Guest viewing is limited

Advice on iron supplementation?

Status
Not open for further replies.

giulia

junior member
Joined
May 6, 2009
Messages
29
Location
United States
My surgery for LTKR is August 10 and I am scheduled for my autologous blood donation in about a week. My surgeon told me what kind of iron and how much to take, but he didn't recommend a brand. When I asked the pharmacist at CVS which one to take, he, not surprisingly, recommended the CVS brand. Does anyone recommend a particular brand?:pzld: Are they all the same? Any advice on anything you should or shouldn't be eating or medicines you should or shouldn't take with them?

I've been reading the board for awhile now and have learned so much. Listening to people who have been there is amazingly helpful. My questions get answered before I ask them. Thanks everyone! broken link removed: https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b286/flagady15/smilies/9d6fdc9c77.gif:wub:

I have another question -- how do you put your date of surgery and name below that little line after your message? Can you make it show up every time without having to type it in each time?

Giula

RTHR 2/2/2000
LTKR 8/10/2009 (the plan)
 
Go to user control panel, scroll down to see edit signature.....To the left you can see the box...And with the iron make sure you have I know but yes th lovely stoll softeners...oh boy....lol
 
I bellieve you take iron with vitamin C to help absorbtion. A piece of fruit or a vitamin is fine or juice. Also take it away from everything else. Time wise away from other vitamins. Hours different. Kim already told you about the stool softeners. Iron is constipating for sure.
If you search the bottles, some are easier on the stomach than others.
I just found the kind a dr. gave me. It is Jarrow Formula's IronSorb. 18mg elemental iron in gastric protection complex. It says gentle, non-constipating.
I see a hematologist as I have iron deficiency problems and usually end up getting an iron IV so I can't say how well this iron works. But the dr who gave it to me is the best.
judy
 
Thanks Kim, I would not have figured that out, ever. Let's see if it works.
Thanks Judy, I will look up the Jarrow Formula. My iron level is on the high side of normal, so I shouldn't have any problem giving blood.
 
Giulia, any of the generic (store) brands from a store like Walmart, CVS, Walgreens....etc. should be just fine. You can compare the amount of iron and be sure you are getting what the doctor wants you to have.
 
Not to my knowledge. Others may have a different opinion. I think generally the name brand generics are as good as advertised brands. The only place I would be a little wary is purchasing over the internet brands that you don't really know about. I have read some stories about some of them not containing what is advertised and you really have no way of knowing. Also, very little recourse if there is a problem.
 
What you have to watch out for is the different amounts of elemental iron found in different forms of iron supplements as you don't want to overdose.

For example a 325 mg tablet of Ferrous Gluconate has 28 mg of elemental iron
while a 325 mg tablet of Ferrous Sulfate has 65 mg of elemental iron.

Given the short time till your donation 65 mg of elemental iron a day should be ok.

You can also take it with a vitamin C tablet if you don't drink juice.

You should take it at least 2 hours after a meal. Dairy products, spinach, tea, coffee and whole wheat interfere with absorption.

Simon
 
Thank Simon. The surgeon recommended ferrous sulfate. I can see that since I eat yogurt, spinach, or whole wheat at least twice a day, I need to make up a schedule for taking the iron.
 
Ferrous Sulphate is actually the chemical name of iron! Which means you are getting a basic, non-trade pill and being very economical about it. Good for you!

I remember years ago, the maternity departments used to have a big bin full of packets of ferrous sulphate pills in the waiting room for mums to help themselves! Wouldn't be allowed nowadays of course but saved the docs writing scripts and all! Happy days!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom