Re: Iron

[Guest guest]

> Hi all

> Had a checkup with my GI doc yesterday and my blood results showed

> that my iron was " very " low. He wanted to put me on iron supplements

> of course and I refused (very politely) because I'm finally better

> than I have been in the 4 years since I've been diagnosed with UC,

> weaning off my meds successfully, and have read about the harm that

> iron can cause. I asked him about injections and he wouldn't give

> them to me because " they really hurt " and even though I told him I

> gave myself fertility shots years ago and don't mind a bit of pain,

> he wouldn't prescribe them for me. He said to take a prenatal

> vitamin because they have some iron in them (10 mg) and shouldn't

> cause as much problems for me. What do I do? I've made great

> progress on this diet and don't want to do anything to jeopardize

> that. I'm in Canada and trying to get referred to another GI

> specialist is very hard. I already drive over an hour to see the one

> I have and it was like pulling teeth to get my family physician to

> refer me to him. Do I take the prenatal (legal) for now or do I just

> forget about them and cook more in my cast iron skillet?

Cook some organic liver.

Not only good for your iron - but very good for your brain as well.

Mara

[Guest guest]

I just checked the food ingredients of Floravit (not to be confused with Floradix) against the legal/illegal list. I did not locate any illegals. Can anyone confirm if this supplement is SCD-okay? Because pre-SCD, when my son and I were unbelievably iron-deficient, this stuff changed that in under 6 weeks. Tasted good, too, caused no constipation or other side effects (the iron in my prenatal vitamin made me extremely ill, to the point of hospitalization for vomiting and dehydration) and we required no maintenance dose. Our doc couldn't believe it! (Until the results came back, she had been insistent that we take a non-food-source one she was familiar with.)Baden*Medicinal

ingredients:

per 10 ml

per ml

Iron (from ferrous gluconate 87 mg)

10.0 mg

1.0 mg

Vitamin B1 (from thiamine hydrochloride)

2.5 mg

0.25 mg

Vitamin B2 (from riboflavin sodium phosphate)

4.0 mg

0.4 mg

Vitamin B6 (from pyridoxine hydrochloride)

2.0 mg

0.2 mg

Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)

7.5 mcg

0.75 mcg

In a non-medicinal base of: Extracts of: rosehip, camomile flower, fennel seed, spinach leaf.

Juice concentrates of: black grape, pear, black currant, cherry, blackberry and carrot; with ascorbic acid._

[Guest guest]

Deanna,

My understanding is tall all iron supplements are illegal so using your cast iron skillet is a good idea as well as increasing your amount of red meats and dark green leafy vegtables. Also if you add lemon juice to your meat and vegetables your body will absorb the iron better. Simply sqeeze lemon on all the meat and veggies before eating. You don't say how low your iron is, if it's seriously low you may have to consider a unit of blood. Also there is a reason that it is low and that's because you are losing blood somewhere, do you know how you are losing it? No matter how much iron you eat, if you are losing blood you won't see much difference.

Ann,

Living in Italy

Undiagnosed Crohn's since 1977 Diagnosed 15 years

Sacroiliitis 25 years

Rheumatoid arthritis 25 years

Pyoderma Gangronosum 2 years

SCD since July, 2008

Meds: Tapering Prednisone for PG

Iron

Hi allHad a checkup with my GI doc yesterday and my blood results showed that my iron was "very" low. He wanted to put me on iron supplements of course and I refused (very politely) because I'm finally better than I have been in the 4 years since I've been diagnosed with UC, weaning off my meds successfully, and have read about the harm that iron can cause. I asked him about injections and he wouldn't give them to me because "they really hurt" and even though I told him I gave myself fertility shots years ago and don't mind a bit of pain, he wouldn't prescribe them for me. He said to take a prenatal vitamin because they have some iron in them (10 mg) and shouldn't cause as much problems for me. What do I do? I've made great progress on this diet and don't want to do anything to jeopardize that. I'm in Canada and trying to get referred to another GI specialist is very hard. I already drive over an

hour to see the one I have and it was like pulling teeth to get my family physician to refer me to him. Do I take the prenatal (legal) for now or do I just forget about them and cook more in my cast iron skillet?Deanna RoswellUC 2004SCD Feb 2008AsacolFinished finally with Prednisone and weaning off Imuran now

[Guest guest]

At 09:21 AM 9/17/2008, you wrote:

Do I take the prenatal (legal)

for now or do I just forget about them and cook more in my cast iron

skillet?

Deanna,

There are numerous causes of anemia -- although the one which most

physicians consider first is iron deficiency.

