Do Iron Supplements make UC worse ?

Does anyone get bleeding from taking iron supplements? The last couple of times I attempted to take some iron supplements, my UC starts flaring. I mentioned this to the GI, but he was not definite in his answer.

I know that when I was iron deficient last year, before I was diagnosed with UC, I started taking the supplements and it may have been coincidental, but my bleeding started. Then when I had low iron again at the beginning of the year, I started taking them again and the bleeding crept in again.

I amnot sure if I have already asked this question, but it has been on my mind, as I am frightened to take it again as the UC has finally settled, but obviously my iron keeps dropping.

I have to be careful to take slow acting iron that's easy on the gut. Regular iron tabs used to cause constipation which was hard on the hemorrhoids.
I take Ferro Sequels - 1/2 pill in the am and pm with food with no problems. Might slow digestion down a little.

There is a liquid iron that might be worth trying, since you can control the dose. Floradix. I took it after the birth of my first and it didn't seem to upset my gut. It doesn't taste bad, either.

I've been taking ferrous gluconate 300mg in the morning with all my other stuff (not the best way I'm told), but no problems at all except my stool is a tad darker and my iron leve has gone up a. My doc suggested that type, and I get them from Costco (ask at the pharmacy).

You might want to change the type you take...

q

The brand I use is called Ferro-Grad C (not sure if it is only from Australia). It is made up of dried ferrous sulfate (325mg) and sodium ascorbate (562.4mg). I also did try a liquid iron last year, but the pattern appears to be that I am fine and then I take the iron (which does help with iron levels etc) however, it did appear to irritate the bowels, so then I stop.

I did have the iron infusion last year, due to the thanks of my sister in law, who is a nurse and suggested it while I was in the hospital. I feel a bit funny about asking for this. I did also mention the connection to the doctor but he was not certain that taking iron was causing the bleeding, which only starts of very slowly. The pattern with me is that as soon as the bleeding starts ever so slowly, it does pick up. It does not stop on its own accord. This is when I need to take the rectal medication and stop the iron.

So I am at a loss as to what to do. I will mention this to him again, if the iron persists to be low. I will also take it a couple of times a week, to see if that avoids the issue.