Anemia?

I thought I read somewhere that post-op DS folks are susceptible to developing anemia. Is that accurate and is it incidences or an ongoing condition that we develop?

Anyone can develop Anemia... it is not exclusive to the DS. Women are more likely to have anemia then men because we have monthly cycles and losing weight can mess with your hormones. During my fast weight loss stage, I had a little trouble with anemia, but I attributed it to my periods being heavy due to all the hormones my body was eliminating. (I was losing fat and alot of hormones are stored in fat.) I found that I didn't absorb oral iron supplements very well. No matter what kind I tried, I still had low iron. I finally found what works for me and have not had any iron trouble since! I cook my eggs in a cast iron pan! That is my secret! I eat eggs for breakfast and as long as I use my pan, my body absorbs the iron. My iron levels improved so dramatically that my endo thought I was having infusions of iron. Don't know if cast iron pans work for everyone, but it sure was a lifesaver for me. Just because you have the DS does not mean you will have anemia though. That is like saying everyone who lives up north is deficient in Vitamin D. Not everyone that lives up north is low in Vit D, but there is a higher rate of Vit D deficiency in northerners. :) 

They weren't  my words.  Just something I read somewhere suggesting that DS'rs are more susceptible to developing Anemia.  I'd will try to track down that source and post it...If anyone has more info either for or against  it will be greatly appreciated.

 

Found it, here's the link.  I read it somewhere else too but found it on dsfacts.com   Stems from vitamin deficiency so because ds'rs  malabsorb we are more susceptible (if our vitamin's aren't managed well)

 

Anemia

We are susceptible to ALL kinds of deficiencies, which is why supplementation is so important.  It's all manageable, so it's important to understand and watch your own lab levels, for the docs don't always notice the downward trends as quickly as we can on our own.  What I've noticed is that my doc's staff just checks to see if the numbers are in the range they want to see, but they don't bother to compare to the last blood draw to see if anything has gone up or down significantly.  When I notice such things, I adjust my supplements accordingly.

I have always been anemic, but after my DS it was worse.  My doc sent me to a hemololgist who put me on 180 mgs a day of carbonyl iron (Ferosol or Iron from Vitalady) which we absorb much better.  He also told me the following: always take on an empty stomach, with vitamin C and not near any dairy since iron needs an acid environment, and as far from my antacids as possible.  

I've followed these and I have been OK.  As mentioned above anyone can develop anemia, but since we have special needs we should be especially careful!

True!  I know several DSers who need iron infusions every now and then.  However, you probably don't need to worry too much about this.  I've never known a male to have problems.  I'm sure it has happened but it's not common.  Take your vites and eat well.  That's the best defense.