should give you a lab report which contains the values and acceptable ranges. Some doctors believe low end of a normal range of values is normal. Are you in the low range of normal or low as in below the normal range of values?

I'm below normal range.

@tf Do you have symptoms of anemia, or are the lab values the only indication of a problem? It’s often a bad idea to “treat the numbers” instead of taking care of a person. As this thread suggests, oral iron can certainly make you feel worse.

In my case, the numbers are low but not terribly. We have decided to try to treat it in the event that it may be causing, or contributing to, to my ongoing muscle cramping. We need to rule that out before we look further.

I'm not sure if you're being monitored for the effectiveness of taking iron orally. I can't absorb it - so I get I.V. transfusions once and a while. It's so much better than taking by mouth!

Hi, I also has problems with iron tablets. I would getting cramping pains. I've tried different brands but all had the same problems. So now I have Iron transfusions every 1 -2 years. I try and eat iron enriched foods (for example cereals). Keep trying different options and you will get there!

I had a number of transfusions back with colitis but I'm not deficient enough for that now. I'll revisit it in a month to see a) if the numbers are up and b) has there been any improvement in the cramping. I'm just not convinced that I'll make it the month as the fistula is very active since I started taking iron supplements although I'm still uncertain if there's a direct connection. But I would sure appreciate the cramping to be resolved. The cramping is thought to be caused by nerve and muscle damage as a result of Humira. The iron is to rule out anemia as a factor.

For me it was also problematic with any kind of oral iron because of my chronic inflammation. Back in colitis times I took the pills with the lowest iron amount, and even those made my bowel more irritated.

With chronic pouchitis I had high dosage infusions for many years about every 3 months. That way I got to normal iron blood levels. Since 2 years my need for additional iron has subsided, obvioulsy because I take antibiotics in regular intervals and inflammation is better under control.

I am anemic but iron count ok.  I give myself b12 injections.  Thanks for all the good info. 

I’m 25 years post op. The last two years my iron has also been low. (Lower this year) b12 and everything else is good. I started taking iron gummies and had no ill effects. Curious if others have iron levels that are low? I mainly eat plant based. Feel great. No problems with my pouch.

@tf posted:

I am anemic but iron count ok.  I give myself b12 injections.  Thanks for all the good info.

There are various causes of anemia, one being iron deficiency which could be from poor absorption or bleeding. But there are other causes as well. B12 deficiency as you pointed out, suppression of bone marrow from disease or meds, including a big one for those with IBD or any chronic inflammatory state: anemia of chronic disease (ACD). A CBC can help differentiate between some of these based on your MCV (volume of red cells) but you also need iron studies. In ACD you can have normocytic or microcytic (normal or small RBCs, just like in iron def anemia, but with normal iron stores. You could also have an inherited thalassemia. In these cases, taking iron isn’t going to help. I’ve always had trouble repleting people with PO iron due to intolerance and likely poor compliance so if you have significant iron def anemia my go to would be IV iron. Very effective and well tolerated. Two infusions corrected my post-op anemia very nicely. Your doc should be able to work up anemia in a few simple steps.

Surgeon's dietician recommended liquid iron brand: Floradix Iron & Herbs after stage 1. I've always been intolerant of iron. This is the most easily digested I've ever used. Have occasionally taken after take-down. Have not noticed any impact from it. But just in my 4th month since surgery & still struggling to find the right diet balance.