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Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 9:23 am
by Polar Bear
I press on the perineum if and when it feels that a stool needs some assistance on its journey.
How long - probably a minute or so, maybe two, maybe longer if needed, gently press/release/press/release.
How hard to press - gently firm, I think you would know yourself when/if you try it.
Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 3:21 am
by ViewsAskew
I do the same as PB. You can easily break it up - well maybe not easily, but without much work. You can tell from the touch what it needs to help make it smaller or break it up in some way.
Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 5:22 pm
by legsbestill
What iron supplementation are you taking? I have heard that iron bisglycinate (aka 'gentle iron') is less severe from a constipation point of view.
Never heard of that perineum pressing solution before - it's inspired - so obvious - like slicing bread before selling it - obvious and yet elusive until someone thinks of it.
Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 6:49 pm
by Polar Bear
Never heard of that perineum pressing solution before - it's inspired - so obvious - like slicing bread before selling it - obvious and yet elusive until someone thinks of it.
Never did I think I would be discussing this particular aspect of this particular subject.... and be happy to be discussing it.
Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 3:18 am
by ViewsAskew
Polar Bear wrote:Never heard of that perineum pressing solution before - it's inspired - so obvious - like slicing bread before selling it - obvious and yet elusive until someone thinks of it.
Never did I think I would be discussing this particular aspect of this particular subject.... and be happy to be discussing it.
There is a lot of that on this forum, lol!
Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 3:18 am
by ViewsAskew
legsbestill wrote:What iron supplementation are you taking? I have heard that iron bisglycinate (aka 'gentle iron') is less severe from a constipation point of view.
Never heard of that perineum pressing solution before - it's inspired - so obvious - like slicing bread before selling it - obvious and yet elusive until someone thinks of it.
Indeed - I felt the same when I first read about it!
Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 3:21 am
by ViewsAskew
To add to the perineum discussion...if you have a vaginal canal, you can really feel it easily! I learned that when I was in college, having a pelvic exam and the doctor said, "Oh, you need to defecate?" and I was horrified, lol.
Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 8:11 am
by srgraves01
Steve,
When you discussed your experience with methadone, I was surprised to see that you took it around noon. My experience with RLS meds is that they are typically taken about 1-3 hours before bedtime. I was thinking of discussing taking methadone with my pain specialist. Is taking methadone this far in advance what is typically done?
Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 3:03 pm
by Rustsmith
I tried taking it at bedtime, but experienced a side effect that you sometimes see described here as "alerting". My mind stayed very active and I wasn't able to fall asleep until many hours later. So, I decided to try switching the time to noon to see if that would help. It did for me. The alerting had worn off by bedtime and because methadone has a long half life, it still controlled my RLS when I was ready for bed. I realize that this isn't for everyone, but it worked for me.
Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2019 8:00 am
by srgraves01
Polar Bear wrote:I take 150mg codeine daily and have done so for several years. I have never suffered from constipation.
Started iron tablets last week, lets hope they don't be the straw that starts the constipation. I do drink a great deal of water.
Does your codeine come with or without acetaminiphen?
Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2019 5:52 pm
by Polar Bear
srgraves01 - For many years I took Co-codamol (codeine and paracetamol).
As the paracetamol doesn't actually do anything to help for RLS i asked my dr if I could have Codeine Phosphate. i.e. this is minus the paracetamol.
It is also very inexpensive.
I have never had any constipation with Codeine but since starting iron tablets I notice a difference.
Re: Iron supplementation & Constipation
Posted: Sun May 12, 2019 10:50 pm
by Uglydarknite
rlsgal70 wrote:A month back, my blood test showed mild low iron levels & I started taking Iron Supplements. Within 3-4 days, my RLS symptoms almost reduced by half. Unfortunately, by 6-7 days, I was suffering from severe constipation - having no bowel movement for 4 days. I didn't connect it to the iron tablets at all. I took Milk of Magnesia & got motion after days. But the constipation got worse even if I was taking milk of magnesia. I went to the doctor & he said it's because of the iron & he changed the iron tablet to one with a stool softener. But that also didn't really help, so the doctor said to stop iron for sometime. However, after stopping iron, my RLS symptoms increased again.
Has anyone else faced issues with Iron Supplements. What is the solution?
Can I take Milk of Magnesia & Stool softeners continuously with Iron? I am not pregnant or anything. Iron has been a lifesaver for me & I want to take it.
Dried fruit such as prunes, apricots, figs, will work wonders and are rather healthy. It takes a little experimentation with amount, but an apricots and figs, are a source of iron in fruit, albeit low iron.