Iron Supplements (Feosol brand, or any?)

[LilyR]

Hi there, everyone. I have not been taking my iron supplements yet since realizing I have a gluten sensitivity, but I'm having  a bad fatigue weekend and was hoping I could take one today.  I just went online trying to find out if the supplements I have contain gluten, but couldn't seem to find info.  I have a brand called Feosol.  Their website has an 800# but they are not open today.  I thought I'd come check here to see if anyone takes any iron supplements, and if so, do you take the Feosol brand - do you know if it contains gluten?  Or what brand do you take that is gluten-free?  

 

Hope you all are having a nice day.  

[ironictruth]

20 hours ago, LilyR said:

Hi there, everyone. I have not been taking my iron supplements yet since realizing I have a gluten sensitivity, but I'm having  a bad fatigue weekend and was hoping I could take one today.  I just went online trying to find out if the supplements I have contain gluten, but couldn't seem to find info.  I have a brand called Feosol.  Their website has an 800# but they are not open today.  I thought I'd come check here to see if anyone takes any iron supplements, and if so, do you take the Feosol brand - do you know if it contains gluten?  Or what brand do you take that is gluten-free?  

 

Hope you all are having a nice day.  

Has your iron been checked? I started supplements to avoid anemia but asked the doc to re-test to make sure I am not getting too much. You do not want to take too much iron. 

I use Solgar gentle iron (lower dose) and Vitron C (vitamin c helps absorption). In three months I brought my ferritin up from 20 to 33. It had been in the 70's. 

So, my body is absorbing the iron in pills and I have Marsh 2-3a damage on my biopsy. My diet contains a great amount of iron as well. So, just make sure you do not overdo it! 

Have you been tested for celiac? 

[Ennis-TX]

Reminds me of my iron debacle trying to find one. I tried Jarrows first but did not realize it had dairy in it and had a bad reaction, moved to another brand my GI suggested and got constipation, tried NOW foods and got cross contamination, moved to Lucky Vitamins brand but found it upped my folic acid and and B-vitamins too much as it also had them in it then  I finally settled on some off brand one I found and got on a whim. Seems to work but my iron even with vitamin C supplementation (vitamin C is required for your body to use iron) is only up to 6 from 1 which it had been at for the past few years. ( I have ulcer issues and I work our all the time)

What I am currently using

Open Original Shared Link

[LilyR]

On 9/11/2017 at 7:02 AM, ironictruth said:

Has your iron been checked? I started supplements to avoid anemia but asked the doc to re-test to make sure I am not getting too much. You do not want to take too much iron. 

I use Solgar gentle iron (lower dose) and Vitron C (vitamin c helps absorption). In three months I brought my ferritin up from 20 to 33. It had been in the 70's. 

So, my body is absorbing the iron in pills and I have Marsh 2-3a damage on my biopsy. My diet contains a great amount of iron as well. So, just make sure you do not overdo it! 

Have you been tested for celiac? 

I tested a low positive for celiac, but then they did more bloodwork and then said I don't have it, but I apparently do have a gluten sensitivity.  It's been about two months going gluten-free, but I am finally started to feel some improvement with my stomach.  

I tend to always be low in iron my whole adult life, whether it's a little, or at times a lot.  I had been put on two iron pills a day a few years ago, but then was back to just one a day, or I'd take it every few days which seemed easier on my stomach.  I try to eat iron-rich foods too.  Right now my bloodwork is a mess, and they may do some further test (I forget what it was called, but I looked it up online and it sounds like some blood smear test, which checks for anemia, leukemia, etc).   My next dr's appt is in October.  Right now the gastro and the rheum. dr's are having me go gluten-free and see if that helps.  But I am still having daily fever (have had it since February).  I've had health issues since I was 18 and had epstein barr virus, and then started improving after being sick for a few years with that, but then started getting similar symptoms and new symptoms again in my early 20's.  I get fatigue easily, muslce weakness, I would get fevers that could last days or weeks here or there.  But this is the longest my fever has ever lasted, going over a half a year now.  I haven't been taking iron since having bad stomach issues, which also acted up in February.  I have photo sensitivity which has gotten worse over the years.  A few times over the years dr's have said maybe there is some underlying autoimmune disease, and now that was the last I heard when a nurse called last month about bloodwork.   But I never get a diagnose or any help.  I sure hope this time I get some answers.  

