Anemia and Low Ferritin Post-Colostomy: Seeking Advice

Hi, any others struggling with anemia and low ferritin? I'm 10 months post-colostomy surgery (for cancer) and just can't seem to keep my levels in the normal zone. Frequent appointments with my doctor, but I thought I'd put the question out there. Iron pills didn't work, so I've started Floradix and am working up to a double dose.
Thanks for any help.

Hi MJCL,

Anemia is common for folks with bowel issues (or autoimmune diseases). There's three stages of iron-deficiency anemia, so you need to chat with your doctor to figure out which stage you're at. You need to determine if you're bleeding internally (and not replacing the red cells fast enough) or if you have an absorption issue. I was anemic for a spell after I got short-gutted and they removed most of my bowels. I supplemented with Ferrous Gluconate (324 mg), as it was the easiest for what was left of my bowels to absorb. I still take it today. Cancer commonly also causes anemia, so you can see that you need to narrow it down a bit to figure out the best way to correct it. Of course, you can modify your diet to include more iron (assuming you can absorb it), but you've probably tried that already. So get with your doctor and have the proper testing done to narrow down the possibilities, and go from there. Any other answer is just a guess.

;O)

There are 2 different types of iron. Maybe you need to consult with a nutritionist specializing in your needs. Best, Arlen