FIIT test, low iron, constipation, scared

[painintheargh]

NC for this.

Since having covid and changing my diet to lose weight last November I've had constipation. It's responded well to lactulose. No pain, no diarrhoea, no bleeding.
The GP tested for coeliac and a full blood count, liver, thyroid, hormones, kidneys, the full works. All fine except for an iron level of 8. My diet is rubbish on the iron front and the GP wasn't concerned about the iron and just told me to up my veg. Because the constipation has continued I've been asked to do a FIIT stool sample to check for blood which I will take to the GP tomorrow.
Im 46, pretty fit and do a lot of cardio exercise daily, I don't smoke, don't drink, I haven't eaten meat since 1990, my BMI is 21 and was 26 at its highest so my risk factors are low but im scared.

Does anyone have any experience of this who can offer any advice or handholding please? Im sure it's just that I don't eat enough and there's not enough food passing through my gut to make me poop regularly. I live on porridge, yogurt, fruit and soups. Very little in terms of stodgy high volume foods like bread, potatoes, rice, pasta. Portions of those are infrequent and small.

I'm a single parent of 3 with little to no help and terrified of cancer.

Bumping for the morning.

I say this kindly as someone who has a strong history of bowel cancer in my family but why would you automatically leap to assume it’s cancer? If you don’t have any bleeding and haven’t even done the FIT test yet I wouldn’t worry at this point - even if the FIT test comes back positive it could be something like Crohn’s or colitis. Low iron could also be something like coeliac disease which can cause your bowel to stop absorbing nutrients as well. I know it’s hard not to worry but you’re doing the right thing getting checked.

Sorry just re read and saw you’ve been tested for coeliacs already.

Your diet - both in terms of the quantity and the quality - is by far and away the most likely cause of your constipation.

If your ferritin is as low as just 8 - you could ask 4 iron iv

Have you ever specifically asked for a fereitin test ?

Try eating some vegetables?

If - if - if the stool sample comes back with blood in - it could be for polypus or a non cancerous reason etc

It's hard and can be scary

One step at a Time though - I say that as someone who had a positive poo test and polypus removed

Those iron results sound RIDICULOUS, you should be on supplements or even near an infusion at that level, surely? Please try to get a second opinion there?

While you wait for test results generally, I also wonder if you might benefit from looking more into gut bacteria and diet choices that help them (eg fermented foods like kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut?)

And I also agree with the "more veg" idea. I eat loads of very cheap frozen stuff which you can quickly steam in the microwave - it's high volume and low calorie but really good for your stomach.

Thanks for the replies. I do a good line in anxiety sometimes and this is one of those times.
My results have now been reviewed by another GP and I've been given iron tablets which won't help the constipation but never mind.
It's just the ferritin that's low. Folate and whatnot is fine and the cancer markers are also fine so that's a relief. I wasn't given that info yesterday. I've handed in my sample so now to wait.

When my feritin was 8 - they wanted me to have iron iv right away
Although there was a gap between them getting results and me having a phone call with dr

However - with ferritin of 8 - they should be offering you iron iv

I felt the difference so so fast with iron iv - and it was epic

You'll be tired and exhausted and achy with feretin of 8

You could (/ should?) Ask 4 feretin IV into you ...

If you went to your local hospital and said your feretin is 8
And gave NHS info / number - theyd likely give it there & then.
( mine did. A gp had Done referal though)

Heavy periods and / or a bleed in you could also be a reason 4 low feretin

Equally - some peoples bodies are bad at absorbing iron / have issues with absorption

I'm not tired or achey at all. I walk 5-10 miles a day no problems. I'm busy cooking veggie soups and trying to add iron rich foods in as much as possible.

Spinach is your friend - spinach with scrambled egg .. spinach in a salad and sandwich

I'm making spinach soup 😃

Nice :)
Snacking on raisins , dried bean cereal can help
And flaxseed on yoghurt etc - good 4 body

Funnily enough it's a myth that spinach has lots of iron - it's okay but you get more from kale or chard, and things like lentils and pumpkin or sesame seeds.

I seem to do best when I eat beef which is unfortunate, because if I had my way I'd be pretty much a vegetarian.

Love a Sunday roast with beef
I dont know if it's true but since they found polypus things in my bowel this week - - I've been reading stuff online today and it says for people with poly-things in their colon to avoid red meat

Pernicious anaemia can cause constipation (and obviously low iron). It doesn’t matter how much iron you eat as your body can’t process it. It is pretty treatable. Has this been ruled out?

My B12 is fine as was everything else. It's just the folate that's low at 8. I'm vegetarian and don't eat eggs unless they are in cake which is rare. Too much veg gives me terrible IBS so this is going to be a fine balance. Of course the constipation could be linked to the ibs, hormone changes because I'm well into perimenopause. I've been given the iron tablets and will take those alongside my increased veg. I've had no symptoms at all to suggest my iron is low.

I take Spatone instead of iron tablets, it's a liquid you have with juice, doesn't cause constipation like iron tablets do. You can get it at tesco, usually on offer

I think it's probably going to be diet-related, by the sound of it, and I'm a massive health worrier. It sounds like you're not getting enough fibre or iron from your diet.

Don't panic yet. I had something similar a few years ago at the exact same age - difference in bowel habits (the opposite to you!), very low iron (about the same as yours), and then a tiny bit of blood in the samples - GP put me on a rush to see gastro. I spent Christmas in a worry.
Gastro promptly said nothing to worry about, things change as you get older (the magic 40plus), x amount of blood is fine, and of course that any amount of veggie 40ish women need to take iron (which I've had to continue to take) (regular blood tests will show how you well you absorb it).

Diet is responsible for such a lot!

If I remember from reading up on it at the time, I think, iron can cause constipation, or it can cause the opposite. I find different things on different brands/formulations. How you take it with/without food also makes a difference to how you absorb it too (don't go straight to three doses a day or anything... Get used to one dose a day with food for a week, then tweak it).

OP, you can get "slow release" iron tablets which are 1 a day instead of the usual 3. Game changer for me, no gastro reaction at all. Might be worth asking GP. My ferritin with 5, BTW, and was up to 38 in a month!

OP, take the ferrous sulphate every 48hrs with a large vitamin c tablet and 2 hrs before you consume anything else at the start of the day.

Your ferritin will rocket in about 2 months and you will feel amazing.

Add high fibre to porridge in the morning, walk at least 3 miles a day and 2ltrs water and the constipation will go.

Ah hadn't read the full thread you already walk and have IBS which doesn't help your constipation. Sorry!