Re: iron/vitamin supplements

November 14, 2004

If you have GI problems, the slow release version of the iron

supplements worked for me without problems. It's more expensive, but

you're not going to be taking it for that long anyway, so that'll

probably work for you.

In general, vitamins don't interact with prescription medicines

unless you take them in very large quantity (then they'll probably

affect something else even if you weren't taking meds), so don't

worry about it.

After surgery, because of the reduced intake of solid food, I didn't

have a bowel movement (too much info? well.. that's what we're here

for right? =P) until maybe 5 days after surgery. I didn't have any

problems, since I had been drinking fruit smoothies and blended

veggies anyway.

>

> My surgery is set for Dec. 27, and my surgeon recently put me on

iron

> supplements and a multivitamin. The pharmacist at my local

drugstore

> wasn't very helpful (as usual -- she's frequently close to useless

> for anything beyond filling the Rx itself) in answering my

questions

> about possible side effects of iron, signs of iron overdose, or how

> it might react with my current prescriptions. ( " Well, you know, if

> you feel sick or something, just go to the hospital. " Gee, thanks,

> that narrows down the field.)

>

> My main concern is, since I have IBS, the potential for getting

> constipated -- something my Gastroenterologist has stressed that I

> really have to avoid. And speaking of which, any

> experience/suggestions for avoiding constipation following the

> anesthesia/pain-killers? Should I request that the nurses give me

> milk of magnesia as soon as possible? Any tips on fiber intake

> during recovery (besides drinking the bilge known as Metamucil)?

>

> Thanks!

November 14, 2004

If you have GI problems, the slow release version of the iron

supplements worked for me without problems. It's more expensive, but

you're not going to be taking it for that long anyway, so that'll

probably work for you.

In general, vitamins don't interact with prescription medicines

unless you take them in very large quantity (then they'll probably

affect something else even if you weren't taking meds), so don't

worry about it.

After surgery, because of the reduced intake of solid food, I didn't

have a bowel movement (too much info? well.. that's what we're here

for right? =P) until maybe 5 days after surgery. I didn't have any

problems, since I had been drinking fruit smoothies and blended

veggies anyway.

>

> My surgery is set for Dec. 27, and my surgeon recently put me on

iron

> supplements and a multivitamin. The pharmacist at my local

drugstore

> wasn't very helpful (as usual -- she's frequently close to useless

> for anything beyond filling the Rx itself) in answering my

questions

> about possible side effects of iron, signs of iron overdose, or how

> it might react with my current prescriptions. ( " Well, you know, if

> you feel sick or something, just go to the hospital. " Gee, thanks,

> that narrows down the field.)

>

> My main concern is, since I have IBS, the potential for getting

> constipated -- something my Gastroenterologist has stressed that I

> really have to avoid. And speaking of which, any

> experience/suggestions for avoiding constipation following the

> anesthesia/pain-killers? Should I request that the nurses give me

> milk of magnesia as soon as possible? Any tips on fiber intake

> during recovery (besides drinking the bilge known as Metamucil)?

>

> Thanks!

November 14, 2004

Liquid calcium/magnesium works great for the constipation and also

helps with the healing. Digestive enzymes will help with the IBS,

bromelain based products work well and also help with the swelling.

hope this helps/eric

>

> My surgery is set for Dec. 27, and my surgeon recently put me on

iron

> supplements and a multivitamin. The pharmacist at my local

drugstore

> wasn't very helpful (as usual -- she's frequently close to useless

> for anything beyond filling the Rx itself) in answering my questions

> about possible side effects of iron, signs of iron overdose, or how

> it might react with my current prescriptions. ( " Well, you know, if

> you feel sick or something, just go to the hospital. " Gee, thanks,

> that narrows down the field.)

>

> My main concern is, since I have IBS, the potential for getting

> constipated -- something my Gastroenterologist has stressed that I

> really have to avoid. And speaking of which, any

> experience/suggestions for avoiding constipation following the

> anesthesia/pain-killers? Should I request that the nurses give me

> milk of magnesia as soon as possible? Any tips on fiber intake

> during recovery (besides drinking the bilge known as Metamucil)?

>

> Thanks!