[LilyR]

On 9/11/2017 at 7:52 AM, Ennis_TX said:

Reminds me of my iron debacle trying to find one. I tried Jarrows first but did not realize it had dairy in it and had a bad reaction, moved to another brand my GI suggested and got constipation, tried NOW foods and got cross contamination, moved to Lucky Vitamins brand but found it upped my folic acid and and B-vitamins too much as it also had them in it then  I finally settled on some off brand one I found and got on a whim. Seems to work but my iron even with vitamin C supplementation (vitamin C is required for your body to use iron) is only up to 6 from 1 which it had been at for the past few years. ( I have ulcer issues and I work our all the time)

What I am currently using

Open Original Shared Link

Thank you for that link.  It was such a busy week and I've not felt well so I still never called the iron company yet. It's on my to-do list.  I've been eating eggs, chicken, meat, and just got some spinach to make salads. I do take C when I take my iron pills.  Right now I have been having some orange juice when I make eggs.  I had been going easy on citrus and the C supplements because the gastro dr said it could upset my stomach and stomach acid, but now that I have been going gluten-free, and have weened off the stomach meds they put me on back in February (which was before them thinking maybe I had a gluten issue), I have no longer been having stomach acid issues.  I've been having lemon in drinks again too and it doesn't seem to bother me.  So I don't think stomach acid was ever the big problem.  So hopefully I can go back to vitmin c and citrus now.  

[ironictruth]

3 hours ago, LilyR said:

I tested a low positive for celiac, but then they did more bloodwork and then said I don't have it, but I apparently do have a gluten sensitivity.  It's been about two months going gluten-free, but I am finally started to feel some improvement with my stomach.  

I tend to always be low in iron my whole adult life, whether it's a little, or at times a lot.  I had been put on two iron pills a day a few years ago, but then was back to just one a day, or I'd take it every few days which seemed easier on my stomach.  I try to eat iron-rich foods too.  Right now my bloodwork is a mess, and they may do some further test (I forget what it was called, but I looked it up online and it sounds like some blood smear test, which checks for anemia, leukemia, etc).   My next dr's appt is in October.  Right now the gastro and the rheum. dr's are having me go gluten-free and see if that helps.  But I am still having daily fever (have had it since February).  I've had health issues since I was 18 and had epstein barr virus, and then started improving after being sick for a few years with that, but then started getting similar symptoms and new symptoms again in my early 20's.  I get fatigue easily, muslce weakness, I would get fevers that could last days or weeks here or there.  But this is the longest my fever has ever lasted, going over a half a year now.  I haven't been taking iron since having bad stomach issues, which also acted up in February.  I have photo sensitivity which has gotten worse over the years.  A few times over the years dr's have said maybe there is some underlying autoimmune disease, and now that was the last I heard when a nurse called last month about bloodwork.   But I never get a diagnose or any help.  I sure hope this time I get some answers.  

My heart breaks for you. It sounds awful. I wish you the best of luck and health.  Keep advocating and researching and hopefully you will find a medical team that can get to the root. 

[Ennis-TX]

4 hours ago, LilyR said:

I tested a low positive for celiac, but then they did more bloodwork and then said I don't have it, but I apparently do have a gluten sensitivity.  It's been about two months going gluten-free, but I am finally started to feel some improvement with my stomach.  

I tend to always be low in iron my whole adult life, whether it's a little, or at times a lot.  I had been put on two iron pills a day a few years ago, but then was back to just one a day, or I'd take it every few days which seemed easier on my stomach.  I try to eat iron-rich foods too.  Right now my bloodwork is a mess, and they may do some further test (I forget what it was called, but I looked it up online and it sounds like some blood smear test, which checks for anemia, leukemia, etc).   My next dr's appt is in October.  Right now the gastro and the rheum. dr's are having me go gluten-free and see if that helps.  But I am still having daily fever (have had it since February).  I've had health issues since I was 18 and had epstein barr virus, and then started improving after being sick for a few years with that, but then started getting similar symptoms and new symptoms again in my early 20's.  I get fatigue easily, muslce weakness, I would get fevers that could last days or weeks here or there.  But this is the longest my fever has ever lasted, going over a half a year now.  I haven't been taking iron since having bad stomach issues, which also acted up in February.  I have photo sensitivity which has gotten worse over the years.  A few times over the years dr's have said maybe there is some underlying autoimmune disease, and now that was the last I heard when a nurse called last month about bloodwork.   But I never get a diagnose or any help.  I sure hope this time I get some answers.  

