Iron and abdominal cramps

[Catatedog]

is there any way to manage cramping from iron tablets. Have been on ferrous sulphate once a day for past 4 days. Am taking on an empty stomach but about two hours after taking get incredible abdominal cramping around my belly button which last at least 10 hours then the runs. I can cope with the nausea if it reduces fatigue but the pain is waking me up and not sure how to manage.

I was told when pg that Spatone is nicer on the tummy and less likely to give cramps and constipation - you can take them with orange juice or get the ones with added vit c in already to help absorption. Apparently the tablets can cause piles because they cause constipation but I never got those being on Spatone.

Thanks GP said iron stores were very low. Does spatone rise this?

Take them every other day - lessens side effects and still gives you enough iron, and take them with vitamin c too
I get on better with ferrous fumerate

Yes, same if not better because it's absorbed easier. Good luck! Check your B12 as well btw as they often go hand in hand,

This if iron stores very low you will need the tablets. Take every other day and boost your iron intake in your diet also.

Thamks will try switching to every other day and then switching tablets if it doesn’t help.

Thanks have been referred to gastro as diet not bad. Eat chicken thies, sardines, lentals and some beef as main sources of protein. I eat a lot of leafy veggitables, apricots figs have added fortified cerials also have been on an a to z vitamin with iron. Dont drink tea.

the pain and cramps are hard to manage though. Not sure if can take anything to help. Not sure will be able to work today and paracetamol has done little v

Thanks how quick did your levepls increase? B12 in range but lower thana year ago. Calcium, magmeseum and zinc also low but not needing high dose suplimemtation. GP said to continue with a multi vit.

I am also coeliac which is another reason for low iron and low B12.

Holland and Barrett do a good B12 spray which has brought my levels of B12 up to normal levels. My iron is always on the low side.

Take care

What are your ferritin levels? What brand do you currently take?

Iron supplements tend to cause constipation but this level of discomfort is not normal. Change brand and make sure to optimise absorption (with vitamin C and away from calcium).

Spatone and Floradix (liquid) and BetterYou (spray) are more gentle but the dosage is likely too low for you. Maybe try Solgar gentle iron.

Spatone has 5mg of iron per sachet whereas the tablets are 69mg. Sadly my doctor told me Spatone won’t even touch the sides if your iron levels are very low.
Agree with every other day, I don’t take mine on an empty stomach as it’s too strong. Experiment with times of day, too - just after my breakfast works best for me.

Ferritain 5 haemaglobin 108
GP rescribed ferrous sulphate.

better you spray deff not enougbh as use spray iron and spray b12 along with b12.

have a mild ammount of nausea which would see as a normal and manageable sideaffect but to me cramping to use a heavy hot waterbottle feels to much.

Thanks will try this have been takimg on an empty stomach in the morning

Thanks think may well be an absorbtion issue so refferred to gastro

Ferritin at 5 is very low!

2Omg of iron in Solgar gentle iron (vs. 5mg in liquid/spray). I personally tolerate it well but it might still be insufficient for you.

Thanks if things dom’t settle think worth trying gentle iron as combined with continuing to use the sprays and multi vit must be better than nothing. I actually feel quite unwell dizzy tired loosing hair but doc said that as haemoglobin low but not terrible that this would be psychological.

I used ferrous fumarate which is gentler but very similar medically. I’d also add something to help with constipation (figs, prunes or if you need something strong dried apricots, whatever works for you).

Thanks will look into changing type of iron. Constipation isnt a problem things arde very loose.

psychological with low haemoglobin and a ferritin level of 5?!!!

Have you asked your doctor if there is any way you could have an iron infusion? I can’t get on with the tablets, they make me feel so nauseous so I’ve had a couple of infusions and it makes such a difference

Have there been any signs of blood in your stool? If your diet is generally good, it could be something like bleeding in the stomach or bowel which may be why you’ve been referred to gastro.

Drop an email to your gp to check if you should continue given your symptoms, or wait for the gastro appointment.

The every other day is advice because the absorption of iron is actually significantly better when the supply is irregular. I’m surprised your gp didn’t advise you of that. Also I’ve always been told not to take iron on an empty stomach.

Yes
there is simultaneously some psychological stuff going on caused by lots of surgeries and serious infections My thought looking at the results was perhaps the drained and unwell feeling is because of low iron and low calcium, magneseum and zinc. so was hopeful would be more manageable after treatment.

The gastro referral was largely to check absorbtion as have had a bowel resection. I have not noticed blood and had a normal colonoscopy a year ago.

interesting on every other day was told absorbtion better on an empty stomach and switch to with food if nauseus.

Haven’t asked about an infusion what were your levels like. I saw private gastro and waiting on private dietitian. I have health insurance if this would be a possibility.

I had these same symptoms for years and the Dr said I was depressed and put me on Prozac. He was the one who told me to get Spatone actually so I am a bit worried the dose may be too low. I actually also have pernicious anemia which had been ignored for so long it became hard for me to get out of bed and even go to work. I finally managed to get a blood test when it caused my thyroid to go haywire and I went into thyrotoxicosis and ended up in hospital. I was so angry at my Dr as my mum had pernicious anemia and I made a point of mentioning this EVERY TIME I went in for many years, but he said it wasn't hereditary. It took my body shutting down for the right bloods to be taken in hospital and I switched Dr's. New Dr took one look at my results (Iron was at 4 at one point) and said she couldn't believe he had left me like that. Apparently new mums often have low B12 because the laughing gas depletes the body's stores of it, but as far as I know no one ever tests tired new mums to check they aren't having to deal with this post-partum. I strongly suspect many mental health issues could be avoided if we did check this in new mums who had gas and air and raised the B12 base level range. You don't say if you are a new mum but I wish I had known that information.

Sorry, bit of a tangent but I couldn't not share my story as it sounds so similar with the symptoms. Hair was coming out in the brush, fingernails were breaking off at the slightest knock and all ridged, Dr said he had "never heard of nails being any kind of indicator for deficiencies" - in hindsight I can laugh but at the time I was struggling to even get to the surgery I was so ill.