I have been taking iron about 2-3 times a week for about 3 years. My ferritin level has remained 7-7.6. My RDW and Transferritin remain high. After about 2 years my other values returned to normal and have remained so. I just can't get the ferritin up. My question. It was suggested that I might try taking the iron before bedtime. I must admit that I have not had the intestinal discomfort taking it at night, but I also do not have black stools. If I take it in the morning my stools turn black so I am wondering what is going on at night that this isn't happening. Do you think I am absorbing all the iron or maybe I am not breaking down the pill. I will call my hematologist but in the mean time I am wondering if anyone has any ideas as to why I am not experiencing black stool.
"D. M. Greene" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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I have been taking iron about 2-3 times a week for about 3 years. My ferritin level has remained 7-7.6. My RDW and Transferritin remain high. After about 2 years my other values returned to normal and have remained so. I just can't get the ferritin up. My question. It was suggested that I might try taking the iron before bedtime. I must admit that I have not had the intestinal discomfort taking it at night, but I also do not have black stools. If I take it in the morning my stools turn black so I am wondering what is going on at night that this isn't happening. Do you think I am absorbing all the iron or maybe I am not breaking down the pill. I will call my hematologist but in the mean time I am wondering if anyone has any ideas as to why I am not experiencing black stool.
"Beachhouse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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why do you have iron deficiency anemia?
"D. M. Greene" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Quoted message said:
I have been taking iron about 2-3 times a week for about 3 years. My ferritin level has remained 7-7.6. My RDW and Transferritin remain high. After about 2 years my other values returned to normal and have remained so. I just can't get the ferritin up. My question. It was suggested that I might try taking the iron before bedtime. I must admit that I have not had the intestinal discomfort taking it at night, but I also do not have black stools. If I take it in the morning my stools turn black so I am wondering what is going on at night that this isn't happening. Do you think I am absorbing all the iron or maybe I am not breaking down the pill. I will call my hematologist but in the mean time I am wondering if anyone has any ideas as to why I am not experiencing black stool.
Thanks for taking the time to read. Donna
I had a bowel resection in April of 2000 and had bleeding from the suture line that lasted about 2 years. I have had numerous colonoscopies (that's how they found the bleeding suture line)and upper endoscopy and a capsule endoscopy about 2 years ago and nothing else was found. The hematogist is starting to think I should have another capsule study to look for a small av malformation or a hemengihoma (sorry about the spelling). I have had negative occult bleeding test for about a year. Another thought is that I am not absorbing the iron I am taking. Do you have any thoughts as to what could be causing it?
: I had a bowel resection in April of 2000 and had bleeding : from the suture line that lasted about 2 years. I have had : numerous colonoscopies (that's how they found the bleeding : suture line)and upper endoscopy and a capsule endoscopy : about 2 years ago and nothing else was found. The : hematogist is starting to think I should have another : capsule study to look for a small av malformation or a : hemengihoma (sorry about the spelling). I have had : negative occult bleeding test for about a year. Another : thought is that I am not absorbing the iron I am taking. : Do you have any thoughts as to what could be causing it?
: Thanks, Donna
--
What kind of bowel re-section did you have? What was removed? (That might be the answer to your question.)
Emma Chase VanCott <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
<snip>
: I had a bowel resection in April of 2000 and had : bleeding from the suture line that lasted about 2 years. : I have had numerous colonoscopies (that's how they found : the bleeding suture line)and upper endoscopy and a : capsule endoscopy about 2 years ago and nothing else was : found. The hematogist is starting to think I should have : another capsule study to look for a small av : malformation or a hemengihoma (sorry about the : spelling). I have had negative occult bleeding test for : about a year. Another thought is that I am not absorbing : the iron I am taking. Do you have any thoughts as to : what could be causing it?
: Thanks, Donna
I had a small bowel resection for a benign tumor in my jejunum and a rescetion of about 1'6" of my descending colon. I was oozing blood from 3 places due to diverticulitis.
you may have absorption problems -- depending upon your age -- but if your stomach was left intact, this shouldn't be a problem. you are only taking iron 2 times a week -- that's probably the biggest issue -- why aren't you taking it daily? if you have no evidence of internal bleeding, and you have an intact stomach, and you aren't elderly, daily oral iron should replace your iron stores within a few months. if you're still iron deficient at that point, then you could talk to your hematologist about a one-time dose of intravenous iron -- but again -- if you're only taking 2 doses of iron a week, *that's* most likely the reason why you haven't replaced your stores.
"D. M. Greene" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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Emma Chase VanCott <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
<snip>
: I had a bowel resection in April of 2000 and had : bleeding from the suture line that lasted about 2 : years. I have had numerous colonoscopies (that's how : they found the bleeding suture line)and upper : endoscopy and a capsule endoscopy about 2 years ago : and nothing else was found. The hematogist is starting : to think I should have another capsule study to look : for a small av malformation or a hemengihoma (sorry : about the spelling). I have had negative occult : bleeding test for about a year. Another thought is : that I am not absorbing the iron I am taking. Do you : have any thoughts as to what could be causing it?
