Did you suffer constipation on iron supplements?

[Writerwannabe83]

And if so, how long after starting the supplements did your troubles begin?

I started on tablets 2 days ago (two tablets a day) with the knowledge that some people get constipated, but I'm worried that actually it happens to most women! not just 'some'

I was talking to my sister about it and she said when she'd been pregnant she also had to take supplements and she didn't poo for AGES and she was in so much pain that she eventually refused to take them - by the time she gave birth her iron levels were at 7

She said though that her troubles didn't start straight away and actually didn't start suffering until she'd been on them for a few weeks. Is that quite common??

And what happened if your constipation became unbearable?
Were you expected to just put up with it?

A glass of prune juice followed by a cup of hot water 30 mins after always sorts me right out!

I drank a glass of orange juice with the pills and never had any trouble!

Try Spatone, it,s iron rich water from a natural source.The last thing you want is piles oh the joy.

They,re quite expensive, but worth it IMHO.

Iron tablets had the opposite effect if anything for me.

I'd recommend spatone too if you can afford it.

How expensive is it and where do you get it from??

I've just started taking floradix following a recommendation on here. Liquid formula and tastes ok, and I'm really funny with liquid meds. Was £15ish for 500ml which will last 25 days. I was prescribed tablets but spoke to doctor and my levels were borderline so he's happy for me to try this first :)

Might be worth getting your levels if you don't know them already? No ill effects so far...

My levels were 9 when I had my bloods taken two weeks ago. I only got told my results a few days ago though. My levels were just over 11 when I had my 12 week bloods done. My midwife told me I was 'severely' anaemic, was she exaggerating or is 9 really bad?

Floradix is good too. I quite like the taste. It's a bit like Purdey's. You can get it in Holland & Barrett.

Boots sell spatone. Cant remember how much it costs though.

I've just been prescribed ferrous sulphate as my levels are borderline - I find though they give me the opposite problem!

Last time after ds I had to have two units of blood so I am perservering with them but by heck my insides are not happy.

When I got it it was about £20 for a months.Any good chemist should have them.

And how long had you all been on the supplements before your problems first started? Did the constipation/diarrhoea start straight away??

When I was taking ferrous sulphate post EMCS my midwife recommended eating a teaspoon of linseeds everyday. I had them on my cereal. They are a natural stool softener, and much gentler on the system than what I was prescribed.
Worked for me hope you feel better soon

My doctor said 11 is the cut off - mine were 10.7 so I don't think 9 is that bad, but I'd go more on how you feel tbh. Are you easily breathless, light headed and generally knackered?! I'm feeling a bit like that, hence the floradix. But I don't feel bad enough to risk the tablets just yet...

I'm very breathless at times.
I have started my course but I'm being naughty and only taking one a day instead of the two I've been prescribed

I was on iron tablets when I fell pregnant - At 8 weeks I was sent to the hospital with a suspected ectopic pregnancy. Actually, I was just constipated

I had problems with iron tablets, and in the end I had iron infusions instead, so I had to go into hospital 3 times and I had a drip for an hour each time. I do that every time I'm anaemic now, I'd speak to the midwife or GP though, they can give you a softener if you need it x

Are iron levels the same as haemoglobin levels?
Sorry if this is a stupid question that should go on the stupid question thread.

I'm not sure Thursday, I'm slightly befuddled. I was told my ferritin level was 22 and normal range started from 19.

I may have to Google

Careful of googling!
You'll end up diagnosing yourself with something much much worse

Solgar have an iron supp called gentle iron which is reallly good if prone to getting bunged up. I never need iron tabs when i was pg, mine actually went up which i put down to quality supplements and good diet. I did however get constipated when id not eaten enuf fruit, so bad i actually had to get the rubber gloves on and have a hoke so make sure you eat plenty apples, pears and oranges and prune juice in warm water. I also got some lactulose off gp which really helped too.

My dr recommended I eat at least 2 apples a day.

I get horrendous diarrhoea (I have IBS though) so I'm on the liquid stuff called sytron which is the only form of iron supplement that doesn't affect me.

Am 31 wks, 10.1 and on ferrous sulphate. I'm consciously eating lots of roughage incl dried apricots & litres of water, and everything seems to be fine.

Mine were 9 in late pregnancy and the midwife said that was too low for floradix or spatone and I had to take their prescribed tablets. I did as I was told, mostly because your iron levels have to be a certain level to be allowed a homebirth didn't get one anyway

I could handle the constipation until after I gave birth then it became horrendous (constipation plus tear, don't go there).

If I get pg again I will be on floradix from the start to try to prevent the problem.