November 14, 2004

Liquid calcium/magnesium works great for the constipation and also

helps with the healing. Digestive enzymes will help with the IBS,

bromelain based products work well and also help with the swelling.

hope this helps/eric

>

> My surgery is set for Dec. 27, and my surgeon recently put me on

iron

> supplements and a multivitamin. The pharmacist at my local

drugstore

> wasn't very helpful (as usual -- she's frequently close to useless

> for anything beyond filling the Rx itself) in answering my questions

> about possible side effects of iron, signs of iron overdose, or how

> it might react with my current prescriptions. ( " Well, you know, if

> you feel sick or something, just go to the hospital. " Gee, thanks,

> that narrows down the field.)

>

> My main concern is, since I have IBS, the potential for getting

> constipated -- something my Gastroenterologist has stressed that I

> really have to avoid. And speaking of which, any

> experience/suggestions for avoiding constipation following the

> anesthesia/pain-killers? Should I request that the nurses give me

> milk of magnesia as soon as possible? Any tips on fiber intake

> during recovery (besides drinking the bilge known as Metamucil)?

>

> Thanks!

November 14, 2004

If you can do a small capsule post-op: Pericolace. Easy, helpful in

the difficult moments. Dunno what it does with IBS, though. Bananas

are full of fiber, easily blended into almost anything, good

nutrition.

Peut-etre you need a different pharmacist. Mine are most wonderful...

C.

> >

> > My surgery is set for Dec. 27, and my surgeon recently put me on

> iron

> > supplements and a multivitamin. The pharmacist at my local

> drugstore

> > wasn't very helpful (as usual -- she's frequently close to

useless

> > for anything beyond filling the Rx itself) in answering my

questions

> > about possible side effects of iron, signs of iron overdose, or

how

> > it might react with my current prescriptions. ( " Well, you know,

if

> > you feel sick or something, just go to the hospital. " Gee,

thanks,

> > that narrows down the field.)

> >

> > My main concern is, since I have IBS, the potential for getting

> > constipated -- something my Gastroenterologist has stressed that

I

> > really have to avoid. And speaking of which, any

> > experience/suggestions for avoiding constipation following the

> > anesthesia/pain-killers? Should I request that the nurses give

me

> > milk of magnesia as soon as possible? Any tips on fiber intake

> > during recovery (besides drinking the bilge known as Metamucil)?

> >

> > Thanks!

November 14, 2004

If you can do a small capsule post-op: Pericolace. Easy, helpful in

the difficult moments. Dunno what it does with IBS, though. Bananas

are full of fiber, easily blended into almost anything, good

nutrition.

Peut-etre you need a different pharmacist. Mine are most wonderful...

C.

> >

> > My surgery is set for Dec. 27, and my surgeon recently put me on

> iron

> > supplements and a multivitamin. The pharmacist at my local

> drugstore

> > wasn't very helpful (as usual -- she's frequently close to

useless

> > for anything beyond filling the Rx itself) in answering my

questions

> > about possible side effects of iron, signs of iron overdose, or

how

> > it might react with my current prescriptions. ( " Well, you know,

if

> > you feel sick or something, just go to the hospital. " Gee,

thanks,

> > that narrows down the field.)

> >

> > My main concern is, since I have IBS, the potential for getting

> > constipated -- something my Gastroenterologist has stressed that

I

> > really have to avoid. And speaking of which, any

> > experience/suggestions for avoiding constipation following the

> > anesthesia/pain-killers? Should I request that the nurses give

me

> > milk of magnesia as soon as possible? Any tips on fiber intake

> > during recovery (besides drinking the bilge known as Metamucil)?

> >

> > Thanks!

November 14, 2004

> Peut-etre you need a different pharmacist. Mine are most

wonderful...

>

> C.

>

Hee! Yeah, I think so too. I've mainly gone to that pharmacy out of

habit -- it's around the corner from my house, and they've got all of

my Rx's in their system. But it may be time to find another one.

Thanks for the responses, everyone. (And sorry for the inadvertant

double-post!)

November 14, 2004

> Peut-etre you need a different pharmacist. Mine are most

wonderful...

>

> C.

>

Hee! Yeah, I think so too. I've mainly gone to that pharmacy out of

habit -- it's around the corner from my house, and they've got all of

my Rx's in their system. But it may be time to find another one.

