Is Iron Causing my upset painful stomach?

[beaches4me]

I take quite a few medications and was recently put on a high dose of Iron, twice a day. I've been on the iron for about two months maybe and in the last week or two, my tummy started aching and hurting before I take it and after I take it too. Not sure if this is a reaction with any medications or what it might be. I was put on 325 mg twice a day but since I kept forgetting to take my iron at night since it was my only pill I took at night, I started taking both doses with the rest of my medications. So that would make it that I was taking 650 mg at one time. The other medications I take are: 81 mg aspirin, Sertraline 150 mg, Lisinopril 20 mg, metoprolol 50 mg, simvastatin 40 mg, hydrochlorathiazide 25 mg, nasonex one spray each nostril, twice a day and the ferrous sulfuate 325 mg, twice a day. Any suggestions as to what could be causing my tummy to hurt so bad?

[panda2526]

Forgot to add that in people with anemia with iron overload at the same time, they can't tolerate the treatment for iron overload, which is phlebotomy, taking blood out. My husband gets this done once a week right now. A pint at a time. But in anemia your blood counts are too low to tolerate the blood getting taken out so in order to remove the iron so the patient does not get the organ damage from iron overload, the only other alternative is chelation. That gets the iron out, and is necessary to prevent iron damage. The person with iron deficient anemia does not absorb enough iron, so that is why they are given supplements or transfusion therapy to counteract the iron deficiency, but the disorder like thalassemia and others causes the body to hang on to all that iron, so then they become iron overloaded, even iron avid.

I know it is a lot right now...you'll find out things one step at a time. It's good to be as informed as we can as millions have some form of iron overload, either inherited or acquired. Our body will use what iron it needs for health...after that, it is not our friend!

[panda2526]

Hi there. wow. Lots of stuff. Yes, thalassemia is a genetic condition of anemia with iron overload. So a person having this is in a very bad situation...first, they don't get enough iron, they are given supplements and/or transfusion therapy which adds to the problem because then a person gets iron overloaded, which is a serious consequence and leads to many other disease, organ failure and death. If you have this or are a carrier as well of the mutated gene then it is a good chance that iron is the culprit in your case as well. A person can be anemic and iron load at the same time! There are many iron loading disorders, and millions are walking around not knowing the danger that having even small elevations in iron in our body can cause. It is a good idea for all of us to get informed about this, particularly if we are of European background.

[beaches4me]

Thanks you Breeaa and colleenmarie537 for all of your advice too. I will definitely keep those suggestions in mind. I just know I am limited as to when I can see my doctor and I am so glad I was able to run into this site and all of you for help! Thank you all!!

[beaches4me]

What are your other health issues?
Panda,

The doctors decided to put me on the iron supplements after my last two blood draws and it showed that I was/am/have iron deficiency anemia. They said it looked obvious to them at the low levels my iron levels were, that I needed to take the iron and that it would help with my heart health problems.

I was diagnosed with Angina and and high blood pressure a little over a year ago, went in to have stents put in and found out I had to have an emergency single bypass. I had what they all called the widow maker. If I hadn't stayed and had the surgery, I would have never made it back to the hospital alive. If that artery gets fully blocked (I was at 99%), you have like 5 or 10 minutes to get it unblocked or you are a goner. The doctors were having a hard time getting control of my blood pressure several months ago and so I got put on the hydroclorothiazide, the iron and nasonex cause I was getting fluid built up in my ears and to top it all off, they tripled my ptsd medicine.

I am 43 and no, I do not know what my hemoglobin or any of that stuff is right now. I might be able to find out next week from the doctors. I think they will be retaking blood again because they want to see if I have a dormant marker that my daughter has called thalassemia minor and that is where the blood when tested 'looks' like it is low in iron, but it really isn't. They said it is always passed down from a parent and we do not believe my husband has it so they are going to test me to see if it is me and if I just have it dormant or if it is active.

[colleenmarie537]

Iron is the culprit! Do not take it with Dairy at all. Mention to your doctor the pain you are having, The only was I could deal with the 325's is eating as much as I could at a meal then taking the first one. Then I'd drink 2 bottles of water. Staying hydrated is important to keep you regular, you may need to take some fiber drinks as well. It's not perfect, but it got me thru until I could take slo FE over the counter. Good Luck!

[Breeaa]

wow you are taking a lot of meds!!  Be careful, Iron should not be taken with in 4 hours of certain meds...make sure you are not doing that....I am also on a high dose of iron. ( same as you actually) It does cause an upset stomach..Make sure to take it with a source of Vit C ...Orange juice is great. Also try taking it with crackers...or something to help the tummy absorb. if that does not help...I would talk with your dr about it.

[panda2526]

What are your other health issues?

Why did they feel the need to place you on iron supplements in the first place?

What other diagnoses/conditions do you have? (Looks like high blood pressure meds? Hydrochlorothiazide and aspirin...)

Do you know what your hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cells are?

Age?