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General health

iron pills and black BM

104 replies

choclab · 29/05/2011 11:48

have taken iron for 2 days and have black poo Blush

is this normal

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purepurple · 29/05/2011 11:52

Yes Grin

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WalterFlipschicks · 29/05/2011 11:53

Yes! Me too!
Make sure you drink water constantly or you will end up with rock hard, black poo...
[bitter experience emoticon]

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jenniec79 · 29/05/2011 11:54

Kiwi is good for the constipation too!

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AllThreeWays · 29/05/2011 11:55

Yes, completely normal. And yes to the major constipation!!!!!!!!

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NorthernGobshite · 29/05/2011 12:00

completely normal! also constipation and stomach cramps.

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QuickLookBusy · 29/05/2011 12:01

My Dr advised drinking a glass of orange juice every day. The vit C in the orange ensures all the iron is absorbed rather than coming out IYKWIM.

I did this and no black poo for me now.

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debka · 29/05/2011 15:27

I thought you meant black BREAST MILK from your title!!!

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NorthernGobshite · 29/05/2011 17:29

quicklook I was also told to drink orange, or other VitC rich things.

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NorthernGobshite · 29/05/2011 17:29

...still had black poo though Sad

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AliceWorld · 29/05/2011 17:33

Is normal but because the ferrous iron is shit. See if you can get hold of 'iron as citrate', Lamberts is good. Then your body can actually absorb it.

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choclab · 29/05/2011 18:37

wow thanks all ....glad its normal , havent taken any today as was worried ....
i have some floradix also to try when i have finished iron pills.

its furrouse sulphate i have been given 3x a day , 200mg but acctually only 65 mg of absorbable iron in them ...

iv only been taken 2 a day a have been bit bunged up Blush ...

and they make me feel a bit sick for a while once iv taken ...specially on enptyu tummy ...

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QuickLookBusy · 29/05/2011 18:42

Ah Choc, you should always take them with a meal.

And try the orange juice, it did work for me.

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slartybartfast · 29/05/2011 18:44

dark leafy veggies.
iron pills do make you constipated.
orange juice with a meal and avoid tea, which is detrimental to iron intake.
dried apricots as well are good.

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slartybartfast · 29/05/2011 18:44

and liquorice i heard was good,

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AliceWorld · 29/05/2011 19:12

'As citrate' does not make you constipated. It's all absorbable. If you can afford them they are way better. Floradix good too. When I went to nutritionist for seriously low iron, he told me not to bother with the ferous ones at all. And yes don't drink tea for at least 20 mins before, and hours after.

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choclab · 29/05/2011 19:20

thanks , says on packet not to eat hour or 2 before and after taking pills ...
as food and drink inter fears with absorbtion ..

the only thing with floradix is is only 14mg with 2 10ml doses 1 in morning and one t evening both hour before food ..

my ferratin levels are 11 and although not anemic the doc said i can take iron pills if i want ....
so thought i would as feel tired and drained when on period ..

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DirtyMartini · 29/05/2011 19:20

Debka, I thought that too!

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AliceWorld · 29/05/2011 19:26

I've been told to take with food as it helps absorption.

And thanks you just reminded me to take my floradix!

My iron tablets are only 14mg. They're less because they're more absorbable I believe. I've been taking floradix for the first time this week, and I actually think I notice more of a difference.

Did your doc check iron in blood or iron stores? They're different and the iron in your blood can be fine, but the stores low. (I'm just repeating what the nutritionist told me. No expert really. But he assures me that docs aren't too hot on this stuff.)

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choclab · 29/05/2011 19:30

yea i dont think they are ...

my blood count was 12.5
ferratin 11

she said all normal but if i want to take extra i can ...maybe i will stick to floradix ....gentle on tummy and all absorbable iron plus extra vit ..

so bloody confusing .....i dont know what i should be taking ....i want to take a multi vit to to keep me going , i do lots of exercise so this to reduces iron apparently ..

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choclab · 29/05/2011 19:31

just read packet , says do not take within 1 hour of food before or 1 or 2 hours after food ....

confusing Hmm

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Guttersnipe · 29/05/2011 19:32

Swap to Floradix. I take it for exactly the same reason as you - tired and drained during period (actually headachey, exhausted and feeling like death warmed up is how I would describe it!) and, although the dose is quite small, I find it effective. I had to take it for about 3 months though before I noticed it working. Then, I stupidly stopped taking it, thinking I didn't need it, and back came the headaches and tiredness during my period. So back on it now, only took a month to start feeling better again. I plan to stay on it until the menopause now!

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choclab · 29/05/2011 19:39

yep same Gutter - i feel so tired when i have period so heavy for 2 days full on ..then not alot after ...its as though someone turned a tap on , then when its off once iv finished ..i can feel myself come back to life again ,,,,
i feel tired /faint/and lack of conserntration ...when im on ...
will give floradix a go hate taking pills full of rubbish ....whats the max dose to take do you know ?

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AliceWorld · 29/05/2011 19:39

Don't mean to make it more confusing.

You're reminded me that the nutritionist also told me that the docs have a way lower acceptance level of iron stores. I think they think it should be more like 40? Don't recall the figure but it was a lot higher.

Didn't know the exercise reduced iron - interesting.

Can you afford to see a nutritionist?

Or just take whatever, whenever really. You can't go too wrong. There are just ways of making the poo less black really Grin

Floradix sounds like a good plan though as it is more gentle on the stomach.

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choclab · 29/05/2011 19:43

im confused anyway lol ....

yea i here some people are higher , the highest i have been is 14 ...

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QuickLookBusy · 29/05/2011 19:51

Iron levels should be above 12.

Ferratin levels should be between 12 and 150. That is your store of iron, so if yours is only 12 you could easily get aneamic if you are having heavy periods.

Maybe try the Floradix and if that doesnt work try the iron tablets again. They do work.

I put up with feeling awful for years and when I eventually went to the Drs my iron level was only 8, so was given iron tablets the same strength as yours. They made such a difference within about 6 weeks. I feel like a new womanGrin

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