Thanks for the responses, everyone. (And sorry for the inadvertant

double-post!)

November 14, 2004

As far as fiber--you can get metemucial in capsule form now---those

helped me a lot. I would suggest if possiable you get a new

pharmacist as a pharmacist should be able to awnser very easy

questions. I am sure if you typed in " symptoms of Iorn overdose " at

www.google.com you could find a ton of imformation, or try sites

like www.emedicine.com or just ask one of your doctors.

>

> My surgery is set for Dec. 27, and my surgeon recently put me on

iron

> supplements and a multivitamin. The pharmacist at my local

drugstore

> wasn't very helpful (as usual -- she's frequently close to useless

> for anything beyond filling the Rx itself) in answering my

questions

> about possible side effects of iron, signs of iron overdose, or

how

> it might react with my current prescriptions. ( " Well, you know,

if

> you feel sick or something, just go to the hospital. " Gee, thanks,

> that narrows down the field.)

>

> My main concern is, since I have IBS, the potential for getting

> constipated -- something my Gastroenterologist has stressed that I

> really have to avoid. And speaking of which, any

> experience/suggestions for avoiding constipation following the

> anesthesia/pain-killers? Should I request that the nurses give me

> milk of magnesia as soon as possible? Any tips on fiber intake

> during recovery (besides drinking the bilge known as Metamucil)?

>

> Thanks!

November 14, 2004

As far as fiber--you can get metemucial in capsule form now---those

helped me a lot. I would suggest if possiable you get a new

pharmacist as a pharmacist should be able to awnser very easy

questions. I am sure if you typed in " symptoms of Iorn overdose " at

www.google.com you could find a ton of imformation, or try sites

like www.emedicine.com or just ask one of your doctors.

>

> My surgery is set for Dec. 27, and my surgeon recently put me on

iron

> supplements and a multivitamin. The pharmacist at my local

drugstore

> wasn't very helpful (as usual -- she's frequently close to useless

> for anything beyond filling the Rx itself) in answering my

questions

> about possible side effects of iron, signs of iron overdose, or

how

> it might react with my current prescriptions. ( " Well, you know,

if

> you feel sick or something, just go to the hospital. " Gee, thanks,

> that narrows down the field.)

>

> My main concern is, since I have IBS, the potential for getting

> constipated -- something my Gastroenterologist has stressed that I

> really have to avoid. And speaking of which, any

> experience/suggestions for avoiding constipation following the

> anesthesia/pain-killers? Should I request that the nurses give me

> milk of magnesia as soon as possible? Any tips on fiber intake

> during recovery (besides drinking the bilge known as Metamucil)?

>

> Thanks!

November 15, 2004

I'm with Liz on this one... You need a new pharmacist.

But you also HAVE a gastroenterologist. Why not call that office and

ask these questions. They're treating you, and presumably they know

your specific ins and outs. You have some specialized difficulties,

and you're entitled to their advice in dealing with them, I'd think.

And I'd also be sure the surgeon knows what's up with that. He or she

may want to consult with the GI doc, too. Usually they're not at all

reluctant to call someone in another specialty, if there's a chance

of a problem. (And maybe they're not reluctant because usually they

can get through to the doc quicker than we lay people can!)

Cammie

> >

> > My surgery is set for Dec. 27, and my surgeon recently put me on

> iron

> > supplements and a multivitamin. The pharmacist at my local

> drugstore

> > wasn't very helpful (as usual -- she's frequently close to

useless

> > for anything beyond filling the Rx itself) in answering my

> questions

> > about possible side effects of iron, signs of iron overdose, or

> how

> > it might react with my current prescriptions. ( " Well, you know,

> if

> > you feel sick or something, just go to the hospital. " Gee,

thanks,

> > that narrows down the field.)

> >

> > My main concern is, since I have IBS, the potential for getting

> > constipated -- something my Gastroenterologist has stressed that

I

> > really have to avoid. And speaking of which, any

> > experience/suggestions for avoiding constipation following the

> > anesthesia/pain-killers? Should I request that the nurses give

me

> > milk of magnesia as soon as possible? Any tips on fiber intake

> > during recovery (besides drinking the bilge known as Metamucil)?

> >

> > Thanks!

November 15, 2004