Hi,
My doctor just ordered a prescription iron supplement for me. I believe it’s 325 mg ferrous sulfate because my iron levels are low. I’m just curious as to if others taking it have had side effects, especially constipation. Thanks.
Chris
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Like several other supplements, iron pills irritate my pouch, so I usually get an iron infusion every year.
I take prescription iron (I also buy it OTC if I'm in a hurry) as I am still fighting anemia. I take one in the morning and one at night. No real side effects I notice besides making my stools very dark. I would definitely recommend eating it with something so it's a bit easier on your gut.
I cannot maintain my iron levels, even after taking oral supplementation. As a result, my levels are monitored every few months and I get an iron infusion. That seems to be the only way to get my levels up. When I took the tablets, I was fortunate to not have any GI upset. I have also read that it is important to couple your iron tablets with vitamin C because it helps the iron get absorbed (sadly, even this did not work for me). I wonder why we have the iron deficiency? Not everyone with a J-pouch has this. For me I suspect it is a low-level Crohns disease.
I gave up and resigned myself to this outcome.
just got my blood work results and after 6 months post iron infusion, iron levels and hemoglobin are still in range (low end)
I suspect that next check up in 6 months they will drop below normal, and next iron infusion will be needed.
I take so many meds daily, I just cannot fight every battle with this disease.
I've found liquid iron supplements easier to tolerate. Floradix Liquid Iron & Herbs was recommended by a dietician after my stage 1 operation. Available on Amazon. It doesn't taste terrible and I like that ai can control the dose
I take prescription iron, because the over-the-counter iron upsets my stomach. It's called Ferralet. No side effects for me. If you get side effects from the prescription iron you have, you may want to ask the doctor about Ferralet.
So no issues with the jpouch using the prescription Ferralet?
Is this prescribed by your GI or other doctor?
also may I ask if they prescribed this knowing it’s for people with sensitive GI systems?
just curious because I will be speaking g with my GI team this week and will ask them about this,
thank you
New577: No issues with the jpouch and Ferralet.
It was prescribed by my primary care physician when I was low on iron and told her that iron supplements upset my stomach.
I think she thought it wouldn't upset my stomach, but I'm not sure if that is its advertised purpose. I'm going to Google it to see. You may want to do that, too.
One caveat: There is no generic, and it's not covered by my insurance. It is $80 for 30 tablets at my pharmacy, so I take only 3 tablets a week. My iron levels are fine now.
P.S. It's full name is Ferralet 90.
Thank you very much for this information,
I will ask by GI team about this.
it might be worth trying and see if my iron levels can stabilize.
@New577 posted:Thank you very much for this information,
I will ask by GI team about this.
it might be worth trying and see if my iron levels can stabilize.
You're very welcome. I googled it, and Ferralet 90 does advertise that it is gentle on the GI system. Good luck, I hope it helps.
Thanks, Everyone! I’ve been taking my iron supplement for a little over a week. So far, no problems.
My iron levels were fine until I had treatment for breast cancer. My pcp told me yesterday that I don't have any iron stored so I'm going to try infusions to get my levels back up. I just got over major digestive issues from chemo so I really don't want to take anything that might bother my gut.
My iron level dropped about 1 1/2 yrs ago and my PCP also put me on FERROUS SULFATE 325 mg. I don't have any blockage issues with it. Although I do try to maintain a dark greens diet, liver for dinner and eggs for breakfast. I also down some Blackstrap Molasses (unsulphered) because of the iron content. Liver and eggs are very sporadic. Next PCP appt is May 1st and hopefully my level will be on par.
Steve
Iron Iv infusions may be good.
Nova Ferrum WOW liquid iron. I have tried several kinds and this was only brand that got my levels in range and fairly quickly i might add
@Pouchomarx posted:Nova Ferrum WOW liquid iron. I have tried several kinds and this was only brand that got my levels in range and fairly quickly i might add
Did it cause gut issues? My problem with iron when I was instructed to take it is that it caused my guts to bleed! This was back when I had a colon....
@Sara Marie posted:Did it cause gut issues? My problem with iron when I was instructed to take it is that it caused my guts to bleed! This was back when I had a colon....
See if you can get Ferralet. It is a prescription iron supplement that is easy on the gut.
@Sara Marie posted:Did it cause gut issues? My problem with iron when I was instructed to take it is that it caused my guts to bleed! This was back when I had a colon....
Why do to you think it caused your guts to bleed???
