Afraid of starting vits and constipation from iron! Vets????

With my first pregnancy my Dr. told me to take iron.  I was so constipated that I thought I would have to go to the hospital.  It was horrible and something i will never forget.  I was 21, away from home, and didnt even know what was causing it, until a phone call home to my mother who told me to ditch the iron, and everything was good again.  Now One  week out from my DS surgery, and the thought of taking that iron again has me a little more than worried.  Should I be?   I noticed since I started taking my hydocodone again for my sciatica that I dont have he loose stools at all anymore.  I know its the narcodic.  Thats just what it does.  Now to think about throwing that iron on top of it scares me ALOT!!!  If this does happen is it okay to take miralax with a new DS surgery?

I took a stool softener when I was first learning to balance the vits with my system.  Iron and calcium will constipate, Magnesium citrate will free it up. 

Vit C (more than 1800 per day) will get things moving for me.  Coffee with heavy cream gets things moving for me also. 

 

I've had constipation from iron so I've been using liquid ferrous fumarate, but my ferritin is still dropping so I'm hoping to get infusions soon.

I had a problem with that within a few weeks of starting iron and calcium.  So now I am proactive to keep it from happening.  If you go even ONE day without having a bowel movement and think you're constipated, take action before it gets worse.  I use Vitalady's remedy:

 

• In the Morning, hot beverage first thing on an empty stomach
• 1 serving MiraLax in the morning
• 4 stool softeners at night
• 1 mag ox with lunch, 1 with dinner

Take Philips Milk of Magnesia if the above does not produce results.

I take 4 stool softeners every night and the magnesium oxide every day also as proactive measures.  

Thank you, so much this is a big help, now I dont have to worry so much about it.....lol

Thank you, PSaadallah, these are some good tips.....  I appreciate your thought.

Proferrin ES or Proferrin Forte might be something to try. It's heme iron and the very least chance of causing intestinal problems. I've seen DSrs take as many as 4 day. The forte is prescription and has folic acid in it. The ES is over the counter. You snap the tablet into 2 pieces to make sure you get all you can of what's inside. Vitalady carries the Proferrin ES from Colarado Labs or you can order directly from the Proferrin web site.

--gina

I ordered her three month pre packaged regimine, maybe its already in there.  I'll check, thanks Gina.....

I use the Proferrin ES (get it from Vitalady). I still get constipated.

I use a stool softener, 3 fiber tablets, and eat LOTS of fat. If my fat intake drops too much I end up with brick butt. However, ESP in the first few months fat can also cause extreme diarrhea so it's a definite balancing act!

You'll find your sweet spot. And it changes as you get further out.

Liz

i take RX iron, Proferrin forte 2 pills/day but I also take 600 mg of mg glycinate.....no constipation...every not once....depending on the iron you are taking and the mg you wil have a higher chance of constipation