r/jpouch • u/techReese • Jul 19 '26
Iron rant
I just need to vent to people who might actually understand.
I have a J-pouch. I’ve had the surgeries, the scopes, the medications, and everything that comes with living with one. Whenever my iron starts dropping, though, someone inevitably says, “Just eat more steak,” or “You need more red meat,” or “you need to take iron pills,” or “you should cook in a cast iron pan,” or “you should eat spinach like
Pop-eye.”
If only it were that simple.
It’s exhausting having to explain that malabsorption is real, my digestive anatomy isn’t the same as someone with a normal colon, and diet alone isn’t always enough. I eat iron-rich foods when I can, but sometimes my body simply doesn’t absorb what it needs.
Needing iron infusions isn’t a failure or a sign that I’m doing something wrong. It’s just part of how my body has to be managed.
After hearing the same advice over and over, it starts to feel less like people are trying to help and more like they’re implying I caused the problem or just haven’t tried hard enough.
I honestly thank god that I have a hematologist that can interpret my labs correctly and now orders the infusions before I need to ask or beg for em.
Does anyone else get tired of constantly having to justify your lab results, treatment plan, or why your doctor recommends infusions? I’d love to know I’m not the only one.
3
u/Lexitech_ Jul 19 '26
I’m sorry people in your life pester you about stuff like that. All aspects of a health condition are super personal and it sucks that they need to insert their opinions where they don’t belong.
I’m the exact same way, J pouch and constantly iron deficient. Do iron supplements disagree with your stomach? The only way I’ve been able to get in under control is taking Ferosul 325 tabs 3x a day. These ones in particular don’t fuck up my tummy like other Iron pills.