anemia but digestive issues (diarrhea)/multivitamins

[Marinaaa]

Good evening everyone,

I´m writing on behalf of my sister who is lactating now on her second year and has been suffering from diarrhea for the last two months. She has always had a tendency to it, but it seems to be aggravated.

She is taking iron(liposmated) with vit C(ascorbic acid) because she has been diagnosed with anemia. We have both always had low ferritin hers is under range.

I wonder iron might be aggravating her digestive issues but she prefers not to stop it due to anemia.

I have heard of a product "ferritin" by cardiovascular research, will it be mild for the stomach?

or which iron should she be taking?

She is hashimoto, medicated with levo, and has been taking a multivitamin with traces of everything, including folate and iodine in high doses, as adviced by doctors. I am very much against the use of iodine for her but her doctors have recommended. My nephew is already 18months.

She has stopped the multivitamin and only takes iron now.

Any advice? thanks in advance

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

This might help a bit:

helvella - Iron Document

This is a summary of what I have read up and found out about iron supplements over the past few years. I am not in any way medically trained. You are strongly encouraged to check every detail before making any decisions for yourself.

Last updated 02/04/2024

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[Marinaaa in reply to helvella]

Thanks a lot.

[Marinaaa in reply to helvella]

with this spray, Better you, how many sprays per day do people generally take? 4?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Marinaaa]

I'm afraid I don't know!

[Marinaaa in reply to helvella]

no worries!

[Regenallotment]

Here are some ideas ;

is she optimally replaced with thyroid hormone? Has she tested FT3 and FT4 recently? When I am over range I get diarrhoea

I take heme iron instead of other types for low ferritin.

Has she tried dairy free/gluten free? Dairy makes my stomach upset/painful.

🌱

[Marinaaa in reply to Regenallotment]

I´m not sure about her tyroid results, probably not overange as she is only on T4. She had the diarhoea problem before starting the thyroid medication, it is sth that comes and goes but she was apparently better and now she has been worse for two months.

She wont try dairy or gluten free I think as long as her doctors dont advise her so. ;(

anyway she is visiting a gastroenterologist soon.

[HowNowWhatNow]

there is a US brand recommended here - 3 arrows.

It was the only iron supplement that worked for me.

Please tell her not to ignore her gastric symptoms. They can end up being worse than the problem that provoked them.

[Regenallotment in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

I use 3 Arrows too, it’s brilliant 🤩

[Marinaaa in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

Thanks, I´ll have a look at he brand.

[Marinaaa in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

Is it better than the iron in spray for the stomach?

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Marinaaa]

Much, much, much better. It’s the only thing that worked for me. And I say this as someone who tried everything and found nothing else - not even iron infusions - that agreed with my system.

[Marinaaa in reply to HowNowWhatNow]

and in which page can I buy it? their official website only?

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Marinaaa]

As far as I know, yes. That’s how I bought it - and good customer service, in my case.

[Karma1955]

All those symptoms applied to me, and it was discovered that I have coeliac disease. There is a definite link to it with both Hashimotos and anemia. She should ask to be tested for it. Iodine should not be given to someone with Hashimotos. It can cause swelling of the thyroid. It happened with me and it took three years for it to correct itself.

[Marinaaa in reply to Karma1955]

She went to the gastroenterologist years ago but they only did the blood tests which turned out negative and the procedure stopped there. She believes all her drs tell her and she was given a supplement with 200 iodine so she wont listen to me, I have told her a hundred times. Now she may come back to another gastroenterologisth who did the complete celiac study to me.