My dietitian recommended I take Iron made up of Ferrous Fumarate or Ferrous Gluconate. NOT Ferrous Sulfate as it causes constipation. Problem is, every single Iron supplement I have seen in stores is ferrous sulfate! I have found one by bariatric advantage. I'm having a hard time believing that's the only one available! Any suggestions? I'm hoping to avoid some of the post-surgery pooping issues I read about on this website!

I am SO glad you posted this! I had no idea that non-constipating Iron existed. I have been taking my iron every other day and I still feel like throwing a giant party every time I have a successful trip to the bathroom!

I was just looking online for both gluconate and fumarate - apparently fumarate is the LEAST constipating, so I'm going to go for that. Still, the chewable form I was only able to find from Celebrate & Bariatric Advantage. Fortunately, I was allowed to quit using chewable Vitamins at my 3 month post-op visit, so I'm going to buy a non-chewable version of the fumarate. Vitacost's price is only $2.99. Wow.

GREAT POST - BLESSINGS TO YOU!

I take a ferrous sulfate called Slow Fe. It's formulated to prevent the GI problems many ppl have taking iron. So if you can't find something else, you might give it a try.

BlueSea71,

I continued my research on this topic and found that there is another type of well-absorbed Iron that is non-constipating called Iron Carbonyl. Interestingly, the Indiana Blood Centers used to send this to me because I got rejected so regularly as a blood donor due to low iron. I found a bottle in my cabinet - not yet expired - and when I read about it online it seems you can often find it at the drugstore. It's by Sundown Naturals and it's called "Perfect Iron." Non-chewable. I also found that there is a type of Iron Carbonyl available from Vitalady.com that combines the carbonyl with Vitamin C - great if absorption is an issue, which is true for me. I also read that it shouldn't be taken within 2 hours of Calcium, which is tough since I take Calcium 3 times per day now (as I'm guessing you will, too).

Best to you!

I take a lot of Ferrous Gluconate now - and almost every Walgreens harries it, but it's oddly not where you'd think,, so when i go to a new store I have to ask specifically for that, and the pharmacist always knows! Sometimes (like in London) they keep it behind the counter and you have to ask for it. I circled that store forever looking until I asked - and they just kindly handed it over! Good luck - and btw, I have NO constipation trouble with it, and take two tabs twice a day. Seriously anemic here.