Should I eat a cast iron skillet?

Hopefully today will be an overall better and less hectic day than yesterday. I went to my PCP. They were going to draw blood to test my Hemoglobin and make me wait until Monday to get results. I told them that wouldn't work. My dr. wrote an order for me to go to our local hospital. They drew it and gave me the results (after a 2 hr. wait, naturally). I went to the car, opened it and was very disappointed. My count was only 9.8! It had been 9.2 the day of surgery, and had been told 10.2 Monday, but they old machine they used on Monday apparently wasn't accurate. I called and left a message with Dr. W's nurse. At the same time I was going to leave the message, someone pulled out in front of me and I yelled out something inappropriate at them. That was the message I left! I had to call back and tell Chelsea I wasn't saying that to her, but to another driver. I was really embarrassed. I came home rather down. I even told Chelsea that they could just do an extended tummy tuck Tuesday and I'll get the back done a different time. I went to work for about an hr. and went to the Medi-spa, which is in my PCP's office. She came out and asked about my bloodwork. I told her it was still down. She said she could give me an iron shot. I had to go to the pharmacy and pick the iron up and bring it back. Guess what? No pharmacy in town stocks it! I even called Lufkin, 45 min. away and they don't carry it either at CVS or Walgreen's. I was freaking out by now, because my pharmacy said they ordered it and it would come in today around 11:00. Some things come in when they order it and some don't. My dr. closes at 11:00 today. Am I supposed to drink the stuff or what? I checked to see if my dentist BIL could give me the shot over the weekend. They were going out of town most of the weekend, naturally at 11:00 today. I went home and called a friend in town who gets iron shots from the same dr. I asked how did she get her iron. She said she orders it, but just got a whole box and will loan me some. I was sooooo happy! I went to her house and picked it up. I told her she probably saved me! I'm going to get my shot this morning. Wish me luck and pray that it raises my iron level by Tuesday enough to do surgery. Karla

Hugs Karla, I'll be thinking good vibes for you.

Might be kind of hard chewing and you might have to gum all your food there after. I hope you find something that works for you. Hazel

Cute title Karla it made me laugh. I hope the shots work for you.... Sending hugs, Chris

I sorta feel your pain !!! Not the frustration, but it's a drag trying to get your iron up... I have been eating grapenuts like 3 times a day and taking those iron pills, vitamin c etc..I really don't want a transfusion, my Dr scared me with that. ? Are you going to settle for the extended tummy tuck rather than the LBL ? Are you sure you want to go through the pain twice if you don't have to ? TRY TO RELAX THIS WEEKEND TORI

Tori, I am going to settle for the extended tummy tuck rather than LBL to at least get the skin off the front. Mine is terrible in front. I can do the back w/ arms/breasts by next summer if I have to. The tummy is my main concern. I don't want to do it that way, but will settle for that. I'm hoping my iron shot will help. I'm getting a second one Monday (iron shot). If it doesn't go up for Tuesday, I'll know it's not in God's plan. Most things I've read say that food we take in doesn't cut it for bypass patients, at least w/o it taking months. I don't have that much time. I hope your goes up w/o you having to get a transfusion. Karla

Shoot Sherman I'm so sorry you're having should a rough time with this. Maybe a hospital pharmacy would carry the iron infusion shot? Also maybe they will allow you to give blood for yourself incase you ineed it during surgery? Just a thought Here's hoping this gets worked out and you can have the surgery you worked so hard to be able to get. Sending you hugs girlfriend, Ronna

Ronna, Yes, I already gave 2 units of blood for my LBL. Apparently, that is what dropped my hemoglobin levels and being a bypass patient, it is much harder to build it up. Lisa from Humble is using the same surgeon and just gave one unit, which was okay. Mine was okay 2 weeks after giving the 1st unit to give a 2nd one, but apparently the 2nd unit pulled it down way to much. I'm giving advice to anyone else to not donate blood unless it is a severe emergency so this won't happen to you, too. Some bypass surgeons are saying that WLS bypass patients shouldn't donate blood at all due to this problem. Our fluid levels are low anyway and donating blood compounds this. I sure won't give again. I'll just have to pay and use someone else's. Let's hope mine is back up Tuesday morning. Karla

Yep, I just gave one unit of my own, but had some donated for me from family. So Karla, why would you just get the tummy tuck instead of the entire LBL? Because of the blood issues? Would they still do the tuck with decreased Hgb levels? Just curious. Lisa

I heard Dr. W say that morning that if it would have just been the tummy, he would go ahead and do it...it had to do w/ how much blood I would lose. I would get the back done asap...when I was ready, just postpone that part. I'm not planning on leaving the back as is, because pretty much everybody that just does the front seems to be disappointed in how it makes the back look. Karla