ferrous sulphate giving me terrible stomach cramps

[Lincsangel1]

I'm really struggling with stomach cramps from ferrous sulphate.. my gp originally had me on 200g 3 times per day...

when my level rose from 17 to 60 he said to stop taking them. Within a week my ferritin had dropped to 38 so I'm back to taking just 200g once a day.

Has anyone else tried ferogloblin ?

I'm not currently taking any folic acid.

I did ask my gp if I needed to be,he said no which I don't think is right.

my folate is 4.6

[Lincsangel1]

Would these help?

Text

[cocoa]

I don't tolerate iron well. You could try Solgar gentle iron or Spartone.

[LadyBothwell]

Hi. This happened to me and alongside the cramps I had nausea and diahorrea. My GP told me to try ferrous fumerate as some people tolerate that better than sulphate. It was more difficult to find supplements that were fumerate but if that is what Feroglobin is it’s worth a try,

Sadly for me that didn’t work either, taking tablets and liquids of any iron left me with symptoms so bad I couldn’t leave the house, My gp told me I was wrong because iron makes you constipated (a quick Google or read of the patient insert leaflets says that either change in bowel movements is possible! ) I knew it was the tablets because if I stopped taking them the cramps, nausea and diahorrea stopped but then I was so fatigued I couldn’t get out of bed. Eventually I was sent to a Haemotologist who told me that it’s not uncommon for people with PA to have problems absorbing iron, my ferritin level was 7 at this point and I had numerous issues including hair loss, neurological pain, mouth ulcers, a twitching right eye. he did some additional blood test on my transferrin level which I think shows if the iron is actually getting into your cells, concluded it wasn’t, increased my b12 injections frequency gave me an iron infusion and told me to take folic acid every other day. He said folate results should ideally be showing towards the higher level in PA patients (from memory I think that’s around 20 nano somethings). I’ve been having iron infusions for 4 years, I know when my level drops because all the symptoms come back. I take multiple spatone sachets to top up which I can now tolerate until I can get an appointment for a blood test and infusion which usually is in about a week.

As your iron level increases taking supplements I hope you find one that works and is gentle enough on your stomach. I mentioned my iron and PA story just to recommend that you don’t leave it too long if things don’t improve and for other people to question and ask for more tests if necessary

[LizWilsonpa]

Hi. I couldn’t tolerate ferrous sulphate. On the advice of a pharmacist I switched to ferrous fumerate and these work well for me. Initially I had them prescribed but they’re cheaper just to buy.I take mine with high dosage Vit C and avoid tea, coffee, dairy an hour before or after.

I do find I have to continue to take them otherwise my ferritin level drops again.

Good luck with getting this sorted.