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loe iron level but when i take iron pill it cause diarhea

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Hambo88
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2018
Posts : 112
Posted 11/19/2019 5:20 AM (GMT -7)
my problem is that my iron is very low and when i try to take some iron pill it causes diarhea.
i tried more kind of iron.
i tried fluid iron etc. but all of them cause diarhea to me. what do you suggest. how could not cause diarhea the iron pill.
yes i know i could receive infusion but if its possible i would like take pills and i n this way increase iron level.
have yiu any idea?
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Bull101
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2015
Posts : 653
Posted 11/19/2019 6:05 AM (GMT -7)
Iron pills are known to be harsh on your system. A lot of people also report black stool when taking iron pills. If your system can't tolerate pills, or even the liquid iron supplements, then infusions would be the best option for you.
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MarkWithIBD
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2018
Posts : 442
Posted 11/19/2019 6:43 AM (GMT -7)
Iron pills don't just irritate my bowels, they make me flare. Every single time. It doesn't matter how "gentle" they say the formulation is. I've wondered if it's because it feeds dysbiosis somehow. Anyway, the only way I can get iron by mouth is when I'm in remission and my bowels absorb it from food. Otherwise, during a flare, I have to get it by IV.

If oral iron is causing you that much trouble then maybe ask your doctor if they can give it to you by IV or by injection. I didn't go for the injection method because if you have fair skin it can leave a tattoo on your butt if the solution leaks from the injection site into your skin layers. That's a no thank you for me! I go for IVs instead, you get more iron that way anyway.

When you really need iron desperately, an IV feels like being reborn.
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Sara14
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 6235
Posted 11/19/2019 7:14 AM (GMT -7)
My GI told me iron pills are hard on the gut. I personally am fine taking a multivitamin with iron (mine has 18 mg in it, which I believe is a lot lower than most iron tablets). Have you tried increasing the amount of iron in your diet? The other option would be to discuss getting an iron infusion.
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DBwithUC
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2011
Posts : 4545
Posted 11/19/2019 9:22 AM (GMT -7)
I had infusions because I did not want *any* more symptoms. But they can be expensive.

If you need oral, you need to find a kind that is bioactive (readily absorbed), has few side effects (especially GI), and can be taken in small doses across the day.

You could read this over: https://www.chicagotribune.com/consumer-reviews/sns-bestreviews-health-three-best-iron-supplements-20190529-story.html
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 32472
Posted 11/19/2019 10:36 AM (GMT -7)
I take ferrous gluconate...no issues... and take it after breakfast. I also take vitamin C.

Do you eat beef?

q
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MarkWithIBD
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2018
Posts : 442
Posted 11/19/2019 11:23 AM (GMT -7)
Beef has very little iron in it. 100g only contains 14% of the RDA for iron:
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=beef+nutrtiion

You'd have to eat a lot to cover your needs. Shellfish are better, like oysters, but they're gross (at least to me).

The hematologist I once saw said that it's nearly impossible to restore your iron store through diet if your ferritin is below 10. It would take years and years, assuming there are no further major losses.
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Sara14
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 6235
Posted 11/19/2019 11:36 AM (GMT -7)
My GI said to focus on getting it through diet for now and re-check in a few months after my inflammation has died down. My ferritin was 15. Lentils, cashews and fortified cereals are good sources of iron if you don't eat meat.
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Hambo88
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2018
Posts : 112
Posted 11/20/2019 12:50 AM (GMT -7)
the iron which is in the meals it does not cause irritation and diarrhae like the iron pills?
the iron content in meals is safe?
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Sara14
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 6235
Posted 11/20/2019 6:55 AM (GMT -7)
Correct. Do you know how low your levels were?
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Michelejc
Forum Moderator
Joined : Jan 2011
Posts : 2568
Posted 11/20/2019 7:59 AM (GMT -7)
Iron enriched foods:

Dark Chocolate
Clams
Spinach
Beef
Sardines
Beans
Nuts
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Hambo88
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2018
Posts : 112
Posted 11/20/2019 1:04 PM (GMT -7)
is it possibble rhat iron in natural food in. aturak form(beef etc) cause diarhea?
it is only question.
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iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 16177
Posted 11/20/2019 1:18 PM (GMT -7)
Iron in food should be fine, no diarrhea.

The problem with iron pills is that they have poor bio-availability. Meaning maybe 10% of the iron in your pill is absorbed into your blood stream. The majority of the iron in the pill feeds gut bacterium who go wild, and irritates the intestinal lining causing diarrhea.

IV infusions of Iron are a lot better at bio-availability than pills are. That said, it still can cause gut upset and things like diarrhea in some, but to a lesser degree.

Whenever possible, try to absorb iron from eating iron rich foods as that is the very best bio-availability option available to us. Second is IV iron. Third is Iron pills.

Iron is naturally absorbed within the duodenum and upper jejunum. As UC patients, we cannot have inflammation in those areas and our bodies should be able to absorb iron naturally for our foods. If you have Celiac's disease or Crohn's disease then inflammation may hinder absorption in those areas. Active bleeding from your/my UC flare can cause us to be deficient in iron.
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Hambo88
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2018
Posts : 112
Posted 11/20/2019 2:47 PM (GMT -7)
ipoop: thanks very usefull response thx. i eat iron bio available food smile
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