@Sara Marie posted:Did it cause gut issues? My problem with iron when I was instructed to take it is that it caused my guts to bleed! This was back when I had a colon....
IVE never heard of iron causing your gut to bleed... but it has never caused me any gut issues. i take it 3 days a week now as i was taking every night for like a month and hematologist said all levels in range now and can do 3 days a week now.
@Pouchomarx posted:IVE never heard of iron causing your gut to bleed... but it has never caused me any gut issues. i take it 3 days a week now as i was taking every night for like a month and hematologist said all levels in range now and can do 3 days a week now.
That is wonderful!
@Former Member posted:Why do to you think it caused your guts to bleed???
Maybe because it wasn't Ferralet? I don't know if that existed back then. I have no idea why it caused that particular symptom, but iron is known for being irritating to the guts. They were probably already irritated and this just pushed them over the edge into bloodyland. I did have ulcerative colitis, after all, so this wasn't a ledge that was far away and the push was probably more like a nudge.
@Sara Marie posted:Maybe because it wasn't Ferralet? I don't know if that existed back then. I have no idea why it caused that particular symptom, but iron is known for being irritating to the guts. They were probably already irritated and this just pushed them over the edge into bloodyland. I did have ulcerative colitis, after all, so this wasn't a ledge that was far away and the push was probably more like a nudge.
I think your absolutely right
I could not tolerate iron pills, tried all kinds of iron rich foods , then I started getting infusions, the iron went in and right out every month. I finally found a new oncologist, a doctor who found a product that works for me . Injectafer is the only brand that works .
I tried everything including the Ferralet.
I gave up and just accept the iron infusions every 12-18 months.
Sorry Ferralet didn't work for you. But at least you have an alternative. P.S. I like "Bark less, wag more". If more people would take that advice. The world would be a better place! 😁
I developed low iron 28 years into my j-pouch. I've been taking Nature Made brand 325 mg ferrous sulfate 3 times a week for the last 3 years and have been fortunate in having no problems whatsoever with it. I am even able to donate blood, though out of an abundance of caution I choose not to donate as often as would be allowed. I'm just putting this out there for those who are new to j-pouching and may be frightened by all the worst case scenarios that turn up on these forums.
@Deb C posted:I developed low iron 28 years into my j-pouch. I've been taking Nature Made brand 325 mg ferrous sulfate 3 times a week for the last 3 years and have been fortunate in having no problems whatsoever with it. I am even able to donate blood, though out of an abundance of caution I choose not to donate as often as would be allowed. I'm just putting this out there for those who are new to j-pouching and may be frightened by all the worst case scenarios that turn up on these forums.
How does one develop low iron? Is there internal bleeding? Or.....? I'm just wondering because sometimes I feel like I might have iron poor blood. I guess I can go back and look at my yearly physical but I don't recall them testing that.
@Sara Marie posted:How does one develop low iron? Is there internal bleeding? Or.....? I'm just wondering because sometimes I feel like I might have iron poor blood. I guess I can go back and look at my yearly physical but I don't recall them testing that.
I know for me, i developed low iron due to being a vegetarian, I am on a shitload of vitamins lol.
SInce you do not eat red meat, you might be low too?
Apparently iron and B12 malabsorption is a common problem for j-pouchers. I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency 13 years post ostomy, iron deficiency 15 years later. I had one b12 injection and have maintained acceptable levels since then with a daily oral supplement.
@Deb C posted:Apparently iron and B12 malabsorption is a common problem for j-pouchers. I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency 13 years post ostomy, iron deficiency 15 years later. I had one b12 injection and have maintained acceptable levels since then with a daily oral supplement.
I believe it. The ileum is responsible for absorbing Vitamin bs and since our ileum is compromised that makes sense we are not absorbing what we should
Thank y'all for sharing. This is yet another thing that the marvelous colon did for us that we have to find a way to regulate externally! I will make sure my doc tests for iron. It was ages ago, when I had a colon and had active UC, that my iron tested low and I tried iron supplements, which made the bleeding worse. Maybe they have something better by now. This was probably 25 or 30 years ago last time I tried it!!
@Sara Marie posted:Thank y'all for sharing. This is yet another thing that the marvelous colon did for us that we have to find a way to regulate externally! I will make sure my doc tests for iron. It was ages ago, when I had a colon and had active UC, that my iron tested low and I tried iron supplements, which made the bleeding worse. Maybe they have something better by now. This was probably 25 or 30 years ago last time I tried it!!
Yeah hopefully now it will work.
Just like I could not have orange juice with my colon but now i can!
