Advice

[Griffin33]

I have just taken my 1st FERROUS FUMARATE after being diagnosed with an iron deficiency.

I'm really worried.. I have IBS and struggle with my stomach already.

Reading on here and the NHS advice these tablets can cause sickness... upset stomach and headaches.

Although the doctor said if I struggle she will change the medication at the end of the day I need to get better after being laid up for quite some time. So if anyone has any advice they think will be useful i would be grateful.

Thank you.

[Nackapan]

I alternate iron supplements. Ferrous fumerate only one tablet every other day. Solgar goethe iron. And spartone.I was prescribed 326g ferrous fumerate with folate I didnt e get on with that.

Take if away from caffeine and with vitamin c rich food.

Probably wises tk have it with a meal.

Have you PA too?

As often one absorbtion problem leads to another.

[Griffin33 in reply to Nackapan]

Just got told I am anemic and got prescribed these tablets but as soon as I read that IBS sufferers should not have it I panicked. I want the anaemia to go but not at the cost of feeling more ill.

[Griffin33 in reply to Nackapan]

I don't think I have pernicious anaemia. Just regular anemia. I think it has been coming on for quite some time so its decided to kick in now properly.

[Nackapan in reply to Griffin33]

Hope you find a form that suits you. There might be a forum for iron aneamia or IBS that coujd help you more

[Griffin33 in reply to Nackapan]

Thanks for the Advice Nackapan. Much appreciated 👍

[Romany8]

Hiya, ferrous fumate can definitely cause stomach upsets, but you’ll know within a day or so,I have crohns and it absolutely killed me with the pains etc, I was given a slow release one next which did exactly the same to me so I now have to have iron infusions, iron is very important and will help pick you up but if you cant tolerate it after a few days please don’t suffer, ring the docs back, good luck❤️

[Griffin33 in reply to Romany8]

Thanks Romany8

[CupCake5]

I have IBS/tummy troubles; I have had ferrous sulphate in the past which really didn’t agree with me but I’ve been on ferrous fumarate on three separate occasions now & I haven’t had any issues with them thankfully. I take them with food which is supposed to help to prevent problems occurring & I’ve also been told it’s best to avoid taking them with milk as that hinders the absorption but if taken with vitamin C/orange juice that aids the absorption. I would test the waters & see how you get on & if it doesn’t suit you speak to the doctor again as there are alternatives & there's no point in suffering if you don’t need to.

[Griffin33 in reply to CupCake5]

Thanks CupCakes5 . Your message is very reassuring. I'm giving it a go anyway as I have been so unwell for the last fortnight. So far so good apart from feeling a little nauseous this morning. Fingers crossed for improvement and no side effects.

[CupCake5 in reply to Griffin33]

Glad you feel reassured. Obviously we are all different & just because I’m ok on it doesn’t mean you will be but just keep in mind that there are alternatives available if this doesn’t suit you & your GP has already said they will change it if necessary so that’s a good start. Very wise to give it a go. I was very reluctant to start it a few years ago because my tummy was in such a state already but that was possibly at least partly to do with the fact that I was severely anaemic. Apparently I was bordering on needing a blood transfusion if my levels hadn’t risen so well in response to the tablets! No wonder I was struggling to stay awake! Hopefully it will help to alleviate your symptoms & the side effects will be minimal. Did you take it with food as that should help with the nausea. I’ve been taking 210mg twice daily. At one point it was suggested I could take it three times a day to raise my levels more quickly but I resisted that & stuck with twice a day as I knew I was ok on that dose & it just meant it took a bit longer for my levels to rise sufficiently but the GP was ok with that... her main concern was that I was moving in the right direction. Hopefully you’ll soon start to feel the benefits.

[Griffin33 in reply to CupCake5]

I am taking the tablets with food and today..2nd day of tablets I am already losing the dead weight ..drained feeling. I still can not do much other than rest but after the fortnight i have had it's a step in the right direction.

I have had IBS for years and struggled with weight loss, not being able to eat properly for years... I was down to 7 stone and looked half starved in the end.

My doctor eventually suggested the FODMAP diet which I threw myself into as it seemed like that was all there was left to try.

I found out that i am lactose intolerant which was a major breakthrough. I am also intolerant to several other things like cooking oils... lettuce and goodness only knows what's in sauces and gravy powder/granules.

Once I get back on my feet again properly I am going to get a food allergy test to see what else could be a problem.

My weight has been steady for the last year or so at around 8 stone 10ish.. about right for my height at 5ft-5".

I have to admit my diet is probably not fantastic (probably the cause of my anemia so will have to work on that now as well) but my IBS only catches me out occasionally now which is a great achievement. 😁