I’ve had a few iron probs in the past (needed injections) so I’m currently on an iron supplement. Begin a taper period after the end of this week. I’ve been getting quite an upset stomach and last night on a run I had to stop cos of stomach cramps. This has definitely only started since I started on the supplement.
I’m thinking I will definitely stop taking the iron supplement once I begin my taper period proper. Is this a bad idea? I do not want an upset tummy in my race!!! I’ve been on em since I started work at a new job which means leaving home at 5.10am, going swimming, going straight to work, getting home around 6.30, training till 8, then having dinner, then getting to bed around 10 once I am ready for the next day…just didn’t want to get run down with this job and training and so far I haven’t gotten run down and feel suprisingly good…it’s just the upset tummy thing.
If you are taking anything other than Iron bisglycinate (might be called “gentle iron”) then throw it out and go to the store. It is very easy on the GI system and equally bioavailable as iron sulfate. I have NEVER had a side effect with the stuff and I was on it for months as treatment for anemia. My anemia was due to a bleeding ulcer, so if anyone was going to get GI upset from it, I would have. Give it a try!
Ferrograd C. So Ferrous Sulphate. Is slow release (perhaps why I need to take a dump every 2-3 hours whilst on it! hah) so is meant to reduce gut problems.
I think I will just go off it once I start my taper. I really do not want any sore guts in my race.
Slow-Fe is one type that tends to cause fewer problems…or you could try Floradix–available at health food stores. For taper/race week you could likely come off them entirely and have no long term effects.
I would give EP-NO a try. I started using it because the Timex Team is sponsored by Dedicated Athlete, and I have been really pleased. I generally have pretty high ferritin, so I think I absorb iron easily, but I noticed a marked improvement in ferritin stores while using EP-NO, and I had no problems with upset stomach at all. It is very gentle.
All iron supplements upset my stomach, I’ve tried them all, and they all have some sort of side-effect, the least horrible being day-long nausea, the worst being pretty much something resembling the stomach flu. What’s worked best for me in the past, is to take the iron sup right before bed with some orange juice. That way you go to bed and not have to deal with the stomach pain or nausea. Taking them at any other time of the day is just asking for trouble. I also just stopped taking them on a regular basis, or stop taking them until I get anemic again, then go back on them. Silly maybe, but dealing with being anemic is preferrable to me than dealing with iron supps.