Low iron questions

My iron level is slowly increasing now since I started taking iron supplements.   But I still feel on the weak side.   I do wonder if VitronC would work better for me now than the conventional iron supplement I'm using right now?

Dawg, if the iron supplements are working (slowly) and you're tolerating them well those would be good reasons to leave well enough alone. If it makes your decision easier, Vitron C is pricey. If you prefer to switch, to try to get faster results, that's pretty harmless, too.

Wow I'm so surprised that anyone with guts like ours can tolerate iron supplements of any kind?! I'm in the UK, and am about to get an iron infusion for the first time. After many months of low iron levels (and years of it really) and never getting anywhere with tablet or liquid supplements / tonics etc, the docs finally agreed to  let me have an infusion and I will probably push to keep having them long term. But it's taken a lot of fighting to get it, with a dozen doctors all trying to give me the same useless things to try. They either all give me the runs (like I need any more of that!) or cramping/bloating and far too high output. Let's hope infusions help, and my energy levels get a good kickstart from it, I'm only 35 but feel like I'm 85. Good luck to everyone. 

I recently learned from a hematologist that you can take a test to see if you are even able  to absorb iron orally. My son was able to absorb it but not as fully as some people. You absorb iron in your duodenum so J pouchers should be able to absorb orally. However if you have inflammation that can get in the way of absorption. We were told liquid iron taken twice a week is best way to absorb and you have to be careful about too much iron as that will end up being stored in you liver and you will not be able to release it ( I don't fully comprehend.) Rather than your iron number it is important to look at hemglobin and your saturation levels. 

I tolerated oral ferrous glycinate but not oral ferrous sulfate in the past. 

Be sure not to take "enteric coated" meds/supplements; we don't have enough time for them to always completely dissolve. 

As for labs, a panel should include not only iron, but ferritin, iron binding capacity, and transferrin, too.  They complete the picture on iron stores.

Check out dark black strap molasses for iron content. One brand I took had 25% daily recommended iron per tbsp!  It *is* sugar, though, essentially, but considered lower glycemic, such that diabetics tolerate it better than regular sugars. But if you're a FODMAP kinda person, it's on the avoid list and can be a trigger.