However, is you do not have enough Vitamin C, you may not absorb the iron

from your food properly. Likewise, if you do not have enough folic acid

and Vitamin B-12, you may show signs of anemia because the blood cells do

not form correctly with insufficient vitamins.

With gut issues, it is very easy to have both situations causing the

problem, yet the iron supplements can feed the bad bacteria.

Are you taking the SCD-legal B-complex? Are you able to tolerate it? How

about the SCD-legal B plus C?

Get some organic liver, bison if you can find it. Ostrich filets are also

excellent for building up your iron. Cook them in your cast iron skillet

with a spritz of lemon juice. Tomato sauce, with a spritz of lemon juice,

cooked in cast iron, can also be helpful for kicking your iron up.

(Again, if tolerated.)

I took both extra folic acid and B-12 (some people need to get B-12 by

injection because of malabsorption and/or difficulty finding a legal

B-12), and ate ostrich before my cancer surgery in April. My doctor had

two units of blood on stand-by for me. I needed neither. <g> I

didn't have to do the liver, either. The ostrich and vitamins apparently

did the trick. And since I really, really, REALLY don't like liver, I

wasn't sorry not to need it! <g>

—

Marilyn

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

[Guest guest]

Deanna,

I have Crohn's and use the SCD to control symptoms. I use cast

Iron cookware whenever possible.I have three grandchildren who had

horrible reactions to various baby formulas especially those with

Iron. It seemed as though Iron free milk and soy slowed peristalsis

in these children, but eventually we were able to find products they

tolerated. The nightmare began again when they were introduced to

solid foods. The first(her names Deanna) projectile vomited virtually

everything until she was 6-8 mos old. What she could hold down

constipated her, so her first food was prune juice added to the

formulas against the pediatricians orders. His answer was " use a

suppository twice a week they only need to go that often " The second

child suffered from an intussusception at the age of 6mos. requiring

emergency surgery. If you are not familiar with this, this is when

the intestines telescope upon themselves (described to her parents

it's as if they are digesting themselves). This followed introduction

to rice cereal. The third child did fairly well until we started him

on the rice, but for him it seemed to stop peristalsis totally. We

switched him to organic baby cereals (fortified with elemental iron)

and he did great. Wow, this discovery might have saved his sisters

(and all of us) a lot of pain and heartache.

So, the point of all this is, if you decide to try a supplemental

Iron product, you might try an elemental source, or consider

something like Solgar Hematinic Factors. This is sugar free and

starch free, and uses liver for the Iron source, and I've used this

with little harmful effect.

These products do not contain the fruit juice concentrates

contained in the Floradix and Floravit products that make them SCD

illegals.

I hope this is helpful, and the best of luck to you.

(Margie)

[Guest guest]

We are currently dealing with pretty bad anemia with our 11 year-old

son. Last week's blood test showed he was at 9 (ugh!). Anyway, we

have been avoiding iron because it is illegal on the SCD. However,

we knew we had to do something to help him (as our doctor said iron

shots are often really rough, and some people react negatively to

them). So, I turned to my tattered copy of BTVC, and read this on

page 66...

" Since many people with intestinal disorders are malnourished, it

would be wise to check with your physician concerning important

minerals such as calcium, iron, iodine, and potassium. If mineral

levels are low, they may be taken for a short time until

malabsorption is corrected. "

Anyway, after reading this, we started our son on a pill iron

supplement that appears to be SCD legal (I can't recall the brand...I

found easily at the vitamin store). Now, only a week later, he is

already getting some color back in his face, and is feeling a bit

better. I just wish we had started iron sooner rather than waiting

until we got to this point... I was just glad to read that Elaine

supported mineral supplementation temporarily during the healing

process.

DS 11 yo CD Jan 08, SCD Jan 08, 10 mg pred

[Guest guest]

Hi Deanna,

I had the exact same concern this week. My doctor has been hounding me to take

iron supplements for years - I told him that the iron sulfate was bothering my

stomach (which it did in the past), so he suggested iron gluconate, another iron

pill. He said that iron injections were a possibility, but only if the iron

gluconate didn't work out.... well, I wasn't about to experiment with the iron

supplements and risk a flareup, so I told him that I took the iron gluconate and

it bothered me - Elaine wrote not to take iron supplements, so I refuse to take

them even if my doc recommends it. (The last time I listened to my doc, he told

me to get an unnecessary fluoroscopy, which threw me into a major flareup.)

My advice to you is to tell him that the iron pills you are taking (prenatal or

otherwise) are bothering you/triggering a flare, and you want to try the another

method that would not bother your stomach - the injections. Yes, I know it is

sneaky, but I personally would not risk a flare up.

