Question 1

when should i stop taking iron before a colonoscopy?

Accepted Answer

: Five days before the procedure should be adequate.

Question 2

when should i stop taking the iron before my colonoscopy?

Accepted Answer

: Since only about 10% of oral iron is absorbed and the rest goes down your intestinal tract causing blackish stools, I recommend not taking oral iron for 2, preferably 4, weeks prior to your colonoscopy but checking with your gastroenterologist is best.

Question 3

im having a colonoscopy on october 14th. it says to not take iron for 2 weeks. does that mean supplements or the food i eat?

Accepted Answer

Supplements.: Iron supplements can cause your stool to be black, thick and difficult to clear.  This could cause the doc to miss something or even worse to have to abort and reschedule your procedure!  You wouldn't want that.

Question 4

my husband & i are going to have colonoscopys & it says not to take vitamins containing iron--which vitamins contain iron?

Accepted Answer

Read labels.: To see if iron is a significant ingredient in your vitamins, read the label with the ingredients listed.  That information will be found there. If the bottle is no longer available, then stop the vitamins until after your colonoscopies are done.  Also, please add your age to your profile. I answered this because colonoscopies scheduled for a  married couple are not done in people under 16 usually

Question 5

i am preparing for colonoscopy in 4 days. should i stop intravenous infusions of iron and vitamin b12?

Accepted Answer

Consult doctor: Intravenous infusions of iron and B12 are not usual treatments. You should consult the doctor who prescribed this treatment.

Question 6

i have iron def anaemia. colonoscopy result ok, fobt +ve for blood am waiting for capsule endoscopy result. what is pill camera able to  diagnose?

Accepted Answer

Capsule endoscopy?: Capsule endoscopy (ce) can't be steered (yet) & can't take biopsies, but is amazingly useful in viewing the small bowel in real-time.  As such, capsule endoscopy can find tumors, ulcers, bleeding sites, crohn's disease with great accuracy, and thus better direct treatment. Good luck--.

Question 7

i have iron def anaemia. colonoscopy result ok, fobt +ve for blood am waiting for capsule endoscopy result. what may cause microscopic blood loss?

Accepted Answer

Bleeding.: Agents that cause inflammation of the gut, eg aspirin, anti-inflamatory drugs, alcohol, endocrine disease-addisons disease and  cushings disease; parasites, stomach acid or  gall bladder reflux into the esophagus; (rare) tumors of the small bowel including acid secreting tumors.  Are you iron deficient from bleeding or nonabsorption?

Question 8

i have low iron levels 5.7, i have had a colonoscopy and gastronoscopy  and there was no bleeding found. i take iron supplements but still no change. ?

Accepted Answer

Gluten: You may have gluten sensitivity, which can damage your gut cells. Damaged cells may not do a good job of absorbing the nutrients you eat. Consider taking vitamin c as this enhances iron absorption. Consider switching to a different form of iron, such as polysacaride.

Question 9

i have iron def anaemia. colonoscopy result ok, fobt +ve for blood am waiting for capsule endoscopy result. what maybe causes for microscopic bleeding?

Accepted Answer

Many possibilities: Anything from a big ulcer to several little ulcers (do you take oral painkillers?) to angiodysplasia of the colon (it's subtle) to a stomach tumor to reflux esophagitis to -- yes, hookworm still is out there. The fobt may be a red herring and blood loss may be in the urine. Your diet's iron-rich, correct? I hope you find the cause, and that it's something easy to treat.

Question 10

all bloodwork normal havent had period in a year prior period was so heavy now total iron 83 iron binding 400 saturation 21 ferritin little low 13.  i had endoscopy 2 years ago and colonoscopy 4 years ago all normal scared now?

Accepted Answer

: There are a few diseases that leap out from blood tests.  Most of the time, however, blood tests don't tell the doctor much on their own.  These results fall into the second group, not very specific.  Low ferritin is not nearly as worrisome as high ferritin.   Please be sure that your doctor is aware of how worried you are and addresses that concern.

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Doctor answers about:

Why no iron with a colonoscopy

A member asked:

When should i stop taking iron before a colonoscopy?

A member asked:

When should i stop taking the iron before my colonoscopy?

A member asked:

Im having a colonoscopy on october 14th. it says to not take iron for 2 weeks. does that mean supplements or the food i eat?

A member asked:

My husband & i are going to have colonoscopys & it says not to take vitamins containing iron--which vitamins contain iron?

A member asked:

I am preparing for colonoscopy in 4 days. should i stop intravenous infusions of iron and vitamin b12?

A member asked:

I have iron def anaemia. colonoscopy result ok, fobt +ve for blood am waiting for capsule endoscopy result. what is pill camera able to diagnose?

A member asked:

I have iron def anaemia. colonoscopy result ok, fobt +ve for blood am waiting for capsule endoscopy result. what may cause microscopic blood loss?

A member asked:

I have low iron levels 5.7, i have had a colonoscopy and gastronoscopy and there was no bleeding found. i take iron supplements but still no change. ?

A member asked:

I have iron def anaemia. colonoscopy result ok, fobt +ve for blood am waiting for capsule endoscopy result. what maybe causes for microscopic bleeding?

A member asked:

All bloodwork normal havent had period in a year prior period was so heavy now total iron 83 iron binding 400 saturation 21 ferritin little low 13. i had endoscopy 2 years ago and colonoscopy 4 years ago all normal scared now?

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