Greetings everyone,
I’m new here, greatful to find so much information, hope to get better and help others do the same.
Along with the severe fatigue, a large portion of my illness is centered around gastro. I first became sick in 1987, after what seemed like a stomach virus.
Over the years, I’ve had dozens of blood tests. But apparently no one had ordered a full iron panel. Turns out I have high-normal ferritin (200-400 range) with low serum iron. So my GP decided to send me to a hematologist. Did a bone marrow test that doctors say was ok, but found no measurable iron in the marrow. And a bunch of other test that I don’t understand, but don’t seem to be concerning or conclusive. No bad news, but no answers.
Last week, the hematologist, at a loss, suggested that I try an iron supplement, to see if I felt better. Then we would retest my levels in a month. I told him I was reluctant, because I have reflux, IBS, and that it would more likely upset my system. He countered, saying without enough iron, digestion cannot work properly.
So last Saturday, I took one iron pill with food at lunch. Big mistake.
About an hour later, I started getting severe nausea and pain in my lower right side, spreading over the whole abdomen, some of the worst ever. Along with gas, cramps, reflux, the works. This continued all the rest of the day, night and into the next day. Yesterday it finally started to let up, still feeling it today.
I’m trying to figure out what happened. Why did this make me so sick? My wife took one of the same pills at the same time and felt no side effects. My guess is that the iron was slow release (pill was coated) and went into the gut where it dissolved.
Did the iron feed a bacteria/virus/who knows what, that’s already making me sick?
I’ve been researching this ever since, and apparently iron can feed bacteria. Has anyone experienced anything like this?
Thanks, E
I’m new here, greatful to find so much information, hope to get better and help others do the same.
Along with the severe fatigue, a large portion of my illness is centered around gastro. I first became sick in 1987, after what seemed like a stomach virus.
Over the years, I’ve had dozens of blood tests. But apparently no one had ordered a full iron panel. Turns out I have high-normal ferritin (200-400 range) with low serum iron. So my GP decided to send me to a hematologist. Did a bone marrow test that doctors say was ok, but found no measurable iron in the marrow. And a bunch of other test that I don’t understand, but don’t seem to be concerning or conclusive. No bad news, but no answers.
Last week, the hematologist, at a loss, suggested that I try an iron supplement, to see if I felt better. Then we would retest my levels in a month. I told him I was reluctant, because I have reflux, IBS, and that it would more likely upset my system. He countered, saying without enough iron, digestion cannot work properly.
So last Saturday, I took one iron pill with food at lunch. Big mistake.
About an hour later, I started getting severe nausea and pain in my lower right side, spreading over the whole abdomen, some of the worst ever. Along with gas, cramps, reflux, the works. This continued all the rest of the day, night and into the next day. Yesterday it finally started to let up, still feeling it today.
I’m trying to figure out what happened. Why did this make me so sick? My wife took one of the same pills at the same time and felt no side effects. My guess is that the iron was slow release (pill was coated) and went into the gut where it dissolved.
Did the iron feed a bacteria/virus/who knows what, that’s already making me sick?
I’ve been researching this ever since, and apparently iron can feed bacteria. Has anyone experienced anything like this?
Thanks, E
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