The iron injections are typically given over a period of 4-5 weeks. I haven't

gotten them yet - I am away until December, so I have to wait till I am back

home.

I am going to try cooking in a cast iron skillet, eating liver (bleh), and

eating beef (for the first time ever!). I would try these three things, and get

your bloodword done again to see if you are still low on iron.

Good luck!

Sheena

UC - 8 yrs

SCD - 1 yr

Iron

Posted by: " Deanna " deannaroswell@... deannaroswell

Deanna Roswell

UC 2004

_________________________________________________________________

See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your

life.

http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093175mrt/direct/01/

[Guest guest]

My blood test was also at 9. They noticed how pale I am now and I've

even been having a hard time staying awake in the car and have NO

energy. I wonder if I should try a supplement just to give myself a

boost and see how it goes. Do you know how long you have to take

them for? I did find a legal prenatal supplement.

Thanks to you and everyone else for their advice. I've been doing

great on the diet with the exception of this iron deficiency

problem. Marilyn - I'm not losing blood from anywhere (other than a

normal period) so don't know where this problem came from unless

I've had it from when I was having bloody bms.

Deanna Roswell

UC since 2004

SCD Feb 2008

Asacol

Weaning off Imuran

>

> We are currently dealing with pretty bad anemia with our 11 year-

old

> son. Last week's blood test showed he was at 9 (ugh!). Anyway,

we

> have been avoiding iron because it is illegal on the SCD.

However,

> we knew we had to do something to help him (as our doctor said

iron

> shots are often really rough, and some people react negatively to

> them). So, I turned to my tattered copy of BTVC, and read this on

> page 66...

>

> " Since many people with intestinal disorders are malnourished, it

> would be wise to check with your physician concerning important

> minerals such as calcium, iron, iodine, and potassium. If mineral

> levels are low, they may be taken for a short time until

> malabsorption is corrected. "

>

> Anyway, after reading this, we started our son on a pill iron

> supplement that appears to be SCD legal (I can't recall the

brand...I

> found easily at the vitamin store). Now, only a week later, he is

> already getting some color back in his face, and is feeling a bit

> better. I just wish we had started iron sooner rather than

waiting

> until we got to this point... I was just glad to read that Elaine

> supported mineral supplementation temporarily during the healing

> process.

>

>

> DS 11 yo CD Jan 08, SCD Jan 08, 10 mg pred

>

[Guest guest]

HI Deanna,

Our doctor said that iron stores can replenish quite quickly if you

are getting a good dose. So, we are hoping we can get our son's iron

up, and then off the supplements soon. Even in just a week of taking

the iron, our son's color has improved and he is not as lethargic.

By no means is he over his struggle with anemia, but he seems to be

improving. We have him taking double the recommended dose of iron

(per our doctor's recommendation). I hope you are able to find a

supplement that works for you...

DS 11 yo CD Jan 08, SCD Jan 08

-- In BTVC-SCD , " Deanna " wrote:

>

> My blood test was also at 9. They noticed how pale I am now and

I've

> even been having a hard time staying awake in the car and have NO

> energy. I wonder if I should try a supplement just to give myself a

> boost and see how it goes. Do you know how long you have to take

> them for? I did find a legal prenatal supplement.

>

> Thanks to you and everyone else for their advice. I've been doing

> great on the diet with the exception of this iron deficiency

> problem. Marilyn - I'm not losing blood from anywhere (other than a

> normal period) so don't know where this problem came from unless

> I've had it from when I was having bloody bms.

>

> Deanna Roswell

> UC since 2004

> SCD Feb 2008

> Asacol

> Weaning off Imuran

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm so glad you found and quoted that, .Pre-SCD, the iron levels of both my son and myself were *dismal*. He had never bled (ever, from anywhere) but just had never had enough come in. Me, I had bled throughout my pregnancy, then lost the normal amount in birthing him, then started extremely heavy periods shortly after giving birth and for two years.I became extremely ill.In line with Elaine's note, I would caution people about avoiding supplementation in a case like that. I was told that with my iron as low as it was, cast iron pans (which I did already cook with) and food would not be able to bring my levels that long distance up to normal. When it's that low, one usually needs an infusion of it. If the only concern re: Floravit is the concentrated fruit juices, then I

personally would still go with that one. It's food source, etc. It's okay to concentrate our own fruit juices (boil them down at home), so it may be worth checking with Floravit about how the concentrates are prepared.But having been extremely ill from deficiency as well as having gotten even more ill from iron in a prenatal pill, I was amazed by and grateful for the fast and thorough results from Floravit. Once up (normal counts within 4-6 weeks), I was able to maintain our levels through cast iron and food.My doc had *really* wanted me to do the shots, but my own experience with my body is to not do anything I can't regulate. ie. It's important to my body that I be able to stop a daily dose as needed rather than receive a week's supply and be unable to pull it back out of my system if there's a problem.Baden"...If mineral levels are low, they may be taken for a short time until malabsorption is corrected."_

[Guest guest]

,

Would you mind sharing with us the brand of iron that you use? My son is really struggling.