Umm I ran a fever for a few years, we learned I was allergic to corn and it always caused me to have a 99-102F fever. Got off corn...now when I eat it I get blood blisters, fever, and sometimes a rash from contact.   SO you might have a allergy to something that your exposed to everyday and running a fever in relation to that.

See about getting tested for food allergies, you might findyour have a allergy to a daily staple.

[Victoria1234]

I ran a fever for a few years until I went gluten-free. Was around 99 and my usual temp is 96.7.

[LilyR]

Hi there.  Sorry it has taken me so long to reply back about this.  I had a few busy weeks, which were also weeks I didn't feel well.  But I finally called the Feosol company and the person on the phone did some digging and what they came up with is that their Feosol Complete is gluten-free.   But he did not see any notes of their Original or Natural Release being gluten-free.  So, only their Complete is safe.  Since that means I have to buy some new ones (I had an almost new bottle, but it's the Original) I figure I'll look around online, see what different gluten-free iron supps out there that I can find and compare any reviews and also the prices.  I just saw the rheum. dr this morning and they are running more bloodwork, including some muslce enzyme thing because muslce weakness has been a problem since my young adulthood.  And while she was at bloodwork, she's checking my iron again, so I'll see where it is.  I told her I haven't taken any iron supplements the past three months, since going gluten-free.  So, she's checking a few more things, mentioning possible autoimmune issues, but just not in her realm of specialty (I have had chronic inflammation and a few other things that suggest possible autoimmune issue my entire adult life - I'm 46 now, and still never a diagnose or answer).  She mentioned possibly a nerve issue, or a muscle issue.  And also suggests I go back to the G.I. dr for more testing, and mentioning autoimmune issues like with the pancreas.  So, still searching.  Going gluten-free has helped a lot with the severe stomach issues and weight loss.  Although the weight loss was the only good thing about it, lol!  I've gained weight on meds all these years.  It sure was nice to finally lose a little.  But I do think I might have to avoid corn. Thanks Ennis and Victoria, for sharing about your fever issues.  Maybe it is a food allergy.  I had some corn ingredients I seemed okay with, but other products with corn that seemed to bother me, so I think I'll just stop all corn ingredient all together.  When I see my primary care provider in a few months I'll ask her about other food allergies.  Can they do bloodwork for that?  Or do they just tend to want people to test different foods out?  

I appreciate all the sharing and suggestions here. 

This rheum dr is seeing me again in three months, and even though she said I am basically not in her realm of specialty that she treats (lupus, rheum arthritis, etc), she is doing a follow-up to make sure I don't slip off the radar.  She wants to make sure someone is helping me.  I have never, ever seen a dr like that before.  Well, actually I think she is a nurse practitioner.  I am trying hard to not feel frustrated.  Hopefully, I'm getting there.  Ruling some things out, but hopefully will get answers.  Counting my blessings. 

Anyone order supplements from Puritan's Pride?  I haven't checked them out yet, but this nurse practitioner said they have good deals price wise.  I just need to see if they have gluten-free options.  She mentioned taking B12 too.  I did try a chewable B12 in the past and did seem to like it. But my budget is so tight, I cut down to just a few supplements.  But I might need to squeeze B12 back in.  I'm not sure if those chewables were gluten-free though.  So, more checking to do. 

I hope everyone is feeling well and having a good day.  

 

[LilyR]

I just popped in to the Puritan Pride website and I searched Gluten-free and you can actually narrow your search to that, and see all the gluten-free supplements they have.  And prices do look good too.  Although I haven't checked out the shipping fees yet. 

