Ferrous fumarate

Luckygirl see today’s article in the DT by James Lefanu on what he describes as a “prescribing cascade” but which I have also seen described as polypharmacy
I have copied the final para in case it is fire walled

. The statins were responsible for the muscular aches and pains. Their treatment with anti-inflammatories can raise the blood pressure, hence the prescribing of the antihypertensive thiazide diuretic. This can raise both the uric acid level (hence the attack of gout) and blood sugar (hence the diabetes). The treatment for the latter with metformin caused the diarrhoea – hence the loperamide.
This might seem an extreme case but it is possible to identify in any lengthy list of drugs one or more that have been prescribed to counter the adverse effects of another. “The prescribing cascade is always preventable,” notes Paula Rachon, a professor of medicine, “by always considering whether any new medical condition might be the result of an existing treatment.” Quite so

It does seem that one medication can make it necessary to take another to offset the adverse effects. It's why DH has blood tests to make sure his kidneys are coping with his medication.

Heart meds caused my father to develop gout - and his GP commented that Dad was always coming up with some new complication.

I hope the investigations sort out the problems for you - you have enough to cope with!

Low iron stores? That doesn't sound like anaemia, just yet, so if you're not vegetarian, could you try eating more meat - along with some fruit and veg for the vitamin C?

I'm vegetarian but make sure that I have dried fruit, beans and a daily cup of cocoa!

Luckygirl I'm waiting for a second blood test to check similar I believe but in my case I am a strict vegetarian. I tell them every time but as I see different doctors every visit, they always wonder why and fear they might refer me too . Last time the iron tablets luckily sorted this problem and I guess I will be on them again. So if the iron sorts your ferritin level I guess you won't need to see a gastroenterologist just yet. Unfortunately all this medication is a necessary evil.

My daughters take floradix rather than iron tablets as it’s better absorbed Ive been vegan and vegetarian for 40 years but never been anemic luckily.
I do eat lots of different foods including nuts, dried fruit,grains, veg, beans and tofu.

Interesting day!

Seen the gastro-enterologist nurse specialist who is looking at her forms and protocols and she wants me to have a sigmoidoscopy to rule out bowel cancer. I expressed a certain reluctance and she will discuss with consultant and ring me. Now I know why I got the appointment so quickly.

And this morning I had two scans of hip and knees; and tomorrow a lengthy radioactive scan to check for tissue damage around hip replacement site - this is the one where they keep sending you off to wait and the whole process takes about 4 hours!

And in between I saw OH in NH and he is still paranoid and tells me I am a "stupid woman" because I do not believe we are all in danger.

What a day!!

Luckygirl can't they just check with a stool test to start with anyway? Still if you did need one eventually (and I could be in the same situation) then we'll have to. Sorry you have so much on your plate at the moment...

I asked that - and they ate going off to discuss this and ringing back tomorrow. It does all seem to be coming at once at the moment!

are