Carbonyl Iron Question

I have been taking carbonyl iron post op. As with any supplemental iron, it makes my stools black. Recently, that changed. I haven't changed my dose of iron and yet my stools are back to a more normal color. What's up with that? I've never seen anything like this before. Do I need to up my iron dosage? Currently it is at 18mg, plus the iron that comes in my multi-vit. By the way, my 6 month labs were great and I am now about 9 months out and just a couple of pounds away from goal.

Thanks everyone!

julie

As long as your labs are ok, I would not be concerned. I started out with mine as part of my multi but I had to start to use a separate iron due to low numbers. I wouldn't be concerned about changes in the color of the stool. Congrats on your weight loss. 

Well, I tend to think 18mg is really not enough for us, and the iron in multi-vitamins is useless because the calcium in them blocks the absorption. Follow your labs closely and note any downward trends. If your labs say your Ferritin is 120, for example, but is 80 at the next checkup, you need to increase your intake. Ferritin is the earliest marker of the state your iron is in, not serum iron or hemoglobin. Those two tank WAY after your stores have been used up because of inadequate supplementation. My iron stayed ok for the first 3-4 years and began to rapidly decline after that. Stay on top of it for a long time.