: Thanks, Donna
I had a small bowel resection for a benign tumor in my jejunum and a rescetion of about 1'6" of my descending colon. I was oozing blood from 3 places due to diverticulitis.
[email hidden] (D. M. Greene) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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Emma Chase VanCott <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
<snip>
: I had a bowel resection in April of 2000 and had : bleeding from the suture line that lasted about 2 : years. I have had numerous colonoscopies (that's how : they found the bleeding suture line)and upper : endoscopy and a capsule endoscopy about 2 years ago : and nothing else was found. The hematogist is starting : to think I should have another capsule study to look : for a small av malformation or a hemengihoma (sorry : about the spelling). I have had negative occult : bleeding test for about a year. Another thought is : that I am not absorbing the iron I am taking. Do you : have any thoughts as to what could be causing it?
Quoted message said:
: Thanks, Donna
I had a small bowel resection for a benign tumor in my jejunum and a rescetion of about 1'6" of my descending colon. I was oozing blood from 3 places due to diverticulitis.
"Beachhouse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
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you may have absorption problems -- depending upon your age -- but if your stomach was left intact, this shouldn't be a problem. you are only taking iron 2 times a week -- that's probably the biggest issue -- why aren't you taking it daily? if you have no evidence of internal bleeding, and you have an intact stomach, and you aren't elderly, daily oral iron should replace your iron stores within a few months. if you're still iron deficient at that point, then you could talk to your hematologist about a one-time dose of intravenous iron -- but again -- if you're only taking 2 doses of iron a week, *that's* most likely the reason why you haven't replaced your stores.
"D. M. Greene" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Emma Chase VanCott <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
<snip>
: I had a bowel resection in April of 2000 and had : bleeding from the suture line that lasted about 2 : years. I have had numerous colonoscopies (that's how : they found the bleeding suture line)and upper : endoscopy and a capsule endoscopy about 2 years ago : and nothing else was found. The hematogist is : starting to think I should have another capsule : study to look for a small av malformation or a : hemengihoma (sorry about the spelling). I have had : negative occult bleeding test for about a year. : Another thought is that I am not absorbing the iron : I am taking. Do you have any thoughts as to what : could be causing it?
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
: Thanks, Donna
I had a small bowel resection for a benign tumor in my jejunum and a rescetion of about 1'6" of my descending colon. I was oozing blood from 3 places due to diverticulitis.
Donna
Thank you for your response. I took iron twice a day for almost 1 year-really no change in my ferritin level. So I dropped down to 4-5 times a week and now I take it 3-4 times a week but I get really bad intestinal discomfort, constipation then bad explosive diarrehia (sp) for about 12 hours. I also get very ordorous gas so bad I really can't leave the house. I lead a pretty active life and find it hard to balance taking iron when there is really no change. My Dr has thought about IV iron but is reluctant due to the possible allergic reaction. He just tries to get me to take more tablets. That is also why it was suggested I try taking it at night. But I don't think it works if I take it at night. I am happy to try anything as I do experience a bit of fatique that at times does get in way of work and my going to the gym and other activities.
there is a newer formulation of IV iron that does not contain dextran. the dextran formulation was what conferred the low risk of anaphylaxis. ask your doctor again.
"D. M. Greene" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
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"Beachhouse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message My Dr has thought about IV iron but is reluctant due to the possible allergic reaction. He just tries to get me to take more tablets. That is also why it was suggested I try taking it at night. But I don't think it works if I take it at night. I am happy to try anything as I do experience a bit of fatique that at times does get in way of work and my going to the gym and other activities.
"Beachhouse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
there is a newer formulation of IV iron that does not contain dextran. the dextran formulation was what conferred the low risk of anaphylaxis. ask your doctor again.
[email hidden] (D. M. Greene) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
I have been taking iron about 2-3 times a week for about 3 years. My ferritin level has remained 7-7.6. My RDW and Transferritin remain high. After about 2 years my other values returned to normal and have remained so. I just can't get the ferritin up. My question. It was suggested that I might try taking the iron before bedtime. I must admit that I have not had the intestinal discomfort taking it at night, but I also do not have black stools. If I take it in the morning my stools turn black so I am wondering what is going on at night that this isn't happening. Do you think I am absorbing all the iron or maybe I am not breaking down the pill. I will call my hematologist but in the mean time I am wondering if anyone has any ideas as to why I am not experiencing black stool.
Thanks for taking the time to read. Donna
Thank you all for your feedback but the responses were geared towards why I am anemic. The question from above was not really address. If I take my iron at night my stools do not turn black as they do when I take it in the morning. I did forget to add that I do have very fast digestion-the capsule endoscopy went through my small intestine in about 36 minutes (give or take a minute). I also had a small bowel series and they said the same thing very fast digesting.
So the question is can I continue to take the capsule at night or am I not digesting it?
