I was also prescribed Ferrograd C, but I found it a bit hard on my tummy. So now I take the iron biocomplex by "nutri-medicine", which is available at a naturopath or health food store. It includes vitamin c (to aid absorbtion) and folate. I haven't had any problem with constipation with them at all (even while taking three times a day).
The other one I've heard people recommend is Flurodix (Sp?) which is a powder you dissolve in water and is available at the chemist - apparently its also easier on the tummy.
Remember to take your iron tablets away from tea and coffee though, because these inhibit your absorbtion.
My iron was also low and because I suffer from IBS the extra iron was giving me hell! My OB advises metamucil when taking iron supplements to avoid constipation, so therefore must be perfectly safe. But a word of warning, start off with once a day and let your body get use to it - otherwise you may have the opposite effect!!!!!
Sarah, I agree, Blooms, or any other liquid iron (there's a few out there, FerroForce is another one) is a good way to go. Liquid will be easier absorbed too. And won't constipate.
Jodi! There's 2 iron related things they measure, one is supposed to be around 15 (and 6 is still very low woman!), but are you sure your one that's supposed to be 120 is 6?
hmmm, now I'm not sure which one. My dr said the range should be between 10 and something, and it's 6. I have to have my bloods done again this month to see how they're going so I'll find out soon enough.
I'm taking the 'Fab Iron' because my doctor and specialist said that my iron levels are too low. The Health food shop said it was the best one. I'm also taking the Blackmore's pregnancy tablets twice a day (scarily this was not enough to get my iron levels up...). No probs so far with constipation. However I am not pregnant, so I don't know if this makes a difference...
Pre birth my iron levels were low and I started them.
Post birth I lost blood which depleted my iron stores - my red cell test after birth came back 89. Recently they have come back 110 after taking them for two months, which is borderline ok, but my iron stores are still very low so I need to keep taking them for a few more months again.
However, no-one has mentioned that it will change the colour of your poo to a nice dark grey colour - a shock to start with until your body gets used to it and gets back to normal.
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