[Posterboy]

8 hours ago, LilyR said:

Hi there.  Sorry it has taken me so long to reply back about this.  I had a few busy weeks, which were also weeks I didn't feel well.  But I finally called the Feosol company and the person on the phone did some digging and what they came up with is that their Feosol Complete is gluten-free.   But he did not see any notes of their Original or Natural Release being gluten-free.  So, only their Complete is safe.  Since that means I have to buy some new ones (I had an almost new bottle, but it's the Original) I figure I'll look around online, see what different gluten-free iron supps out there that I can find and compare any reviews and also the prices.  I just saw the rheum. dr this morning and they are running more bloodwork, including some muslce enzyme thing because muslce weakness has been a problem since my young adulthood.  And while she was at bloodwork, she's checking my iron again, so I'll see where it is.  I told her I haven't taken any iron supplements the past three months, since going gluten-free.  So, she's checking a few more things, mentioning possible autoimmune issues, but just not in her realm of specialty (I have had chronic inflammation and a few other things that suggest possible autoimmune issue my entire adult life - I'm 46 now, and still never a diagnose or answer).  She mentioned possibly a nerve issue, or a muscle issue.  And also suggests I go back to the G.I. dr for more testing, and mentioning autoimmune issues like with the pancreas.  So, still searching.  Going gluten-free has helped a lot with the severe stomach issues and weight loss.  Although the weight loss was the only good thing about it, lol!  I've gained weight on meds all these years.  It sure was nice to finally lose a little.  But I do think I might have to avoid corn. Thanks Ennis and Victoria, for sharing about your fever issues.  Maybe it is a food allergy.  I had some corn ingredients I seemed okay with, but other products with corn that seemed to bother me, so I think I'll just stop all corn ingredient all together.  When I see my primary care provider in a few months I'll ask her about other food allergies.  Can they do bloodwork for that?  Or do they just tend to want people to test different foods out?  

I appreciate all the sharing and suggestions here. 

This rheum dr is seeing me again in three months, and even though she said I am basically not in her realm of specialty that she treats (lupus, rheum arthritis, etc), she is doing a follow-up to make sure I don't slip off the radar.  She wants to make sure someone is helping me.  I have never, ever seen a dr like that before.  Well, actually I think she is a nurse practitioner.  I am trying hard to not feel frustrated.  Hopefully, I'm getting there.  Ruling some things out, but hopefully will get answers.  Counting my blessings. 

Anyone order supplements from Puritan's Pride?  I haven't checked them out yet, but this nurse practitioner said they have good deals price wise.  I just need to see if they have gluten-free options.  She mentioned taking B12 too.  I did try a chewable B12 in the past and did seem to like it. But my budget is so tight, I cut down to just a few supplements.  But I might need to squeeze B12 back in.  I'm not sure if those chewables were gluten-free though.  So, more checking to do. 

I hope everyone is feeling well and having a good day.  

 

LilyR,

"But I do think I might have to avoid corn".

This is about the possible corn issue.

It is an old forgotten disease but if you think  you are having trouble with corn you need to research about Pellagra.

You have probably never heard about it.

see my blog post about it where I talk about how I had celiac disease but developed Pellagra.

Knitty Kitty also talks about how she had Pellagra.

Here is where celiac.com ran an article about how Pellagra can be confused for Celiac disease.

https://www.celiac.com/articles/24658/1/A-Differential-Diagnosis-How-Pellagra-Can-be-Confused-with-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html

The term is co-morbid.  You can have both that occur in the same person though it is considered rare mainly because doctor's don't know to look for it today and have not studied it extensively.

It probably don't explain the gluten problem however it most certainly can explain the corn problem(s) if you are having trouble with corn.

I hope this is helpful and good luck on your continued journey.

2 Timothy 2: 7 “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” this included.

posterboy by the grace of God,

[LilyR]

9 hours ago, Posterboy said:

LilyR,

"But I do think I might have to avoid corn".

This is about the possible corn issue.

It is an old forgotten disease but if you think  you are having trouble with corn you need to research about Pellagra.

You have probably never heard about it.

see my blog post about it where I talk about how I had celiac disease but developed Pellagra.

Knitty Kitty also talks about how she had Pellagra.