Many Thanks,

betty

[Guest guest]

Hi Baden,

This is really great info. I appreciated what you said about

Floravit. In fact, we went to our doc today, and she recommended a

similar liquid iron called Floravital Iron and Herbs (Gluten-free).

She told us the same thing as what you said in your email...that

's iron should greatly improve within 4 to 6 weeks after using

this product. She said it is easily absorbed into the intestine and

does not cause constipation or stomach upset (typically). I bought

some at our local vitamin store, but was a bit perplexed about the

addition of fruit juice concentrates. I decided to give it a try

anyway. I figure if can get better in 4 to 6 weeks, I won't

worry about the concentrates. It would certainly be worth it to beat

this anemia...as we have been struggling for nearly a year!Thanks for

sharing, Baden...it helps validate my decision!

DS 11 yo CD Jan 08, SCD Jan 08

>

> I'm so glad you found and quoted that, .

>

> Pre-SCD, the iron levels of both my son and myself were *dismal*.

He had never bled (ever, from anywhere) but just had never had enough

come in. Me, I had bled throughout my pregnancy, then lost the normal

amount in birthing him, then started extremely heavy periods shortly

after giving birth and for two years.

>

> I became extremely ill.

>

> In line with Elaine's note, I would caution people about avoiding

supplementation in a case like that. I was told that with my iron as

low as it was, cast iron pans (which I did already cook with) and

food would not be able to bring my levels that long distance up to

normal. When it's that low, one usually needs an infusion of it. If

the only concern re: Floravit is the concentrated fruit juices, then

I personally would still go with that one. It's food source, etc.

It's okay to concentrate our own fruit juices (boil them down at

home), so it may be worth checking with Floravit about how the

concentrates are prepared.

>

> But having been extremely ill from deficiency as well as having

gotten even more ill from iron in a prenatal pill, I was amazed by

and grateful for the fast and thorough results from Floravit. Once up

(normal counts within 4-6 weeks), I was able to maintain our levels

through cast iron and food.

>

> My doc had *really* wanted me to do the shots, but my own

experience with my body is to not do anything I can't regulate. ie.

It's important to my body that I be able to stop a daily dose as

needed rather than receive a week's supply and be unable to pull it

back out of my system if there's a problem.

>

> Baden

>

>

>

>

>

> " ...If mineral levels are low, they may be taken for a short time

until malabsorption is corrected. " _

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Betty...I don't know if you saw my post to Baden or not, but we decided to try a liquid iron called Floravital Iron plus Herbs. It is a liquid iron, and I bought it at our vitamin store. We were using (just for one week) Natural Factors Iron 25 mg tablets. The only things listed are iron, calcium, cellulose, and magnesium stearate. I felt pretty safe with it, and it seemed to work well (as the doctor thought his color was better this week than last), but it sometimes made him feel a little "woozy". Other than the juice concentrates in Floravital, I feel comfortable with trying this product for a short while to see if we will have results. The product is also gluten-free (they have another product that is not, and it has other stuff in it...). It is supposed to absorb much better and quicker than pills, and

should be easy on the stomach and intestines. We will let you know how it goes...I have high hopes after chatting with our doctor! I hope you are able to find the best solution for your son...

Blessings,

DS 11 yo CD Jan 08, SCD Jan 08, 10 mg pred (but, doc starting him on a wean today...yeah!)

[Guest guest]

At 12:27 AM 9/18/2008, you wrote:

So, I turned to my tattered copy

of BTVC, and read this on page 66...

" Since many people with intestinal disorders are malnourished, it

would be wise to check with your physician concerning important

minerals such as calcium, iron, iodine, and potassium. If mineral levels

are low, they may be taken for a short time until malabsorption is

corrected. "

,

Thanks for pointing this out -- it is a reminder to even those of us who

think we know SCD forwards and backwards that there's always something

more to find in that slim little book called Breaking the Vicious

Cycle.

However, I would note that Elaine does specify taking the supplement

for a short time. And it's always wise to look at the other co-factors in

anemia which have been pointed out, like folic acid, B12, and Vitamin C.

<grin> And ostrich really does taste better than a pill or liver.

