Iron

[num1habsfan]

i've been on iron pills for a few days now (because of my level being dangerously low).

Maybe it is just my body trying to get used to it, but I really don't feel well..I feel warm (which is NOT at all normal!), worse dry mouthed even though i've been drinking more fluids on purpose, tiredness, shakiness, sore stomach, bad "urgency"...

Anyone else have this problem when starting to take iron?? Or can it be something else acting up?

Do you think this is extreme iron deficiency is connected with Celiac which has not been liking me lately, either??

[MollyBeth]

This may be a stupid question...but do the pills have gluten in them?

I took Iron pills several years ago before I was diagnosed and they made me so sick I have to quit taking them. Then I switched brands and it got a little easier. You should talk to your doc.

[ShayFL]

Try either Floridix iron (liquid) they make a gluten-free bottle and it says it on the label or Solgar's Gentle iron. Both are very absorbable and easy on the body.

[num1habsfan]

I am on some sort of generic brand stuff...later today I'll dig out the bottle and tell you which one specifically.

[num1habsfan]

All that it says is "Apo-Ferrous Sulfate, 300 mg"..."Generic Alternative"..."Canadian Made".

[ShayFL]

THE ABOVE POST IS SPAM!!!

O.k. you are on one of the hardest to absorb and digest Iron tabs.

Floridix Iron (liquid) gluten-free formula or Solgar's Gentle Iron......no upset tummy and absorbs very well.

[num1habsfan]

Maybe my doctor is just trying to get my level up ASAP?? It was at 6...and from what I've been told that's very, very low.

[ShayFL]

But you'll have a hard time getting it up with those pills. They are HARD to digest.

You can ask your Doc. for intravenous if he wants to get it up fast.

Otherwise, you will be taking those pills for A LONG time and they are an irritant.

Google "iron supplements" and learn about them. The ones I have mentioned arent costly and are better absorbed. But do whatever you feel is right for your body.

[num1habsfan]

But you'll have a hard time getting it up with those pills. They are HARD to digest.

You can ask your Doc. for intravenous if he wants to get it up fast.

Otherwise, you will be taking those pills for A LONG time and they are an irritant.

Google "iron supplements" and learn about them. The ones I have mentioned arent costly and are better absorbed. But do whatever you feel is right for your body.

Blah, yeah they are very painful. Even when I take them with food and at the same time as the Vitamin C pills.

He also told me to try BC for a few months, because he believes that will increase it.

*sigh* I wonder what even caused such a drastic drop in the first place!

[ShayFL]

Celiac and Hypothyroid can both lower the Ferritin dramatically. So can heavy periods, surgery and and bleeding ulcers.

[happygirl]

The post that was spam has been removed.

The correct way to deal with spam is the hit the report button and issue a report to moderators. They are able to deal with issues like this quicker.

[num1habsfan]

Celiac and Hypothyroid can both lower the Ferritin dramatically. So can heavy periods, surgery and and bleeding ulcers.

Interesting...because I did have very, very swollen thyroids...even the doctor saw that (yet somehow bloodwork showed they were normal). Also around the same time I had gotten over a severe bladder/kidney infection (which my doctor was convinced there was blood present judging by the descriptions I gave).

[ShayFL]

Get a copy of your Thyroid labwork and make sure they tested TSH (3rd generation), Free T4, Free T3 and BOTH antibodies. If they didnt test these you didnt get proper evaluation. And even if they did, many of us (including me) were told we were "normal" for years (me 12 years) when in fact I was very hypothyroid. Finally got a new doctor that used the new TSH range and got me on thyroid meds. It was like someone switched a light on in the dark.

Read here:

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

[num1habsfan]

I remember him checking off more than just the TSH, so i don't know. This isn't the first time that i've had a thyroid attack and the tests turned out normal.

By the way, I think I may go home this weekend. Talk to one of my pharmacists about what they suggest I do. I am not enjoying these tummy aches or the fact I can't keep food in my gut.

[Di-gfree]

The gluten-free formula of Floradix is Floravit. It's what I've been taking for 3 months now. Also very important, to absorb iron, is an optimal B12 level. Both my ferritin and B12 are/were low, so I take the Floravit and sublingual B12 tablets. My ferritin was 21 back in July; I started taking Floravit twice a day - my ferritin went up to 31 after a month, or so; and now it's at 45 (my highest ever-recorded). I'm trying to get it up to 70 or 80 (it needs to be optimized to utilize my thyroid replacement, for one thing).

[ShayFL]

I had heard the Floravit was very good at getting the Ferritin up, so I switched about 2 weeks ago to it from the Solgar Gentle Iron. So glad to hear how fast it is working for you. It makes me hopeful!! Cant wait to retest next month.

[Di-gfree]

Shay, I was really surprised. My ferritin hadn't really improved in 10 years since being gluten-free - well, I started at basically zero, and it finally went up to 21, but never higher. I'd never put much effort into taking iron supplements, though - I gave up on pills because they upset my stomach. I hope the Floravit keeps working. Let us know if the Floravit helps you.

Very pretty dog.

[ShayFL]

I took the Solgar Gentle Iron for 3 months (3 pills a day 75 mg Iron) and my Ferritin went from 10 was the lowest to 18. So based on what you are telling me about the Floravit, I can hope for much better results this time. I am taking twice a day as well.

Thank you. That is my Gracie...our first dog that is a "Momma's Girl". She is a rescue.

[num1habsfan]

Blah, I talked to one of my pharmacists. He said that nothing can really be done about it, just have to deal with it and continue taking it with food. Sucks

[Wonka]

I remember him checking off more than just the TSH, so i don't know. This isn't the first time that i've had a thyroid attack and the tests turned out normal.

By the way, I think I may go home this weekend. Talk to one of my pharmacists about what they suggest I do. I am not enjoying these tummy aches or the fact I can't keep food in my gut.

I tried all sorts of iron supplements and I couldn't tolerate any of them until I tried the Floravit. I've been on it since April and I'm no longer anemic but I'm still taking it because I'd like my ferritin to get a bit more in the midrange (between the celiac and my heavy periods I ended up with iron deficiency anemia, Floravit has been a great find for me).

[num1habsfan]

Just to update, I'm still getting the major side effects like the cramps...Only a few more weeks, then I need to have bloodwork done to test how much it has changed. Lets hope that it has so I can go on a lower strength, or something??

Oh, and I discovered something interesting: eating red peppers helps deal with the cramps, better than ANY other food. I guess because of the super high vitamin C content in them??