Here is where celiac.com ran an article about how Pellagra can be confused for Celiac disease.

https://www.celiac.com/articles/24658/1/A-Differential-Diagnosis-How-Pellagra-Can-be-Confused-with-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html

The term is co-morbid.  You can have both that occur in the same person though it is considered rare mainly because doctor's don't know to look for it today and have not studied it extensively.

It probably don't explain the gluten problem however it most certainly can explain the corn problem(s) if you are having trouble with corn.

I hope this is helpful and good luck on your continued journey.

2 Timothy 2: 7 “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” this included.

posterboy by the grace of God,

Thanks for the links.  I just read your blog.  I could relate to some of that.  Stress - yes!  This whole thing flared up last winter when I was going through a lot of stress.  I already had undiagnosed health issues for decades.  But the digestive issues all happened this past winter.  And one of the dr's mentioned that if I was having trouble with gluten, I might need to avoid all grains, including corn and oats too.  But she never mentioned Pellegra.  I do have sun sensitivity, but not really any of the other Pellegra symptoms.  Yet. (ugh!)  I need to go back and re-read your blog - I think you mentioned a specific type of niacin you take?  I was just looking online to get some supplements.  My dr did suggest B12.  I already take D and magnesium.  

I was not sure about the burping though.  I have had some major burping.  But it is with major bloating.  Do you mean after a while on niacin you will notice burping, but just without any bloat?  

I have been eating rice without any trouble.  But last night I had some new noodles and the ingredients were  brown rice and rice bran.  And I had issues.   Normally I've been just having white rice.  Is brown rice or rice bran anything anyone here has had trouble with?  It starts to get a bit maddening when you are trying to eat right, and still have troubles.  

My dr yesterday sent me for more bloodwork.  They are checking muscle enzymes.  I was weak yesterday.  I have some days that are better than others and yesterday happened to be a bad day with that.  I have been telling dr's since I was in my early 20's I had muslce weakness and fatigue.  Every complaint I had was always chalked up to my having had epstein barr virus, so they never really did anything for me.  But now this dr is at least checking the muscle issue, I guess.  She  mentioned my weakness could be autoimmune (but not in her specialty dept - she said I don't have lupus, rheum arthritis, etc), or it could be a nerve thing, although I don't know what type of bloodwork tests that.  She didn't mention seeing a neurologist.  She mentioned maybe having a colonoscopy since I only had an endoscopy.  Oh joy.  I think the cost is stressing me more than the procedure.  Not to mention tired of costly tests that lead to no answers.  She did mention there are autoimmune things like with pancreatitis, although also said it doesn't mean that is what she thinks I have, but just mentioning more possibilities. 

Posterboy, other than gluten, do you also avoid corn, and all grains (oats, is that it for grains?), and take the niacin, and feel better?  Do you eat rice?  Even brown rice or anything ever with rice bran?  Do you take any other supplements? 

Thanks for all the info. This sure is a process. 

[Posterboy]

LilyR,

Here are some threads that might be of help to you if you are struggling with IDA.

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/119240-diagnosed-with-ttg-iga-level-of-128-three-days-ago-trying-to-conceive-or-should-i-hold-off/?tab=comments#comment-981475

and this one that help explain your question about burping and bloating together.

but in short yes. It is better when burping happens without being bloated.

CARBS typically can be a trigger for bloating because they ferment.

Other people on this board have noticed this effect they tolerate carbs better (Rice etc) when they eat either/or carbs not carbs and fats together.

According to the Mayo Clinic Bloating maybe related to “eating fatty foods, which can delay stomach emptying and make you feel uncomfortably full .  .  . With bloating, you may also have abdominal pain that can vary from mild and dull to sharp and intense”

Open Original Shared Link

and could explain when you ate mashed potatoes (CARBS) alone you didn't have any problems but combined with fat you had a problem.

It also explains why/when people who go Ketogenic or just plan oh low carb many of their GI problems improve (bloating etc).

I think someone said the Suzanne Summers diet emphasized the "not mixing of fat and carbs" in the same meal.

I hope this is helpful but this is not intended to be medical advice.

posterboy by the grace of God,

[LilyR]

Thanks for the info.  Wow, can eating become confusing.  It's feeling stressful right about now.