Elaine used to kid me about my loathing for liver -- I wish I could point

out ostrich to her!

—

Marilyn

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

[Guest guest]

>

>

> <grin> And ostrich really does taste better than a pill or liver.

> Elaine used to kid me about my loathing for liver -- I wish I could

> point out ostrich to her!

Well, each to his own. But if you are loathing liver that much, I

think you didn't prepare it correctly. <VEG>

I never made liver before - though I liked chopped live rbut only ate

it occasionally -

but this summer at some point I was feeling a need for iron supplement

-- a hormonal thing or something, so I got some liver at the butcher.

And ever since then, I've been eating it regularly - I've been making

it ever since. But I don't eat it whole or in slices, I make a liver

spread, pureed with some sauteed vidalia onions and zucchini and fresh

herbs and a boiled egg and SCD mayonnaise and sea salt. Everyone I've

fed it to loves it.

Mara

[Guest guest]

Mara,

Usinger's, in Milwaukee, makes a liver sausage which appears to be legal.

(They have another which is decidedly not, and you can't tell which is

which from their website.)

I can tolerate that. If I need the iron. The rest of the time, it tastes

dreadful. (I used to love it right after my period.)

So how much of what do you put into your liver spread? I do have these

three pounds of bison liver in the freezer... though I'm sure the

dachshunds would be happy to eat them for me!

—

Marilyn

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Undiagnosed IBS since 1976, SCD since 2001

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund

[Guest guest]

>

> Mara,

>

> Usinger's, in Milwaukee, makes a liver sausage which appears to be

> legal. (They have another which is decidedly not, and you can't tell

> which is which from their website.)

>

> I can tolerate that. If I need the iron. The rest of the time, it

> tastes dreadful. (I used to love it right after my period.)

>

> So how much of what do you put into your liver spread? I do have

> these three pounds of bison liver in the freezer... though I'm sure

> the dachshunds would be happy to eat them for me!

Hee, I always eyeball things, so exact quantities are hard, but I'll

try.

For about 2/3s of a pound of liver, I sautee about half a vidalia

onion and then

add maybe a quarter of a (small-medium) zucchini until soft.

1 hard boiled egg - about 12 minutes.

1-2 teaspoons mayonnaise or to taste.

fresh ground salt and pepper to taste

a squirt of lemon or lime and then adjust to taste.

fresh herbs - these vary with what you have - I've been using chives

and sage and a little mint and parsley

a decent sized clove of garlic - or more to taste. (sauteed or raw)

If you are being really traditional - you sautee the veggies not in

olive oil but

in chicken fat - or a mix of the two.

then you can eat it on a cracker or piece of toast or by itself or in

a lettuce roll, or

with salad, etc.

I usually use chicken but I made it with calves liver recently and a

friend who

was staying with me and was totally skeptical of what I was doing

ended up

literally finishing every drop.

Mara

[Guest guest]

>

>

>

>>

>> Mara,

>>

>> Usinger's, in Milwaukee, makes a liver sausage which appears to be

>> legal. (They have another which is decidedly not, and you can't

>> tell which is which from their website.)

>>

>> I can tolerate that. If I need the iron. The rest of the time, it

>> tastes dreadful. (I used to love it right after my period.)

>>

>> So how much of what do you put into your liver spread? I do have

>> these three pounds of bison liver in the freezer... though I'm sure

>> the dachshunds would be happy to eat them for me!

>

>

> Hee, I always eyeball things, so exact quantities are hard, but I'll

> try.

>

> For about 2/3s of a pound of liver, I sautee about half a vidalia

> onion and then

> add maybe a quarter of a (small-medium) zucchini until soft.

>

> 1 hard boiled egg - about 12 minutes.

>

> 1-2 teaspoons mayonnaise or to taste.

>

> fresh ground salt and pepper to taste

>

> a squirt of lemon or lime and then adjust to taste.

>

> fresh herbs - these vary with what you have - I've been using chives

> and sage and a little mint and parsley

>

> a decent sized clove of garlic - or more to taste. (sauteed or raw)

Oops, I left out the part about pureeing it with a hand blender or

cuisinart until somewhat smooth. (Or until you reach a consistency

you like.)

>

>

> If you are being really traditional - you sautee the veggies not in

> olive oil but

> in chicken fat - or a mix of the two.

>

> then you can eat it on a cracker or piece of toast or by itself or

> in a lettuce roll, or

> with salad, etc.

>

> I usually use chicken but I made it with calves liver recently and a

> friend who

> was staying with me and was totally skeptical of what I was doing

> ended up

> literally finishing every drop.

>

> Mara