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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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

is this normal

OP posts:

Report

choclab · 29/05/2011 19:57

thanks , quicklookbusy.

interesting ...i think i should take pills ...then have check on levels again ,m then if raised enough go onto floradix.

so confusing but i did fel so rough on last period and dreading next one , i could hardly function ...i know sounds dramatic but was bad ...

OP posts:

QuickLookBusy · 29/05/2011 20:03

Oh it doesn't sound dramatic, I know what you mean.

The tablets made such a difference though.

I would definitely ask about taking on an empty stomach. It may say take on an empty stomach but if they are causing problems it may be better to take with food. Maybe phone the Drs or ask a pharmacistt?
I always took mine straight after a meal and they worked.

choclab · 29/05/2011 20:07

confusing on packet says don not take within 1 hour before food or 1 to 2 hours after ..so i though should tale 1 hour before food so thats what i done ...

maybe i will try after food ...

OP posts:

suzy75 · 29/05/2011 20:26

Iron tabs are horrid - I've been given ferrous fumaerate & folate - as my heamaglobin was 8.5 mmols. I've been struggling to take them - they make me feel really queezy, and I've been sick with them a few times. Other down sides - my bm vary from bunged to overflow! Any advice on how to take them?
Thanks

AliceWorld · 29/05/2011 20:35

At the risk of going on and on and on, can I give a link to what I mean by as citrate.

choclab · 29/05/2011 21:20

suzy , rough isnt it ...i feel queezy when take mine ...i will try again tomorrow with food see if that helps ....

whats the differance with hebaglobien and ferratin ? anyone

my hebaglobien 12.5
ferratin 11

OP posts:

AliceWorld · 29/05/2011 21:24

heba - in blood (the anaemia one)
ferratin - stored

choclab · 29/05/2011 21:27

oh ok ,thanks ,

doc didnt say i was anaemic just on the low side ....

OP posts:

choclab · 30/05/2011 06:57

great ulcer now in mouth to ...thats all i need ....

OP posts:

choclab · 30/05/2011 09:28

how should i take these pills

ferrurouse sulphate 200mg

says as directed by doctor .....(well she said 3x a day )

on packet says , not to be taken within 1 hour before food or 1 to 2 hours after food ???

can anyone untangle hat and tell me when i should take them please ...

over 1 hour before food ?

many thanks

confusing ...

OP posts:

choclab · 30/05/2011 09:37

sorry slightly wrong ..

says on packet ..

ferrouse sulphate tablets should not be taken within one hour before or two hours after eating or drinking the following tea coffee etc as reduces absorbtion ...

OP posts:

slartybartfast · 30/05/2011 09:40

take just over 1 hour before eating/tea/coffee.

3 times a day.

so first thing, 6 am ? just over an hour before breakfast

12 noon ditto lunch

5 pm

how does that sound

choclab · 30/05/2011 09:52

thanks

will give it a go ...

was a bit confusing ....or is that just me ..

OP posts:

slartybartfast · 30/05/2011 09:53

it sounds a pita

hope you only have to take them for a short time

choclab · 30/05/2011 09:58

yea me to ...feel rough ...so hope they will help .

thanks for help

OP posts:

Indith · 30/05/2011 10:01

I've just come off those, I was also on 3 times a day (I love how 1 tablet is 464% RDA yet we have to take 3 of them!). My Dr said they can cause stomach cramps, I found if I took them without food as you should do then i got really bad cramps but if I took them with meals then I could takethe 3 a day and not have too many side effects. My ferritin levels came back up to 26 from 4 pretty quickly so it can't have affected absorption too much.

choclab · 30/05/2011 10:04

thanks for that to indith - encouraging to here , i will start again today had day off yesterday as felt sick and black poo

my ferratin is 11 ..

you must have felt rough if yours was 4 ...

OP posts:

Indith · 30/05/2011 10:12

I was also told to drop down to 2 a day if the cramps were too bad. The first week or so was the worst for poo and cramps but then it settled down. Constipation wise you jsut have t remember all those lovely post baby poo tips like putting your feet on a stool so you are in a squat, applying pressure to teh perineum and so on. Nice . On the plus side things in that area went back to normal just a couple of days after stopping and I'm just taking a normal off the shelf multi vit and iron and have managed a heavy period without feeling completely washed out so hopefully those tablets really did teh job. It is worth getting through the discomfort for a while to get your energy levels back.

choclab · 30/05/2011 10:17

thanks , nice to now im not alone - iv just finished a heavy period , i tell you i felt shittte .....not with it at all.... so would be great to have one next month with a fighting chance of feeling slightly human whilst on !!!

glad worked for you ...

OP posts:

choclab · 30/05/2011 11:35

is it normal to feel dizzy to with low iron , as i get up quick ...feel knackered all the time ...

thanks

OP posts:

Indith · 30/05/2011 12:23

I think so yes, I was getting that head rush feeling when I got up, seems better now. Did they check your blood pressure at the GP? They checked mine both sitting and standing and there was a difference which she seemed to indicate could cause the dizzy thing. Only had a phone consultation after the last set of blood tests so it hasn't been checked again but she said then that if I started getting dizzy again to come back in so I'm assuming it would be a sign of levels dropping again.

choclab · 30/05/2011 12:32

thanks - feeling rough , took iron pill feeling queezy now ...dont think will take any more ....
feel breathless when do to much to ...and whizzy when i stand up quick ..
will call doc tomorrow see if can change pills ....

i think my levels have fallen since had blood test 3 weeks ago , have had period inbetween so could be lower now ...

this is horrid isnt it !!!

OP posts:

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Stillchuckingit · 30/05/2011 12:48

sympathies choclab It really IS horrid

have exactly the same symptoms

and had horrible stomach problems due to iron tablets last week (the opposite of constipation!!)

I took them as instructions stated first thing in the morning on an empty stomach but they gave me horrible nausea, cramps and the runs. Just about recovering. Going to try half a tablet with food ...but interested in the citrate tip ...

choclab · 30/05/2011 13:06

thanks still it is isnt it ....

what are your levels of iron ,

ferratin is 11

feel better when lye down ...but supposed to be going away tomorrow so much to do ....but on go supper slow today ...

you on same pills as me furrouse sulphate 200mg to ?

OP posts:

AliceWorld · 30/05/2011 13:22

Please take the citrate version if you can afford it. I've been taking it for about 2 years now, it never makes me feel ill. My ferretin was 8. The floradix also contains all sorts of other goodies too if you're low in vitamins generally.

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